Transformational Love

Transformational Love Romans 13:8-14 Emmanuel Christian Church 9.24.23 INTRODUCTION: Our culture is in love with love! Unfortunately, most often it takes the form of love for oneself! IF love is directed outside of “self” it often finds the wrong target: love of sin and sensuality, or love of perverse sexuality. Each of these expressions is nothing less than a poisonous counterfeit of that which is truly love. So what is that? Well, it’s not a “what”, but rather “Who”. “God is love.” 1 John 4:8&16 When Jesus was questioned as to the greatest of God’s commandments, He gave an answer that went right to the heart of the matter: Matthew 22:37-40 “‘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.” So God, Who IS love, calls us TO love both Him and our neighbor as an expression of OUR love. PROPOSITION: “Love” is something we DO, not just an emotion we feel. DOING love God’s WAY, always works to accomplish God’s WILL. It is POWERFUL and it is part of God’s plan for TRANSforming our world. Our text this morning gives us practical coaching on how to DO the actions of transformational love - both toward our neighbor and in our relationship with God. Beginning with our neighbor, God’s Word says:

Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

  1. Love your neighbor. (vs.8-10)
  1. This is an obligation from God that never ends.
  1. Most debts can be retired when the debtor repays his obligation (sometimes with interest).
  2. Our love debt can never be retired because it was incurred at the point of our redemption from sin and death- a redemption that cost the priceless life of God’s own Son! 1 John 4:10-11 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
  3. Our never ending love debt is not simply a result of our inability to offer anything that would offset the value of Jesus’ sacrifice- it’s also because God has called us to love just like He does- without end. Jeremiah 31:3The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving- kindness. APPLICATION: So, how do you live out that kind of limitless love for your neighbor? What’s that look like? I’m glad you asked! 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. This isn’t a text written for marriage ceremonies! This was a challenge to a spiritually immature and unloving church!
  1. Here’s something you might find interesting: the practical expression of love for our neighbor is nearly one half of the Ten Commandments!
  1. Depending on how you look at them, the Ten Commandments can be divided between the two divine aims in life of loving God and loving our neighbor.
  2. Here in our text, Paul mentions 4 of the Ten Commandments that are expressly directed at loving our neighbor.
  3. While these commandments are stated in the negative with the purpose of restraining evil behavior- we can just as easily state them positively to put action to our goal of loving our neighbor.
  1. (-) Do not commit Adultery. (+) Protect the sexual purity of those around you.
  2. Do you dress modestly?
  3. Do you act appropriately toward those of the opposite sex?
  4. (-) Do not Murder. (+) Protect the lives of those around you.
  5. Do you oppose the taking of unborn life?
  6. Do you refuse passivity when others are endangered?
  7. Do you call out the crowd that thinks nothing of drinking and getting behind the wheel?
  8. (-) Do not steal. (+) Protect private property rights.
  9. Do you return what you borrow?
  10. Do you care for it in the same way you care for your own possessions?
  11. Do you refuse to participate in theft regardless of how small or insignificant? APPLICATION: Loving your neighbor means blessing him as well as refusing him any harm. Even more, it means being willing to look out for his welfare as though it were your very own. Paul next moves to our relationship with the Lord.

Romans 13:11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 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. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

  1. Love the Lord. (vs.11-14)
  1. Paul tells us to love “understanding the present time”. What does he mean?
  1. He could have meant that the present hardships of persecuted Christians made love’s encouragement especially important.
  2. He could have meant that in view of the fact that Christ could return at any moment it would be spiritually dangerous to be found unprepared through a neglect of the two great commandments.
  3. He could have meant that life is short for all of us- therefore don’t pass up the chance to tell someone that you love them- for either you or they might not have another opportunity.
  4. OR...It could be all of the above all rolled together!
  1. Paul tells us that our love should in no way be distracted from its focus on God.
  1. It is impossible to be completely in love with God and habitually sin against our fellow man.
  2. Every sinful act that we engage in- is simply evidence that we love ourselves more than we love God.
  1. Paul calls us as Christians to do two things out of love for God:
  1. Clothe yourselves with Christ
  1. This “clothing” with Christ is something that initially takes place at our baptism.

Galatians 3:26-27 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

  1. It is furthered by our choice to take on the very elements of Christ’s character as our own. Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
  1. Think differently (“...and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”) Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. CONCLUSION: Love is a choice we make, not a feeling we wait for. God has called us to it in our relationship with Him and our fellow man. IT’S NOT EASY. But it is POWERFUL. It changes us first, then it TRANSFORMS those around us.