Love And Light Series

Text: Romans 13:8-14

Title: Love and Light (Double Feature)

Romans 13:8-14 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

I. Love- Vs. 8-10

a. Always Owe Love

b. Always Show Love

c. Always Sow Love

II. Light- Vs. 11-14

a. Wake up

b. Get dressed

c. Get to work

There are few things in life more exciting than a two for one deal. When I was a kid there used to be double features at the movie theatre. I don’t think they do that anymore. I get excited when I get coupons in the mail for two-for-one deals at different restaurants. I have a coupon in my wallet right now for a two for one at Burger King.

So today I thought I would treat you all to a very special two-for-one sermon Sunday. You get two great mini-sermons today for the price of one. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean I’ll be preaching for an hour today.

In seminary they teach you how to put together a nice clean 3 point sermon. The key to a good three point sermon is to have some kind of alliteration or catchy connection between your three points. You know- have all the points start with the same letter or something.

Well as I was working on this passage I realized that I had not just one, but two really good three point sermons. Now these two sermons really are focused on one main point, living for Christ.

So far in chapter 12 and 13 we have seen Paul offer us some very simple, very straightforward advice about how we need to live out our Christian life now that we have been saved.

We will be looking at the last few verses in chapter 13 today. In this text Paul caps off this long section on how to treat others, with a strong exhortation to love. He follows this command to love up with an equally strong command to be light in the world. So today we are going to talk about what it means for us as believers to love and to be light.

Sermon #1 is all about love. Follow along as I read 8-10…

Now the idea that love has to be an essential part of our Christian life shouldn’t be new to you. We have already talked about the necessity of love when it comes to interacting with God, with other believers, even with our enemies.

We talked about how the kind of love that Paul speaks of is not merely an emotion, but a decision. It is a commitment. Feelings come and go, but love lasts through tough times.

In these verses Paul drives home again the importance of love. He starts by instructing us to always owe love. “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another,”

This comes on the heels of the last few verses that talked about paying taxed to those whom we owe taxes. He transitions by saying, don’t have any outstanding debts with anyone, except the ongoing debt to love.

This isn’t a prohibition of borrowing or lending money, it’s a reminder to make sure that you promptly and responsibly pay off your debts; except in one are. When it comes to love we will always owe that debt to God and others, and it will never be fully paid off.

What a great illustration of the extent of our love. Love should never run out, or dry up, or be exhausted. Love without limits or boundaries. Love is a debt that you will always owe everyone.

Next, Paul explains that by always owing love you will fulfill the law of God. Some people make Christianity out to be complicated or too confusing or too strict. But effectively living out the Christian life is pretty simple to understand. It isn’t always simple to do, but it is very easy to understand.