Live In Love

Rom 13:8 “…Owe no one anything except to love one another…”

1. Context—

a. Honoring God by honoring human government

b. Honoring God by paying taxes

2. What does “owe no one anything…” mean?

a. MAC says: “…pay all your debts, and the one debt you'll always pay and never really have paid is the debt of love...”

b. Important contextual note:

(1) Ancient Israel was not a financial society, but primarily an agricultural one.

(2) The Roman Empire had a finance system, though crude by modern standards

c. Biblically, it takes this text too far to outlaw all borrowing and lending.

(1) Business practices in general

(a) Diligence

(i) (Prov 13:4) "The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich."

(ii) (Prov 22:29) "Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men."

(iii) (Prov 10:4) "He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich."

(iv) (Prov 6:6) "Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,"

(v) (Prov 10:5) "He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame."

(vi) (Prov 31:13) "She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands."


(vii) Faithful stewards—(1 Cor 4:2) "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."

(b) Honest in business—

(i) (Prov 11:1) "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight."

(ii) (Deu 25:15) ""You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God is giving you."

(iii) (Lev 19:36) "'You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt."

(c) Examples of integrity

(i) Daniel—(Dan 6:4) "So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him."

(ii) Moses—(Acts 7:22) ""And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds."

(iii) Joseph—(Gen 39:6) "Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. …”

(iv) Moses

(v) Joseph

(2) The Bible recognizes at least three types of lending.

(a) Lending or leasing for business and investment purposes—Jesus recognizes the validity of this, and commends those who are diligent.

(i) (Mat 21:33-41) now, in this parable, Christ’s main object is to address working in the Kingdom’s work, but the background is a business situation that all of His hearers would have understood.

(ii) Mat 25:14-30—This is similar to the situation above.



(b) Lending to the poor when they are in desperate need

(i) (Deu 15:7-11)

(ii) Mat 5:42—the poor are not to be turned down— unless

(A) (2 Th 3:11) "For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies."

(B) (Psa 37:21) "The wicked borrows and does not repay…”

(c) Lending tangible goods to be returned—

(i) (Exo 22:14) ""And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good."

(ii) (2 Ki 4:3) "Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors; empty vessels; do not gather just a few."

(iii) (2 Ki 6:5) "But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed.""


d. Except—love

e. Love one another—this is a debt we owe all believers.

(1) John 13:34 ""A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another…”

(2) Rom 12:10 "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;"

(3) Rom 12:16 "Be of the same mind toward one another…”

(4) Rom 15:7 "Therefore receive one another…”

(5) Rom 15:14 "…able also to admonish one another."

(6) 1 Cor 12:25 "…have the same care for one another."

(7) Gal 5:13 "…through love serve one another."

(8) Eph 4:2 "… bearing with one another in love,"

(9) Eph 4:32 "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."

(10) Eph 5:19 "speaking to one another…”

(11) Eph 5:21 "submitting to one another in the fear of God."

(12) Col 3:13 "bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do."

(13) 1 Th 5:11 "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another…”

(14) Heb 3:13 "but exhort one another daily…”

(15) Heb 10:24-25 "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works…”

(16) James 5:16 "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another…”

(17) 1 Pet 1:22 “…love one another fervently with a pure heart,"

(18) 1 Pet 4:8-10 "And above all things have fervent love for one another…9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling…. 10 As each one has received a

(19) gift, minister it to one another…”

(20) 1 Pet 5:5 “…all of you be submissive to one another…”

(21) 1 John 4:11-12 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us."

3. The Law in the New Testament

a. Introductory Thoughts—1 Tim 1:8-11

(1) Which Law is The Law?
(2) Moses Law?
(3) Conscience?
(4) Nature?
(5) Where does the Gospel fit in?

b. The Problem: Theological Positions instead of Bible Exposition.

(1) Theological systems are the stuff that false doctrine is made of, even relatively good systems
(2) The only system we need to be aware of is to carefully examine and exposit what the Word says.
(3) The positions of various preachers and theologians on the law are probably more influenced by their system of belief than are their positions on other doctrinal issues.

c. The Positions

(1) The ultra-dispensational position—The law is not for today in any sense.

(2) The Adventist position—The law is for today, even the dietary laws

(3) The Theonomist position—the Law is for today in most senses, even to rule society

(4) The Legalist position—the law is for today, based on what I pick and choose.

(5) The Typical Christian in the Pew Position—confusion.

(6) The Biblical Position: What we will examine today

4. The form of the Law

a. The Ten Commandments

(1) One God

(2) No Idols

(3) Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain

(4) Honor the Sabbath

(5) Honor Father and Mother

(6) Don’t Murder

(7) Adultery

(8) Theft

(9) False Witness

(10) Covetousness

b. The basic worship law—Ex 20:22-26

c. The case Law—examples and instructions to explain the administration of the law in the theocratic society of Israel.

