Romans 13:8-10, “Love Fulfills the Law.”
Read verses 8-10... So, basically this says... the only debt we continue to owe is the debt to love one another, and in doing this the law of God is fulfilled.
Now that is interesting, Paul just exhorted us (vv. 1-7) to submit to civil authorities and to pay our taxes, now he says we should have no debt. What does he mean?
Do you think he is talking about finances, i.e., that we aren’t to owe anyone any money? Let’s think about that. Neither the Old or New Testament forbids borrowing or lending money; although some requirements are given:
Exodus 22:25, “If you lend money to one of My people among you, who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.”
Leviticus 25:35-36, “If one of your countryman becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kid from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you.”
Psalm 15:1-2, “LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous... 5, who lends his money without usury [profit of interest]...
Proverbs 19:17, “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done.”
God is not against us owing or loaning money, but it is to be done for the right reasons and in the right way
The Mosaic law prohibited charging interest to those who were poor, but it permitted charging a reasonable interest rate to the one borrowing the money.
Jesus made references to borrowing and lending:
Matthew 5:42, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Luke 6:35, “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High.”
So, it would appear that the Old and New Testaments both allow for those who are in need and have no other recourse, to borrow. There is nothing in either Testament that would prohibit one from borrowing money for a good reason, and another from receiving a reasonable interest on what they had loaned; but nowhere does Scripture justify the borrowing of money- going into debt, for unnecessary things, such as luxuries or extravagances.
Romans 13:8a tells us to owe nothing, to have no debt remaining or outstanding, i.e., we are to pay off our debts, loans, and whatever we borrow, on time, in full.
Romans 13:8b moves away from financial debt to speak to “the continuing debt of love for one another,” this to be continually being paid by all believers.
The good news is we have all we need, in Christ, to make these love debt payments by loving others; we will never be able to sufficiently pay off this debt, because it is incalculable - we owe it God, who in Christ, on the cross, paid our sin debt, having purchased us for God, because of God’s great love for us- and so, we are to be constantly paying Him back by loving one another.
John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. But this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
1John 4:7, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves, has been born of God and knows God.” 21, “And He has given me us command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
Colossians 3:12-14, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.”
1Peter 1:22, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
Christians are more than equipped to pay this debt of love, for we are divinely enabled (Romans 5:5), “God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us,” (Philippians 4:19), “God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 13:8c says the law is fulfilled when we love our fellowman [our neighbor]. This love [agape] is not a feeling or an emotion, but is our selfless and humble service to God, offering ourselves, doing whatever is necessary to help those in need, on God’s behalf.
God’s love never rejoices in anything false or unholy, it never belittles or offends a person’s worth, nor does it cause them to stumble morally or spiritually, but instead it always upholds the truth, in response to the Holy Spirit and obedience to the Word of God.
The very first fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) is love, for (1John 4:16), “God is love.” And we are only able to love, because (1John 4:19), “[God] loved us first.” You see, God’s love is reciprocal love, we are able to pay our debt of love because we never run short of God’s love; God loves us so much that we can love others on His behalf.
Our debt to God is a love debt, not just to love other believers, but everyone; for we are Christ’s ambassadors and God is making His appeal through us, in order that the world might know God’s love, as we live for Him.
Romans 13:9-10 declares that God’s love does not commit adultery, or murder, nor does it steal, or covet - adultery, murder and theft are committed by way of physical actions; whereas coveting is something that may only take place inside a heart or mind.
All sin originates in the heart, as Jesus said (Matthew 15), “evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander,” etc., are all sins of the heart; for all that is evil comes from the heart of man.
There are two more of the Ten Commandments that Paul could have cited here: honor your mother and father, and do not bear false witness. All six of the above deal with human social and societal relationships.
Notice, the all inclusive clause covering all sins against other people, in the middle of verse 9 through the first part of verse 10, “and whatever other commandment there may be,” for God’s law is “summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ For ‘Love does no harm to its neighbor.’” Who is your neighbor?
The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) tells us anyone we come into contact with, especially one in need, is our neighbor; but the priority is not ‘who is my neighbor,’ but instead, whoever shows mercy to one who is in need, is a good neighbor to that person.
God’s love does no wrong to a neighbor, meaning, anyone. We are to (Philippians 2:3-4), “consider others better than ourselves..., to look not only to [our] own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
When we are genuinely loving our neighbor as ourself, we are fulfilling the golden rule (Matthew 7:12), “do to others as you would have them do to you,” and the royal law (James 2:8), “Love your neighbor as yourself,” for in doing this we have fulfilled all the Law and the Prophets.
Jesus summed this up in Luke 10:27, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself,” in other words, we are to love God completely, with our whole being: body, strength, mind, emotions, talents, abilities, resources, etc., and we are to then love others as we love [care for] ourself; for in doing so, we have fulfilled the law of God.
Galatians 5:14, “The entire law is summed up in a single command [or word]: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
What is that single word? LOVE! When a Christian loves other people, as he himself is loved by Christ, he fulfills all of the moral requirements and obligations of the law of God, for this is the overriding and ruling principle of the new life we have in Christ (Ephesians 5:1-2), “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
1Peter 4:7-11, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self- controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling,. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should speak as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
Pastor Mike