A man had a checkup and then went in to see his doctor to get the results. The doctor said he had bad news and worse news for him, which did he want to hear first? The man was a bit baffled and said he’d rather hear the bad news first. The doctor said, “The bad news is that you only have 24 hours to live.” At this the man jumped up, totally flabbergasted and distraught. He paced the doctor’s office and complained, “24 hours to live? I can’t possibly get my affairs in order that quickly. I can’t believe this! What could be worse news than this?” The doctor said, “The worse news is that I was supposed to tell you this yesterday but I forgot.”1

On a serious note, many years ago I read a book entitled, When I Relax, I Feel Guilty by Tim Hansel. In his book Hansel refers to an article entitled, If You Are 35, You Have 500 Days to Live. Its thesis was that when you subtract the time spent sleeping, eating, working, tending to personal matters, hygiene, odd chores, medical matters, traveling, and miscellaneous time-stealers, in the next 36 years you will have roughly the equivalent of only 500 days left to spend as you wish. For most of us, that is rather motivating. No wonder the psalmist advised, “So teach us to number our days that we may present to you a heart of wisdom” (90:12). In Romans 13:8-14, Paul proposes a radical response that will help us to number our days wisely. This text has the potential to change my life and your life if we let it. Paul challenges us to consider two simple but important facts.

1. We have a bottom line (13:8-10). In 13:8a, Paul writes, “Owe2nothing to anyone except to love one another.” The NASB’s translation “owe nothing to anyone”3 can be misleading because it seems to prohibit any form of debt or borrowing. However, this verse does not mean that we may never incur financial obligations or that we may not borrow from others in case of need. The New Testament does not forbid borrowing, only the practice of charging inflated interest on loans and failing to pay debts.4 The NIV’s translation, “Let no debt remain outstanding” avoids the literal interpretation but gives the correct interpretation of Paul’s thoughts. Paul is not saying that we should never incur debts, but that we should quickly pay every debt except that of love. We should strive to love, but we should never consider the debt “paid in full.” Love is a debt that continues forever.

In 13:8b, Paul writes, “For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled thelaw.” The whole of the Old Testament Law can be boiled down rather simply. In Matthew 22, Jesus said that the greatest commandment is really two fold: “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.” If you and I practice this style of love Paul says that we have “fulfilled the law.” Naturally, we can only accomplish this as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. I can’t love any person in my life like this but with the enablement of the Holy Spirit, I can. That’s the bottom line!

Paul further explains the bottom line in 13:9-10, when he writes,“For this, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Murder, adultery, theft, and covetousness are the sixth, seventh, eighth, and tenth commandments respectively.5 However, Paul doesn’t want us focusing on the Law, he wants us focused on love. When we love our neighbor,6 Paul makes it clear that we “fulfill the Law.” The root from the word translated “summed up”7 means “to hit on the head.” So this statement “hits it on the head” and fulfills all system of Law. This is what believers should be known for: love not Law. Love should be the mark that distinguishes us as Christians.8

The question is: Who are we commanded to love? Paul makes this clear as well. In 13:8, he writes that we are to “love one another.” This phrase refers to fellow believers.9 In 13:9, he writes that we are to love our “neighbor.” This word10 means “the one near you.” Paul is saying that we are to love believers and unbelievers, as many and as often as we can. Since the world believes Christianity is responsible for racism, sexism, homophobia, the Crusades, and religious wars, we must break the stereotype of intolerance and narrow hate that seems to mark us. Practically speaking, what does this look like? Here are some ideas:

1. Be warm. In our day and age, an expression of warmth can be hard to come by. Yet it has a real impact on people. My mom just oozes love and warmth. When I was growing up and went anywhere with her, grocery clerks, waiters, and other complete strangers would always say, “You are so nice” or “You have a beautiful smile.” They couldn’t help but make comments because my mom is so full of love. She pleasantly stands out from the rest of the general population. How many people say those kinds of things about you? I know I want people to sense my love for life, people, and my Lord.

2. Be a good listener. One of the greatest expressions of love is the ability to listen to people. If you want to have friends, you must show yourself friendly. One way to do this is by listening to people talk about their favorite subject — themselves. The challenge in this is to listen with a heart of love. It’s all too easy for me to begin to listen well and then have my eyes glaze over. Lori catches me in this all the time. As I’m listening, my eyes begin to glaze and look over and beyond her eyes. When this happens she knows she’s lost me and immediately calls me on it. Love listens to those who are talking with us.

