LOVE AND OBEDIENCE.
Romans 13:8-14.
I). LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR.
Romans 13:8-10.
The imperative, “To no one nothing owe you (all), but to love one another” (Romans 13:8a) follows on from the discussion of being subject to ‘the powers that be’ who - whether we voted for them or not - are ‘ordained of God’ (cf. Romans 13:1). This earlier argument is rounded off with ‘Render to all their dues’ (cf. Romans 13:7).
In fact, the Greek verb translated “Owe” in Romans 13:8 is from the same root as the noun translated ‘dues’ (cf. Romans 13:7). So, the Apostle is not suggesting that we should never be in debt, but rather encouraging us to pay our dues on time.
The noun translated ‘debtor’ is also from the same root, and occurred earlier when Paul announced: ‘Both to Greeks and barbarians, both to wise and unintelligent, a debtor I am’ (cf. Romans 1:14). In that case the debt did not arise because of anything any of those cultures had given him, but rather because God had laid upon him the solemn duty to preach the gospel (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:16).
In the same sense there is a debt which we should forever be paying: the debt to “love one another.” Why? Because “he who loves the other, (the) law has fulfilled” (Romans 13:8b; cf. Matthew 7:12; John 13:34; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8).
At this point, the Apostle quotes some negative commandments from the second table of the ten commandments (Romans 13:9). They are not in the order with which we might be familiar (cf. Exodus 20:12-17; Deuteronomy 5:16-21), but that is of no consequence: Jesus quotes a similar random list (cf. Matthew 19:16-19). The point here is that Paul is summing up the second table of the ten commandments with what Jesus calls ‘the second’ great commandment (cf. Matthew 22:36-40).
Now, how can we love our neighbour as ourselves (Romans 13:9) unless we first know ourselves? We must first recognise what we are outside of Christ: poor wretched sinners in need of salvation (cf. Romans 3:23).
We cannot love our neighbour as ourselves unless we are born again (cf. John 3:3), and God gives us a new heart (cf. Ezekiel 36:26), a heart to love Him (cf. 1 John 4:19), and writes His commandments upon our hearts (cf. Hebrews 10:16). Then we will see the neighbour as God sees them, poor wretched sinners as we once were, or as brethren if they too are Christians (cf. 1 John 3:14). Once we are saved, we even love our enemies (cf. Matthew 5:44).
“Love to the neighbour, evil does not work” (Romans 13:10a). This line could almost belong to the song of agape love in the previous chapter (cf. Romans 12:9-13). But there is a clear link with the negative commandments of the previous verse (Romans 13:9).
I would suggest from this that the keeping of these negatives arises from the love that is within us. We are not under law, but neither are we lawless. Love is the outworking of “the fulness of the law” (Romans 13:10b).
II). END TIMES OBEDIENCE.
Romans 13:11-14.
Romans 13:11.
(a) “And that” - The outworking of this “renewing of our mind” is seen in our relationship to God (Romans 12:1), in our love to our fellow believers (Romans 12:10), and in our love to our neighbour (Romans 13:8-10). Paul adds an “also this” in verse 11, thereafter establishing an eschatological reason for our Christian obedience. We know the times in which we are living!
(b) “Knowing the time” - We are living in the age of the Spirit which, according to Peter, is the “last days” (Acts 2:16-17). These days began when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost. As the return of Jesus approaches it is paramount that we discern the signs of the times (Luke 12:56) ...
(c) “Now” - Elsewhere Paul speaks of an acceptable time, the “Now” which is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2) ... In Scripture there is urgency about “Today” (Psalm 95:7-11; Hebrews 3:7-19).
(d) “It is high time to awake out of sleep” - Are we asleep? Jesus warns us against being caught napping when He returns (Mark 13:36). We must rise and shine (Isaiah 60:1) …
(e) “For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” - There is a “now” and a “not yet” in the outworking of our salvation. We are forensically justified from the moment we believe, but we must thereafter strive after holiness and sanctification, and at last we shall be glorified. We are saved by grace through faith, but we are saved unto good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).
The whole creation is groaning and travailing, waiting for the revelation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19; Romans 8:22). We also groan within ourselves, awaiting the redemption of our body (Romans 8:23). “Look up,” says Jesus: for when we discern the signs of the times we know that our redemption is drawing nigh (Luke 21:28) ...
Romans 13:12.
(a) “The night is far spent” - Jeremiah bemoans the passing of the opportunity of this time (Jeremiah 8:20) … The dawn is “even at the doors” (Mark 13:29).
(b) “The day is at hand” - There is a paradox in that we know what time it is (Romans 13:11), but may not the day and hour of the Lord’s coming (Matthew 24:36).
(c) “Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness” - Christians are not, and should not be in darkness that that day should overtake them as a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:4-7) …
(d) “And let us put on the armour of light” - The armour of light includes what Paul calls “the breastplate of faith and love” (1 Thessalonians 5:8); and “the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11).
It is also important not to neglect our prayer weapon (Ephesians 6:18). At Gethsemane Jesus exhorted His disciples to engage in prayer, and when He found them sleeping He repeated the exhortation “that you enter not into temptation” (Luke 22:40; Luke 22:45; Luke 22:46).
Romans 13:13.
(a) “Let us walk honestly, as in the day” - Do not be like the servant who oppressed his fellow servants (Matthew 24:48-51) … thereby failing in love (Romans 13:8; Romans 13:10). Jesus’ command to the church in this age is the same as the command of the nobleman who went into a far country to receive a kingdom: “Occupy till I come.” (Luke 19:13) -
(b) “Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envying” - Yet there were those who hated him, and said “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14).
Romans 13:14.
(a) “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ” - You have put Him on (Galatians 3:27), but must put Him on daily in your lifestyle decisions (Colossians 3:12-14).
(b) “And do not spend your time thinking about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature” - This brings us right back to Romans 12:1-2. We are to be as living sacrifices, always about the business of renewing our mind. This is how we should live in these end times.
