Romans 13:8-14 NIRV
8 Pay everything you owe. But you can never pay back all the love you owe one another. Whoever loves other people has done everything the law requires. 9 Here are some commandments to think about. “Do not commit adultery.” “Do not commit murder.” “Do not steal.” “Do not want what belongs to others.” These and all other commands are included in one command. Here’s what it is. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” ( 10 Love does not harm its neighbor. So love does everything the law requires.
11 When you do these things, keep in mind the times we are living in. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your sleep. The full effects of our salvation are closer now than when we first believed in Christ. 12 The dark night of evil is nearly over. The day of Christ’s return is almost here. So let us get rid of the works of darkness that harm us. Let us do the works of light that protect us. 13 Let us act as we should, like people living in the daytime. Have nothing to do with wild parties, and don’t get drunk. Don’t take part in sexual sins or evil conduct. Don’t fight with each other or be jealous of anyone. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ as if he were your clothing. Don’t think about how to satisfy sinful desires.
Questions Regarding the passage:
1. why does Paul make it important for Christians to not be indebted towards others (Verse 8)
2. How do Christians fulfil the whole law through love? What does Paul mean by this? (Verses 8-10)
3. Paul talks about the time of Christ’s return is nearer, why does he say this? Why is it important for us to put away our dark deeds before Christs return? (Verses 11-14)
Practical questions:
1. How do we make our lives ’continuing debt to love one another’? (Verse 8)
2. How do we ‘put aside our deeds of darkness’? What can you do in you daily life to fulfil this? (Verse 12)
3. What are some steps we can take to ‘put on Christ’ in difficult situations where we struggle with our darkness? Have you ever out on Christ and over come any struggles and how? (Verse 14)