3. Be affirming. I don’t think I’ve ever met a person that didn’t appreciate a kind word. All of us, to one degree or another, need encouragement from others. Think about affirming words that have been especially meaningful to you. It’s not difficult for me to think of affirming and encouraging words that have come from many of you. You know the power of words. So why not speak encouraging words into other people’s lives. Look for an opportunity to do that today. Ask yourself, whom can I encourage?

4. Be affectionate. Those whom God has placed in your life need constant physical affection. As I’ve said before, physical affection is one of the most important characteristics in raising healthy children. It also keeps the home fires burning and does much to keep your marriage affair proof. As you do so, it will become more natural to reach out to other believers and neighbors. But here is a word of warning: we must always be careful to remain above reproach. This means if you are going to touch or hug a person of the opposite sex, you must be certain it is appropriate. If I have any doubts, I will simply ask the person. It’s far worse to touch or hug someone of the opposite sex who doesn’t want to be hugged than it is to remain aloof. Some of you are saying, “I’m already an all-around likeable person. Oh really? Do you have any room for growth in these areas? I know I do. God wants us to stretch in our love quotient as individuals, as families, and as a local church.

Not only do we have a bottom line, Paul now informs us that we have a timeline. He uses the issue of urgency as a chief motivation to fulfill the law of love. The fact that we do not know how much time that we have left should motivate us to love.11

2. We have a time line (13:11-14). In 13:11, Paul writes, “Dothis, knowing the time.”12 The word “Do” is not part of the original text. The first phrase in 13:11 reads, “And this knowing the time.”13 “This” refers to the duties prescribed in chapters 12-13. These duties can be categorized under two headings — love and service. We are to love and serve knowing our time is short. The word translated “knowing”14 refers to a knowledge that is a result of knowing God. This sense of urgency cannot be known intuitively but can only be known by believers. This means time is of the essence and we must redeem the time that remains. We may not have another chance. The unbeliever may not have another day to believe in Christ and as Christians we may not have another day to seek Christ.15

Can I ask you a question? How much time do you have left? You don’t know, do you? We don’t know the day or hour that our life will end. All of us live on the edge of eternity. Paul’s reasoning is very powerful; let’s get on with making the most of our days. Don’t plan on it for later because later may never come.

Paul continues his thought in 13:11, and writes, “it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep.” Paul has to sound the alarm because many of us are asleep. Paul often uses the word “sleep”16 as a picture of believers who have been lulled into worldliness. Unfortunately, many believers are “sleep-walking.” They are alive but they are caught up in the ways of the world. Paul says, “Wake up, Christian!!!”

When I was growing up, like many teens, I had a hard time waking up. I set my alarm clock next to my bed to wake me up to the radio. I then turned the volume on full board. So when my alarm sounded, the music would be an ear-piercing blend of screaming and static (just ask my brother who was in the bedroom next to mine). Yet, in spite of the volume there were mornings that I would immediately press snooze or turn off the alarm all together. Fortunately, I was wise enough to also use a portable alarm clock that I placed on my dresser. This required me to get out of my warm bed to shut it off. By the time both alarms sounded, I was usually up and at ‘em.

Paul tells us why his wake-up call is so critical in 13:11c-12a: “for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone,17 and the day is near.” The “salvation” that Paul is speaking of is our final deliverance at the time of Jesus’ coming. “The night” refers to the time of His absence; “the day” refers to His return. The point Paul is making is that Jesus’ return is imminent (it could happen at any time). Therefore, we must be ready. God’s Word to us is that all of this life should be viewed in light of the next.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Paul writes these challenging words: “Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

God is gracious. Even if we are asleep when Christ returns, we will still be whisked off to heaven. However, this passage should motivate us to be awake, alert, and sober so that we will not be ashamed when Christ returns.

