Introduction
The Apostle Paul introduces the theme of love by expounding
the essence of Christian love in Romans 12:9-10
Love expresses itself in three ways
(William Barclay’s translation puts it in this way)
(i) “your love must
be completely sincere “(the purity of Christian love) (Romans 12:9)
(ii) “Hate that
which is evil, cling to (or love) that which is good “ (12:9)
Christian love is a love/hate relationship (i.e. a paradox)
i.e. the
two must go together representing the two sides of the same coin -
(iii) “Be affectionate to one another in brotherly love”
(12:10)
Notes: “affectionate” – Greek “philos – storge”
Philos
– means affection or love between friends – a term of endearment
“Abraham was called the friend (philos) of God” (James 2:23)
Storge – love between members of the same family i.e. parents for
children
and vice versa
Storge
is used here because as Christians we are members of the same
family-
the family of God, i.e. my brothers and sisters in Christ
(iv) “Give to each other priority in honour” (12:10)
(i.e.
the kind of respect that causes us to value one another)
1. Agape-the highest
form of love (vs 8-10)
Agape only finds its full meaning in the person and death of
Jesus.
The Apostle Paul
now uses this word as the highest form of love – i.e. God’s love
for us and vice
versa. (this is at the core, in the heart of Christianity – our
relationship
with God in Christ)
“For God so
loved the world that he gave his only son…” (John 3:16)
(a) The “debt” of Love (vs 8 – 10)
(i) every
Christian is forever in debt
(ii) it is a
debt that we continue to repay throughout our lives
“Owe no one
anything except to love one another: for he who loves his neighbour has
fulfilled
the law” (vs8)
i.e. we
cannot love enough
(b) The “fulfilment” of the law (vs 8 ,10)
“He who
loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law” (vs 8)
“Love
does no wrong to his neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of
the
law” (vs10)
(i) when we love we will do what is right
(ii) Obedience to God signifies that we love God and our
fellow men
(iii) vs9 says Love God with your everything, love your
neighbour as yourself (Luke 10:27)
(iv) Jesus said: If you love me keep my commandment” ( John
14:15)
(v) “Fulfilled” – Greek – plȇrȏma means fullness – i.e. Love
fills up everything in life and
gives pleasure
to God.
Loving in full will
cause us to be the most fulfilled person in life.
2. Constant reminder
(Vs 11-13)
We are in the “last days”, even “last hour”
(a) The early church lived in the hope and belief that Jesus
will return in their life
time
(i) “the night is far gone, the day is at hand” (vs12)
(ii) “The end of all things is at hand” (1 Peter 4:7)
(iii) The Book of Revelation ends with “Surely I am coming
soon. Amen. Come,Lord
Jesus” (Rev
22:20)
(b) In view of this Paul sums it up.
Obey the
law, live clean lives, stop quarreling, get rid of jealousy (vs13)
3. Final remedy
(a) “Put Off”, before we can “put on” we have to “put off”,
or put
away, means
to give up
(i) “Put away strange Gods” (Gen 35:2)
(ii) “Put
away sin” (Job 22:23)
(iii) “Put
away childish thing” (1 Cor 13:11)
(iv) “Put
away everything that will grieve the Holy spirit” (Eph 4:30)
(b) “Put on”
(i) “The
armour of light” (vs12), Eph 6:11
(ii) “Put on
the New Man ”- (the new nature) created after the likeness of
God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:24), Col 3:10
(iii) “Put on
love” (Col 3:14)
(iv) “Put on
the Lord Jesus Christ” (vs14)
(also do not feed our evil
desires) (vs14)
“Stop turning to the dark side”
Repentance, forgiveness &
reconciliation
will enable us to put right
what is wrong
and keep us on the right side
of our relationship
with
one another.
