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INDEBTED TO LOVEROMANS 13:8-10

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After dealing with the role of human government, Paul enlarged the circle of responsibility by including all other people.

As believers, we do not live under the weight of the Law; we live under the freedom of grace. ROM. 6:14-15

Our motive for obeying God and helping others is our debt of love.

OWE NO ONE ANYTHING?

The Bible does not forbid borrowing or legal financial transactions that involve interest.

The Bible does forbid the charging of high interest, robbing the brethren, and failing to pay honest debts.EXODUS 22:25-27; NEHEMIAH 5:1-11

Both MATTHEW 25:27 and LUKE 19:23 indicate that banking and investing for gain are not wrong.

But the principal in PROVERBS 22:7 is absolutely true.

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THE REAL PROBLEM

Laws cannot change the heart, it is still selfish and can be changed only by the grace of God. JER. 17:9

It is much easier to talk about love than to live it out, as it was even for Paul.

It is through loving obedience to God that believers have blessing, joy, and spiritual power.

That obedience shows we understand the debt of love we have—for our lifetimes here on earth.

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I THOUGHT JESUS PAID MY DEBT?

That’s true. This is not the debt of sin—which is death—but the debt of love which is a life surrendered to God.

Our love debt toward one another applies first of all to fellow believers, our brothers and sisters in Christ. JOHN 13:34-35; 1 JOHN 2:10, 3:23, 4:7, 21

The debt of love is the defining characteristic of His kids.

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SOME ADDITIONAL QUALITIES

1. The Debt of Love refuses to do anything that harms or stumbles another person. ROM. 14

2. The Debt of Love is forgiving. EPH. 4, MATT. 6

3. The Debt of Love is characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance. EPH. 4:2

4. The greatest test of The Debt of Love is its willingness to sacrifice its own needs and welfare. JOHN 15:13

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THE DUTY OF LOVE

In declaring that love fulfills the law (v. 8b), Paul illustrates his point by quoting five specific Old Testament laws.

The first four are from the Ten Commandments, although they are not in the exact order found in EXODUS 20:13-17 and DEUTERONOMY 5:17-21. The fifth law is from LEVITICUS 19:18.

Love does not rob others of their lives, their property, or their spouse. 1 COR. 13; MATT. 5

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THE DEBT FULFILLED

Contrary to what many people think, living by love and living by the law are not mutually exclusive.

Early in His ministry, Jesus declared, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did

not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” MATT. 5:17-19

Love fulfills both the Lord’s golden rule and the royal law. MATT. 7:12; JAMES 2:8

May we spend our lives attempting to repay that debt of love we all owe.

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