This is the fifty-fourth in a series of verse-by-verse expositions of the book of Romans. This message was delivered at Hillcrest Baptist Church on the morning of July 20, 2014. This message deals with the believer’s command to love one another, and explores the multi-faceted nature of true love. This post contains an audio recording of my message, along with my sermon notes and a study outline. Please note that the sermon notes are not a full transcript.
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Romans 13:8-14
v.8:
All we really owe is love. This is fitting, because everything else is summed up in that one command.
There is a specific manner in which we are to love, which can be found in the example of Jesus Christ.
John 13:34
His example of love covers all areas. True love always seeks whats best for another, so it stands to reason that true love is multi-faceted.
- True love will meet the physical needs of another.
James 2:15-16
- True love will meet their spiritual needs.
Acts 3:6
- True love will acknowledge sin.
James 5:19-20
- True love will not condemn, but seeks correction.
John 8:11
Revelation 3:19
v.9:
Love goes beyond the law. The opposite of each of these shall not commandments is love.
1 corinthians 13:4-7
v.10:
Christians must obey the law of love, which supersedes both religious and civil laws.
How easy it is to excuse our indifference to others merely because we have no legal obligation to help them and even to justify harming them if our actions are technically legal!
But Jesus does not leave loopholes in the law of love. Whenever love demands it, we are to go beyond human legal requirements and imitate the God of love.
James 2:8
When we practice love, there is no need for any other laws, because love covers it all!
v.11:
The emphasis is on the imminent return of Christ, and we need to be ready.
- We need to wake up:
1 Thessalonians 5:1–6
vv.12-13:
- We need to clean up:
1 John 2:28–3:3
We do not want to be found dressed in dirty garments when the Lord returns
The Christian wears the armor of light, not the deeds of darkness. He has no reason to get involved in the sinful pleasures of the world.
v.14:
- We need to grow up:
To “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ means to become more like Him, to receive by faith all that He is for our daily living.
How do we put on the Lord Jesus Christ?
First, we identify with Christ by being baptized.
Galatians 3:27
This demonstrates our union with other Christians and with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Second, we exemplify the qualities Jesus showed while he was here on earth (love, humility, truth, service).
Ephesians 4:24-27
Colossians 3:10-13
Lastly, we need to avoid those situations that open the door to gratifying sinful desires.
To make no provision for has the basic meaning of planning ahead or forethought.
Most sinful behavior results from wrong ideas and lustful desires we allow to linger in our minds.
James 1:14-15
We need to live as if Christ will return today.
If we keep ourselves occupied with imitating Christ, thereby demonstrating true Biblical love, then there will be no place for the lusts of the flesh.
At that point, we will be ready to say: Even so, come Lord Jesus.
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on July 26, 2014
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