Romans 13:8-14

This passage ought not be severely disconnected from the previous section.  Both have to do with the lives we live in a world dominated by unbelieving people and an ungodly system of thought (1 John 2:15-17).  We are not allowed to disconnect from that world.  We must live properly under the governing authorities (v1-7).  We are to love the people around us (v8-10).  And we are to live Christ before those around us (v11-14).

This passage is also important in the way it helps us to see practically what it means to live under grace and not under law. 

The obligation of love, v8-10.

Love is an obligation, or more precisely, a debt.  We are taught to live our lives without other debts to the people of this world but to recognize a debt which the world may not assess against us. 

There are two things about love to keep front and center.  First, by nature it does no harm to its neighbor.  Second, it fulfills the law.  Think about this as you note the man-directed commands from the Ten Commandments (v9).  What Paul does is to call attention to a truth that underlies the Law.  He does not list the commands to give us a legal checklist; this leads to fleshly obedience.  Instead he tells us to renew our minds, to recognize our debt.  This leads to fulfilling the law, something those who tried to their best ability to keep the law could not do.

The urgency of love, v11-14.

The problem in paying this debt is that the time is short.  We must wake up!  We must put off laziness, procrastination, lukewarmness and apathy.  This “awakening” is to be done in the manner that fits living under grace.  We do not work to keep a lengthy list of rules and regs.  Rather we are involved in a daily pattern of “putting off’ (repentance) – ‘being renewed in our minds’ – ‘putting on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 4:17-24 explains this in more detail).  Things like revelry and drunkenness (refers to a nighttime riotous procession in honor of some Roman god), lewdness and lust (related to sexual immorality) and strife and envy (pride of life sins) are not fitting for believers.  But it is not because they violate some law.  It is because they are associated with darkness and we are “children of light”.  It does not fit our calling to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

The bottom line is in v14: if we put on the Lord Jesus Christ there will be no place for these works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21) or even for the desire for these things.  This is the power available to believers that is not evident to those simply trying to keep the law.  Review Romans 7 (esp. v4-5).  We have died to the law and are married to Christ.  

The time of His return is near.  The night is far spent.  The day is at hand.  Let us walk properly as in the day.