Sermon Tone Analysis

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Theme: In this passage the apostle is dealing with the Christian in society.

Theme: In this passage the apostle is dealing with the Christian in society.

Date: 05/14/17 File name: Romans_2016_40.wpd

ID Number:

Date: 05/14/17 File name: Romans_2016_40.wpd

ID Number:

In the early 1970s there was a best-selling book by B.F. Skinner, a world-renowned psychologist and human behaviorist.

The book was entitled Beyond Freedom and Dignity.

His premise was that we are molded — our attitudes, our thinking, our behavior — they’re all molded by forces beyond our control — the genetics of our birth, combined with the environmental influences in which we live.

He called his approach to the study of human behavior radical behaviorism.

Skinner believed we are what we are, and we cannot change.

In the early 1970s there was a best-selling book by B.F. Skinner, a world-renowned psychologist and human behaviorist.

The book was entitled Beyond Freedom and Dignity.

His premise was that we are molded — our attitudes, our thinking, our behavior — they’re all molded by forces beyond our control — the genetics of our birth, combined with the environmental influences in which we live.

He called his approach to the study of human behavior radical behaviorism.

Skinner believed we are what we are, and we cannot change.

As Christians we believe otherwise ... very strongly.

Our will is involved.

And God’s invitation is involved.

He offers the Person and the power for change.

In Christ God really does change us and we become a new creation.

“I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

(, NIV84)

God cloths us in the righteousness of His Son and then tells us, “Now, conduct yourself in a manner that fits the clothes.”

God, through Christ, honoring our faith, has given us an undeserved title — “Righteous one.”

Now, how shall we live in this new clothing, in this new, changed life?

In chapters twelve through fourteen of the book of Romans Paul talks about living in these new clothes.

In chapter 12 we saw the Christian's obligation to fellow Christians.

In the first half of chapter 13 we see the Christian's obligation to the ruling authorities.

Now, in the last half of chapter 13, we see the Christian's obligation to all men.

Paul's premise is laid out in verse eight: "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law."

(, NIV84).

This passage has three parts to it ...

The Gospel Calls Us to Live Selflessly

• The Gospel Calls Us to Live Urgently

The Gospel Calls Us to Live Urgently

• The Gospel Calls Us to Live Differently

The Gospel Calls Us to Live Differently

I. THE GOSPEL CALLS US TO LIVE SELFLESSLY (vs.

8-10)

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

(, ESV)

A. OWE NO MAN ANYTHING

1. Christians are not to be debtors

a. this is a reminder to us that our financial integrity is a matter of material interest to the gospel

the gospel

2. those who name the name of Christ, and have a reputation for the failure of repaying debt will bring disrepute upon the gospel

debt will bring disrepute upon the gospel

ILLUS.

40 years ago Linda and I were in college at SWBC in Bolivar Missouri.

We were living in a one bedroom apartment owned by the college.

In the utility room there was just enough room for a washer, and so we went to the local appliance store on the square to see about purchasing one.

Yes they had washers, but the first question that we were asked was: "Are you students at Southwest Baptist College?"

We said yes.

The second question he asked was to me: "Are you a ministerial major?"

I said yes, and with that we were informed that we would have to pay cash for the washer.

That was fine, we intended to do so.

We found out that, over the years, so many ministerial students at the college had not paid their debts that the store would no longer sell furniture or appliances to ministerial students on time.

a. it was a horrible witness — nothing will ruin a Christian‘s testimony faster than chronic indebtedness

chronic indebtedness

b. it’s hard to be a good steward of the Gospel when you’re a bad steward of your wealth

wealth

3. there is one debt, however, that is to remain unsettled

B. OWE ALL MEN LOVE

B. OWE ALL MEN LOVE

1. according the apostle the most important thing that Christians owe the world is love, and we should not let anything else come in the way of that

and we should not let anything else come in the way of that

a. and so, Christians need to pay their bills

b. but unlike your mortgage, or taxes, or car loan, your debt of love is never paid off

1) you owe the same amount tomorrow regardless of how many “payments” you make to your various “creditors”

make to your various “creditors”

2. but the apostle is implying more ... Paul is also saying let every debt you pay — every check written to the IRS, every mortgage payment, every returned book, every act of duty to any one or any authority — let all of them be acts of love

check written to the IRS, every mortgage payment, every returned book, every act of duty to any one or any authority — let all of them be acts of love

a. don’t put love in a category different from all the other acts of your life

“Let all that you do be done in love.”

(, ESV)

3. it’s a debt we owe because of the grace wherein we stand because of Christ’s redemptive love

redemptive love

a. the passage begs the question: “How did we acquire this debt of love?

How did my love to you become an obligation?”

love to you become an obligation?”

1) we see a debt as something we owe another because someone has given us something, or loaned us something

something, or loaned us something

ILLUS.

You invite me out for lunch, at some point I invite you out to lunch.

While we might not express it verbally, there is an innate sense in most of us that I need to pay off your kindness, by reciprocating with a luncheon invitation.

It’s not a legal debt or a contractual debt, but we perceive it as a debt all the same.

Obviously, if you borrow money from a bank or another person, there is usually a contract involved that spells out the terms of the loan, the amount of interest you’re paying for the privilege of borrowing the money, how you are to pay it back and how long you have to pay it back.

might not express it verbally, there is an innate sense in most of us that I need to pay off your kindness, by reciprocating with a luncheon invitation.

It’s not a legal debt or a contractual debt, but we perceive it as a debt all the same.

Obviously, if you borrow money from a bank or another person, there is usually a contract involved that spells out the terms of the loan, the amount of interest you’re paying for the privilege of borrowing the money, how you are to pay it back and how long you have to pay it back.

a) these are examples of legal and social debts we understand

2) but the Apostle says that I owe my neighbors around me the dept of love even if they’ve done nothing for me, nor given me anything

they’ve done nothing for me, nor given me anything

a) how can this be?

b) is it fair?