In light of this urgent timeline, Paul writes in 13:12b,“Therefore let us lay aside18 the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” I’ve always had what I call my daily “uniform.” My uniform is what I like to wear in the privacy of my own home. It’s what I immediately slip into when I come home. Usually, my uniform consists of clothes that I would NEVER wear in public. For years my uniform consisted of a pair of sweats and my favorite shirt. My favorite shirt was a baby blue, mesh, v-neck pajama top that my dad handed down to me. I loved this shirt because it was my dad’s shirt and because it was so comfortable. However, when I got married, I didn’t get rid of my uniform. In fact, I began sporting this shirt around our apartment to which Lori said, “Either you lose that shirt or I will.” By this time, my favorite shirt was faded and full of gaping holes. Yet, I loved it and wasn’t about to get rid of it. Fortunately, for the sake of my marriage, Lori finally honored her threat and tossed my poor shirt.

Do any of you have a “uniform” that is unsuitable for the light of day? Sadly, many of us who are married to Christ are still committing “deeds of darkness” that need to be done away with. Paul says, “Get rid of your old pajamas and put on the armor of light.” We must recognize that we’re in a war! That’s why we need armor. This armor is the life of Christ, which is at the disposal of every believer. Putting on this armor will permit us to plan as if Christ’s return is years away, but live as if He’s coming today.

In 13:13, Paul writes, “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.” Paul lists three couplets of the old uniform: (1) Carousing and drunkenness: those sins that seem to hurt no one except the one doing them. (2) Sexual promiscuity and sensuality: those sins that are a distortion of love. (3) Strife and jealousy: those sins that no one can see or are easily masked.

Paul closes this passage in 13:14 with this exhortation: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” When Paul tells us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” this means that as God’s chosen people we must dress “head-to-toe” in Christ’s wardrobe. Colossians 3:12-13 tells us what this looks like: “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”

To put on the Lord Jesus Christ is to make Him a part of wherever we go and whatever we do. Putting on Christ means depending on Christ to live His life, His grace, and His love through us, by means of His Spirit. There are no human means for Christ-like living. God has provided for us that which we lack. We must simply walk in the Spirit, by faith.

Paul gets very formal, using all three titles of our Savior: “LORD” looks at His power to rule, His authority, His power to control and to change lives. “JESUS” looks at His love for us, His desire to be our personal Savior, and our very best friend. This name also looks at His humanity and that He never calls upon us to do anything that He has not done and that He has not given us the power to do. “CHRIST” looks at His power to deliver. The name Christ is the translation of the word “anointed.” He is the Messiah and has delivered us at salvation and continues to deliver us in sanctification.

Paul instructs us to “make no provision for the flesh.” The term that is rendered “make provision for,”19implies forethought, planning, and activity. In Greek literature outside the New Testament, the term is used of a premeditated crime. Sin seldom just happens; most of the time it is premeditated. Sin is a link in a chain of events. When we surrender to the lusts of our flesh, it is often not a sudden collapse, but rather the culmination of a process. The sins of our flesh are those sins about which we have given much thought20 and for which we have made provision. If we would be victorious over sin and the flesh, we must cease to make provision for it.

What if Jesus Christ returns for His church today? Will you be ready? Will you be longing to meet Him? During many times in my life, I secretly hoped that Christ would not return. I knew if He did, I would be ashamed at His coming. I also knew that I wasn’t as sold out to Him as I should be. There was still so much more I knew He was calling me to accomplish. Can you relate? Where are you in your relationship with Christ? Have you ever placed your faith in Christ? Do you know for certain that if Christ returned today you would spend eternity with Him? If not, would you trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection? If you do, you will know that the greatest joy on earth is the sure hope of heaven.

Maybe you do know for certain that you will spend eternity with Christ, but you don’t want Him to return today. There’s no time like the present to get ready! The time to prepare for tomorrow is today. The bottom line is that we must sell out to Christ. This bottom line can only fully be met when we realize that we have a timeline.

Copyright © 2001 Keith R. Krell. All rights reserved. All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, C 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, and are used by permission.

Permissions: Feel free to reproduce and distribute any articles written by Keith Krell, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this information, not protect or restrict it. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: by Keith Krell, Timeless Word Ministries, 2508 State Ave NE Olympia, WA 98506, 360-352-9044, www.timelessword.com

“Love Your Neighbor” (Romans 13:8-11)

“Love Your Neighbor” Passages:

• Matthew 5:43-45a “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.”

