Romans: What Happens When I Love My Neighbor

The Sycamore Church

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Romans 13: 8-14
January 19, 2025
Pastor Eric Burton
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Romans 13:8
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.

Last week we ended by saying pay your taxes. Taxes are an obligation by man to man. Paul says give money, fear, honor to those that require it. 

Apostle Paul urges us to get rid of these obligations owed to others, but then he says if you are going to owe someone something, let it be love.  I can get rid of debt, but I'll never be in a position where I don't owe love to someone.   

Fulfilling ALL the Law of God through love.

 It is interesting that up until now Paul has highlighted our inability to fulfill the law. Paul's controversial ministry was due in part to his inviting non Jews into the family of God and presenting a message that didn't require the law. But we're going to see that Paul uses the same words and approach as Jesus when it comes to fulfilling the law.

The reflection of our love for God is how we obey, not how we feel. 
John 14:15 says, "If you love me, keep my commandments." 
Love isn't always so romantic. Contrary to what we've allowed it to become, it is dry and lacks luster.  The kind of love we're going to talk about today doesn't muster emotion but rather resolve in times when we don't feel anything. We're going to look at how living for God isn't a lofty emotional roller coaster. Our love for God is based on obeying- obeying that can lead to emotion but is not the main point. 

There's a Jewish character in the book, The Weight of Ink, that comes across the Christian idea of the spirit of man reaching out and searching to connect with God. She is perplexed because Jewish teaching is strictly about obeying God's commands, not feeling through them. Jewish writing was NOT known for its philosophical approach. 

The Apostle Paul warns in Colossians 2:8. "Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ."  

We have tried to feel after what God wants rather than hearing what God wants. 
We need the voice of God back in our lives.  It used to be that the voice of God would make mountains and men tremble.  When they heard God's voice, it was like many waters.   

In Psalm 119, King David is absolutely in love with the commands, regulations, laws, instructions and decrees of God. He exemplifies what it looks like when you love God; His ways are a delight not a dilemma.  God's ways don't get in the way of my lifestyle; they are the lifestyle.

Romans 13:9-14
For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Vs. 9 The Spirit of the law over the letter of the law
There are 10 Commandments, and Paul lists 5 of them, same as Jesus in Mathew 19:19.  When you love, you don't need legalism to tell you not to hurt others.   

Vs. 10 tells us the law is fulfilled by love. 
The law was given, in part, to prevent wrong being done to others. It was a civil document governing how to live pleasing to God AND with others. The law was meant to prevent trespasses being committed.  Because love does not do wrong to others, the best way to fulfill the law of God is to love Him and your neighbor.  

Vs. 11-13 Recognize the urgency of the times
Paul tells us to wake up! Our salvation is near and approaching like the dawning of day. It's an unstoppable light, and the deeds done in the night have to be taken off.  

Take off dirty deeds off, Paul says, like dirty clothes.  

It's not something that accidentally got on you- you put it on. You've got to take some things off.  Take off just like you would remove weight that holds you back. 

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Vs 14 You've got to put something on. 
The Bible calls it "clothing" yourself. We have to put on Christ. To sink into (clothing), put on, clothe one's self. What we wear changes our behavior and thinking. When we put on Christ, we act differently.

And don't make provisions for the flesh.  In other words don't make room or accommodate plans for your flesh in life.