KJ
Rom 13:8
Owe no man any thing, but to love
one another: for he that loveth
another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not
steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment,
it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself.
Rom 13:10
Love worketh no ill to his
neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Rom 13:11
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom 13:12
The night is far spent, the day
is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us
put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13
Let us walk honestly,
as in the day; not
in rioting and drunkenness, not
in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14
But put ye on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make
not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Main Points:
Paul’s appeal to the church’s unity
cites love (your neighbor) as the catalyst that will drive fulfillment of God’s
commands. Paul stresses the time for this is now! Then he warns against walking
in darkness and some very egregious (specific) sins. (Why would he need to warn
against this?)
6. Explain in practical terms how we
obey the command given in verse 8? The directive has more to do with attitude than the reality of
everyday living. The reality of everyday living will manifest us needing to owe
others something, that is just unavoidable. Paul’s statement is more
hyperbolic. Above all other things we may want to give anyone, love should be
at the top of the list. If that can be mastered, everything else will take care
of itself.
7. How are the commandments summed up in
one command: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself?” Love does not work toward harm. It
drives in the opposite direction. It seeks a good end. (8 and fulfills the law)
This argument relates back to Paul’s call to be TRANSFORMED. It also relates
directly to his good vs. evil arguments. Love embodies good (or those things
that are beneficial). It is the diametrically opposed to evil (worthless,
harmful).
8. What are verses 11-12 (and 13) commanding
us to do? How do we do it? Paul
brings up some very specific sins and equates them with (evil) deeds, or walking
in darkness. The Christian is to embrace a life in the light, or of transparency
(not with secretive sin). He punctuates
this need with urgency, saying that they needed to “wake from sleep….salvation
is nearer than when we first believed.” For
that time he is addressing some members who are still practicing sin. He has
already pointed out that this is unacceptable behavior in God’s church
(chapters 1-8). Again, this relates to Paul’s call to transformation and every
body becoming a living sacrifice. THAT is evidenced by NOT conforming to the
world.
9. Apply the principle of verse 14 to
your life: “Put on the
lord Jesus Christ.” The term infers to “clothe” ourselves with Jesus. It implies the outward manifestation of an
inward attitude, not just the façade. We are to cover ourselves in Jesus. That
covering seeks to live the will of the Father. It is fitting that this section
starts with “love your neighbor” and “fulfilled the law” and now points to Jesus
who exemplifies these characteristics perfectly.
Additional:
8)
Owe: G3784 ὀφείλω,
ὀφειλέωopheilō opheileōof-i'-lo, of-i-leh'-o Including its prolonged form (second form) used in
certain tenses. Probably from the base of G3786 (through the idea of accruing);
to owe (pecuniarily); figuratively to be under obligation
Love:
G25 ἀγαπάω agapao ag-ap-ah'-o
Perhaps from ἄγαν agan (much; or compare [H5689]);
to love (in a social or moral sense)
10) Love: G26 ἀγάπη agapē ag-ah'-pay
From G25; love, that is, affection
or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast:
Ill: G2556 κακός kakos kak-os'
Apparently a primary word; worthless
(intrinsically such; whereas G4190 properly refers to effects), that is,
(subjectively) depraved, or (objectively) injurious: - bad, evil,
harm, ill, noisome, wicked.
14) Put on G1746 ἐνδύω enduō en-doo'-o
From G1722 and G1416 (in
the senese of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing
(literally or figuratively): - array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.
