Romans 13:8-14 Love, because the Day is Near

Scripture Reading

Romans 13:8–14 NKJV

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he 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 bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Love your Neighbour (Romans 13:8-10)

I like the NIV translation of , with some caveats.

The New International Version Chapter 13

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

However, “the continuing debt” is not in any greek, it is added by the translators to help the flow of the sentence, but even if you remove it, the flow is ok.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Paul is deliberately quoting from the commandments that concern our relationships with our neighbours.

If you like, the last 5 of the 10 commandements.

Slide

Exodus 20:13–17 NKJV

13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Paul is not saying the first four are not important.

“You shall have no other Gods before me”

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image of God”

“You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain”

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”

Also Paul is not saying the fifth commandment is not important

“Honour your Father and your Mother”

But Paul is focusing here on those commandments to do with our relationships with our neighbours.

Discussion Question 1

Faith works through love.

What does Paul mean when he says love is an unpaid debt ()?

ὀφείλω (ophello), owe, obligated.

Romans 1:14–15 NKJV

14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

:

Romans 8:12–13 NKJV

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Romans 8:12 NKJV

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Romans 1:14 NKJV

14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.

Romans 13:6–7 NKJV

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Romans 13:

Romans

We were brought with a price, the blood of Jesus. We are no longer our own, but God’s. Our debt of love to God. Faith works through love.

The Message of Romans 1. Love Is an Unpaid Debt

that perpetual debt of love’

God says to us, show that love to others. And then Paul launches into the commandments that have to do with showing that love to others.

Is Covid-19 a wake up call for all ?

What do we mean when we say people need to wake up spiritually? What does Paul mean in the context of ?

The New International Version Chapter 13

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

Paul is not saying the first four are not important, rather his focus is on commandments about our relationship with others.

So again we cannot use this passage to try and argue as some do from that the fourth commandment is no longer relevant.

All you need is love is true, but true love always reflects the commandments of God.

Faith works through love.