[English Sermon 영어 설교]
Sunday, January 5, 2025 - Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn
Clothe Yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:8-14)
Romans Exposition, 31st Sermon
2025. 1. 12. 주일예배 설교- 로마서 강해 31
본문: 로마서 13:8-14
제목: 주 예수 그리스도로 옷 입으라
설교자: 손진국 목사
Today's message is divided into two parts. In the Revised Version of the Bible, verses 8-10 are titled "Love is the fulfillment of the law," and verses 11-14 are titled "The Day of the Lord is Near." In other words, the first part tells us to live by loving others, and the second part instructs us to be awake and alert because the end times are approaching. These two parts are closely related.
We do not know when the Lord will return. However, we do know that the day of His return is getting nearer. Many people speak of this as the "last days." What is most needed for us, living in such times? [Romans 13:14] Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. The most important thing is to "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ." What does it mean to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ?
1. Be Filled with Love
[Romans 13:8] Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
To love others is to fulfill the law. The law shows God’s will, the way He wants it to be among His people. We often wonder, "What is God’s will for us?" Today's message gives a simple answer: "Love one another." A person who does not love others does not understand God’s will and is disobeying it.
[Romans 13:9] The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” These commandments—do not commit adultery, murder, steal, or covet—are part of the Ten Commandments. But when it says “whatever other command there may be,” it refers to other commandments, such as honoring your parents or not bearing false witness against your neighbor. Ultimately, all these commandments are summarized by Jesus as “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
However, one thing we must understand is that neighborly love does not happen naturally. There is a love that must come first: love for God. When God gave the Ten Commandments, the first four commandments were about our relationship with God. What are they? The first commandment: You shall not worship other gods. The second commandment: Do not make any idols. The third commandment: Do not misuse the name of the Lord. The fourth commandment: Keep the Sabbath holy. These commandments concerning God were the first and greatest commandment, as stated by Jesus:
[Matthew 22:37-40] Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
In today’s passage, however, Paul speaks not of loving God, the greatest commandment, but of loving others as the fulfillment of the law. Why is that? It’s because loving others can only be accomplished when we first love God. The first commandment cannot be kept by ourselves. The source of love is God Himself. God is love. Without God's love in us, we cannot love God or our neighbors. Therefore, we must invite Jesus Christ, who is God and man in perfection, into our hearts.
[John 14:6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
[John 1:12] Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
The true beginning of love is found in accepting the love of God through Jesus Christ. This is why the Gospel Sharing time after the next Sunday service is important. It provides the opportunity to hear the gospel, accept God’s love, and be saved.
If we do not accept God's love, we cannot love God or our neighbors. What is God’s love? It is Jesus Christ Himself. When we clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, we are filled with God’s love and can love both God and our neighbors.
Returning to our passage, [Romans 13:10] Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Why is love the fulfillment of the law? Because [Romans 10:4] Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Jesus Christ, who came in love, is the fulfillment of the law. The love of God, once received, empowers us to love both God and others. This is how the law is fulfilled: by loving our neighbors as ourselves.
[Romans 13:8] Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
To live without owing a debt to anyone except the debt of love is like living as if we are indebted to love one another. There are two types of people in this world:
[1] Those who love others actively. [2] Those who do not give or receive love and prefer to live alone. Such people do not know God’s love. Everyone has a thirst for their soul. Why is that? Because of sin. God came to solve this problem by offering the living water of His love, even giving His life on the cross. Those who accept this active love receive eternal life.
People who have experienced God’s love will also give love. If someone does not accept love but is constantly concerned about avoiding causing harm to others, they may fail to know how to love others. We must live indebted to love and share that love with others. Do not live alone. It might seem like a neat and dignified lifestyle, but it is ultimately lonely and selfish. A true life is one filled with love.
[Application] Do I have people I cannot love? If I am avoiding fellowship with others, what is the reason?
2. Be Filled with the Word
We are instructed to "owe each other love," but if we just meet with others and have superficial conversations, we will end up feeling more isolated. Have you experienced this before? This is often called “loneliness in the crowd.” Why does this happen? Because love, in the fulfillment of the law, must be grounded in God’s Word. Without God’s Word, meetings become empty.
How can we love?
[1 Corinthians 13:13] And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Here, we see that faith, hope, and love all persist, but love is the greatest. Faith enables hope, and love is expressed through faith. Without faith, we cannot have hope for eternal life or a resurrection, nor can we love God or others.
[Hebrews 11:6] And without faith it is impossible to please God... Without faith, we cannot love either God or people.
[Romans 10:17] Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
What do you listen to or watch? Our lives are shaped by the words we hear and speak. Words are important.
[John 6:63] The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are full of the Spirit and life.
To become spiritual, we need to listen to spiritual words. Jesus’ words are full of Spirit and life, whereas worldly words bring emptiness.
When we listen to words from this world, we experience feelings of loneliness, envy, and sadness. But when we listen to the words of God, we experience abundant life and growth. We must listen to God’s words, for they are life.
As part of the last days, one of the biggest dangers is the loss of hunger for God's Word. The devil keeps us distracted with worldly pleasures, especially through media. Do not let media prevent you from hearing God’s Word.
Your faith depends on what you hear. What are you watching? What are you listening to?
[Romans 13:11] And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
[Romans 13:12] The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
The armor of light refers to being equipped with the Word of God. We must not waste our time but be filled with the Word to live according to God's will and overcome worldly temptations.
[John 1:14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, came to us. To clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ is to arm ourselves with the Word of God.
[Application] What is the activity to which I dedicate the most time? Am I filled with God’s Word, or am I filled with media?
3. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
[Romans 13:13-14] Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. The debauchery and drunkenness, sexual immorality and lust, dissension and jealousy mentioned here are works of the flesh that seek to fulfill sinful desires. Do not pursue works of the flesh. While reading this, doesn’t a similar verse come to mind?
[Ephesians 5:18] Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Apostle Paul is making the same point here. Not getting drunk means not pursuing works of the flesh, and putting on the Lord Jesus Christ means being filled with the Holy Spirit.
We are urged to be filled with the Holy Spirit. How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit? Think about the word “receive.” Receiving is not something we do on our own, according to our own will or effort; it is a gift of grace given by God. Since it is a gift from God, what should we do? We must ask God. The book of Acts shows clearly what the apostles did when they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
[Acts 4:31] After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
How were they filled with the Holy Spirit? “They prayed.” They asked. Ultimately, we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God and prayer. In this way, we can avoid seeking works of the flesh.
[Application] Do I desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Am I asking God for it?
In conclusion, today’s message tells us to wake up and prepare for the last days, urging us to not pursue the works of the flesh and to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. To put on the Lord Jesus Christ means to be filled with love, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. Love is God the Father.
[1 John 4:16] God is love. The Word is God the Son, Jesus Christ.
[John 1:14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us... And we are to be filled with God the Holy Spirit. That is, we must be filled with the fullness of the Trinity. For this, it is crucial to consider what we are watching and listening to. Let us cut off worldly things and immerse ourselves in reading, learning, and meditating on God’s Word, and through prayer with that Word, may we be filled with the Holy Spirit and love. I pray that all believers will live according to God’s will of love here on earth.
하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.
Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.