• Matthew 19:19 “HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

• Matthew 22:37-40 “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (cf. Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27).

• Galatians 5:14 “For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”

• James 2:8 “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,’ you are doing well.”

Other Pertinent “Love” Passages:

• John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

• John 15:12-13, 17 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. This I command you, that you love one another.”

• Romans 12:10a “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.”

• 1 Corinthians 13:13 “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

• 1 Corinthians 16:14 “Let all that you do be done in love.”

• Ephesians 4:1-3 “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

• Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

• Colossians 3:12-14 “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

• 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 “And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”

• 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more.”

• 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

• Hebrews 10:24 “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”

• 1 Peter 1:22 “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.”

• 1 Peter 4:7-8 “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”

• 1 John 3:14, 17-18, 23 “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”

• 1 John 4:7-8, 11-12, 19-21 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

Notes

1 James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale, 1988), 477.

2 Gk. opheilete; cf. Paul’s other usages of opheilo: Rom 15:1, 27; 1 Cor 5:10; 7:36; 9:10; 11:7, 10; 2 Cor 12:11, 14; Eph 5:28; 2 Thess 1:3; 2:13; and Phlm 1:18. This word is used a number of times in the New Testament in several forms. Most often, it is NOT employed in the sense of a financial debt or obligation. Usually it is used in a broader sense of obligation or duty, which would best be conveyed by the word “ought.” In this context, the word “owe” or “ought” is being used of our obligation to love other people (see 15:1; 1 John 3:16; 4:11).

3 This is a double negative in Greek: “Owe no one, no thing.”

4 See Matt 25:27 and Luke 19:23; cf. Exod 22:25; Ps 37:26; and Luke 6:35.

5 See Exod 20:13-15, 17; Deut 5:17-19, 21.

6 See Lev 19:18 and Matt 22:39.

7 Gk. anakephalaioutai. The prefix ana would mean to do it again. The word came to mean a brief, but very accurate statement that summed up or gathered up many complex concepts (Eph 1:10).

8 See John 13:34-35 and sermon supplement on various love passages.

9 See 12:10; Gal 5:13; Eph 4:2; 1 Thess 3:12; 4:9; 5:13; 2 Thess 1:3.

10 Gk. plesion is an adverb and with the article “the” it means “the one near you” (Matt 5:43).

11 It’s evident that loving others (Rom 13:8-10) has much to do with “knowing the time” (13:11). When we consult parallel texts we see that loving others is linked with considering the time of Christ’s return and with forsaking our former lifestyle (Gal 5:13-26; Eph 4:22-24; 5:6-16; Col 3:1-17; 1 Thess 5:1-11; 1 Pet 4:1-11; 2 Pet 3:8-15).

12 Gk. kairos does not refer to chronological succession of time but kind, season, or quality of time. In the New Testament, it often has an eschatological usage (Mark 13:33; Luke 21:8; Acts 1:7; 1 Thess 5:1; 1 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 1:5; and Rev 11:18).

13 Our time on earth is brief (see Ps 78:39; 90:3-6; John 9:4; Eph 5:15-17; 1 Thess 5:1-11; Jas 4:14; and Rev 12:12).

14 Gk. eidotes, see Gal 2:16; 4:8; cf. Rom 5:3; 6:9; 1 Cor 15:58; 2 Cor 1:7; 4:14; 5:6,11; Eph 6:8-9; Phil 1:16; Col 3:24; 4:1; 1 Thess 1:4.

15 The New Testament abounds with mandates to consider and use wisely the time we have (see Eph 5:16; Col 4:5; Jas 4:14; and Rev 22:10).

16 Cf. Ephesians 5:14 “For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” 1 Thessalonians 5:6 “so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”

17 Gk. prokopto, cf. Luke 2:52; Gal 1:14; 2 Tim 2:16; and 3:9, 13.

18 Gk. apothometha, cf. Paul’s usage in Eph 4:22, 25 and Col 3:8.

19 Gk. pronoian. This word is found only in Acts 24:2b-3. Tertullus, an attorney who was the spokesman for the Jews who opposed Paul, spoke these flattering words to Felix: “Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for the nation, we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness” (Acts 24:2b-3).

20Here we see the role coveting can play.

All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, and are used by permission.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
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