(1) Example #1 Ex 21:12-15
(2) Example #2 Ex 22:1-4

d. The Dietary Laws, the sanitary laws, the clean and unclean—Lev 11:1-8, ff

e. The Ceremonial Laws—Lev 2:1-3

5. The Law for today, as modified by the New Testament.

a. Key verses—Mat 5:17-20

b. The Dietary Law is canceled by command of Christ Himself.

(a) Mk 7:14-23

(b) Acts 10:14-15

(c) 1 Tim 4:4

c. The Law of the Sabbath is canceled Specifically—Col 2:13-17

d. These are fulfilled in Christ.

(1) The Ceremonial and sacrificial laws are canceled because Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

(a) Col 2:16-17

(b) Mat 27:50-51

(c) Heb 9:7-8

(d) Heb 10:19-20

e. The other nine commands (other than the Sabbath), and the case laws that explain them are still in effect, as stating God’s views on morality and lifestyle

6. The Law re-stated in the New Testament

a. One God—1 Tim 2:5

b. No Idols—(1 John 5:21 KJV) Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

c. Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain--(1 Tim 6:1 KJV)

d. Honor Father and Mother—Jesus re-iterates this command verbatim, as does the Spirit through Paul—Eph 6:1-3

e. Don’t Murder—Gal 5:19-21

f. Adultery—Gal 5:19-21 (which includes the case laws of the Old Testament outlawing all sorts of sexual perversion, such as bestiality, homosexuality, incest, etc.)
g. Theft—Eph 4:28

h. False Witness

i. Covetousness

7. The Purpose of the Law Today

a. The Law and the Unbeliever—

(1) the unbeliever is responsible to obey the law as given above, and will be judged in accordance with the law. Rom 3:19-20

(2) The Law convicts the sinner of his sin—Rom 7:9

(3) The Law helps lead the sinner to Christ by showing the sinner his need of salvation—Gal 3:24

b. The Law and the Christian—

(1) First, the ridiculous position:

(a) The Law has been done away—the whole law, not just those parts which have been fulfilled.

(b) Therefore the constraints of the law are no longer valid.

(c) Under grace, we should learn to follow God from our hearts. (True if properly understood, but we do need a teacher—the law)

(2) This sounds good, but it is not true!

(3) The moral dimension of the Christian life remains, Sin is still sin, Right and wrong still exist

c. Now, The Truth…

(1) The Believer is saved from the penalty of the law

(2) But violation of the moral law is still a sin, which grieves the Holy Spirit and causes a break in communion with God.

(3) Therefore, the Law, as given and expounded in the Bible, and as modified in the New Testament, is the teaching instrument and guide for a Christian (and indeed the whole world) as a standard of obedience. This is so because the Law is an eternal statement of God’s will for human behavior—1 John 3:4

(4) If you are Lost, the Law shall condemn you, buy if you listen to it, you will discover your need of salvation

(5) If you are saved, the Law teaches you the kind of lifestyle God demands of a believer

8. The Law’s verdict—3:19-20

a. Whatever the law says—“let God be true, and every man a liar…..” Rom 3:4

b. Those under the law—this is everyone!
(1) The Jews had the law written on tablets of stone—Exodus 20

(2) The Gentiles had the law engraved on their hearts—they had the conscience that God gave them—(Romans 2) they had the witness of the book of nature (Ps 19)

c. The Law of God tells us to shut up

(1) Man says, “Well, I don’t think it’s anybody’s business who I sleep with…” 1 Cor 6:9-20— God says, Shut Up!

(2) Man says, “I have an alternative lifestyle, there is nothing wrong with what I do…” Rom 1:18-32, 1 Cor 6:9-11—God says—Shut up!

(3) Man says, “I am a good Missionary Southern Baptist, there is nothing wrong with me…” Mat 7:21-23—God says—Shut up!
(4) Man says, “A woman can do what she wants to with her body, there is nothing wrong with abortion—“God says—shut up! Luke 1:39-45, Ps 139

(5) Man says, “I don’t feel guilty about anything……….” God says—shut up! Rom 3:23, 6:23

(6) God says, shut up, and admit our guilt!

d. And finally, the statement toward which Paul has been heading since the beginning of Romans—3:20

e. No one can fix their own problem

f. The Law and Grace-- “Christian” Legalism is a false doctrine!

(1) The Law and salvation—19-20

(2) The witness of other scriptures as to Law and grace

(a) The Law Cannot Justify/ Works Cannot Save è Only Faith can justify—Gal 2:16-21, 3:1-2

(b) Only Grace can save—Eph 2:8-9
Legalism is heresy—Col 2:16-23, Gal 1:6-9