ROMANS 13:8-14
Romans 13:8–14 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
What are you going to do with the rest of your life?
Matthew 24:36,44 (ESV) “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
1. Pay up
v. 8 “Let no debt remain outstanding.”
Psalm 37:21 “The wicked borrow and do not pay back but the righteous give generously.”
Matthew 5:42 “Give to the one who asks you and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow.”
2. Build up.
“Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another. For he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law the commandments `Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not covet’ and what other commandments there may be are summed up in this one rule: Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
1 Cor. 13:1-3,8a “And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in tongues of men and of angels and have not love I’m only a sounding gong and a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have faith that can move mountains but have not love I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love I gain nothing…. Love never fails.” If you love like Jesus, you’re not a failure. v. 13 “but now these three remain, faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.”
3. Wake Up.
Romans 13:11 “And do this understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer now than we first believed.”
Proverbs 27:14, “If a man or woman loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning it will be taken as a curse.”
Ephesians 5:11-16 “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them. For it’s shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible. For it is light that makes everything visible. That’s why it’s said, `Wake up, o sleeper. Rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.”
A person who is fully awake spiritually, alert spiritually, will make the most of every opportunity.
Procrastination is one of the biggest enemies of the Christian life.
4. Gear Up.
v. 12 “The night is nearly over. The day is almost here. Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
Ephesians 6:10–18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
5. Clean up.
Romans 13:13 “Let us behave decently as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.”
Proverbs 13:10. “Only by pride comes contention.”
6. Dress Up.
v. 14 “Rather, clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
Romans 12:2 “Don’t be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires and to be made new in the attitude of your mind.” The way you think determines the way you feel. And the way you feel determines the way you act. Rather than trying to change the externals, change the way you think — your thought life — and that changes the way you feel and that changes the way you act. People are working on the externals when they should be working on the internals. You are made new in the attitude of your mind. “Put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Galatians 5:16 “Therefore, walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.”
Philippians 2:5 says “Put on the mind of Christ.”
Romans 13:11 “let us be Christ’s men and women from head to foot.”
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