Romans 13:8-14
Jesus freed us from the things of the past so we can live today in light of his future return.
After calling the church to give others what they’re due, he goes on to clarify that we’re called to not give anyone - or anything - undue leverage over us:
“Don’t owe anyone anything, except to love one another.”
“Make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.”
Submitting to authorities in respect and honor is one thing. Going out of your way to let other people or sin itself hold sway in your life is another. Jesus is our ultimate authority, he is returning soon, and as he approaches, his light (at least in and through us!) gets to continue shining brighter. Jesus freed us from the Law so that we might live a life that fulfills it more and more as time marches on towards the kingdom.
Questions
Have you ever owed anyone anything - money, a favor, a library book, etc. - that wound up controlling a part of your life (however big or small!) that you wish it hadn’t?
How did you wind up there? Did you have a choice or not?
Looking back, would you have done anything differently?
What do you think Paul has in mind when he says, “Do not owe anyone anything?” What kinds of things could people owe?
On the flip side, what does he mean that we owe “love [to] one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law?” How can we “owe love” to someone?
The Law is a pretty extensive set of rules, examples, and case studies for the way God’s people were meant to live with God, one another, and the world around them. How can Paul boil it all down to “love your neighbor as yourself?”
Is this command easier or harder than what we read about in the Old Testament? In what ways?
While “love one another” might shrink the number of words we have to use when talking about the Law, how does it expand the scope of its call on our life?
Recall the central tension that made Paul write this letter in the first place. How would this have spoken into the debate on the Law’s place in the community and worship of the local church?
How can knowing that something is drawing to a close (the work day, the school year, and hard obligation, etc.) change the way we feel about it and work through it?
Does is it ever make you lazy? Does it give you a renewed energy? Why?
Likewise, how does Paul say Jesus’ imminent return should cause us to live in our obligation to love one another?
We’re not only called to put down sin (lack of sobriety, sexual sin, bickering, comparison and jealousy, etc.). We’re also called to “make no provision” for the flesh to gratify its desires. What’s this mean?
If temptation is our spiritual battleground - not merely sin - then how what does obedience to this command look like?
Practically speaking, how can we “discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (or “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”)?