Practical Christian Living #

Romans 13:8-14

Introduction

Since Romans 12, we have been covering very practical aspects of christian living, where the rubber meets the road. It is so important to understand that. We first saw how christians should treat other saved christians. We looked at the christian and the world, as well as the christian and the government, we now will summarize all of it in our life and testimony.

I. Love (8-10) #

A. Debt of Love (8) #

Prov. 22:7 ¶ The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

1. Paul was a debtor! (Romans 1:14-16) #

2. We are indebted to love one another #

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

B. Duty of Law (8-9) #

1. Adultery, a man and wife belong to one another, adultery, is taking what belongs to someone else. #

2. Killing - obviously, is taking the life of someone. - that doesn't belong to you. #

3. stealing - is taking something that doesn't belong to you. #

4. bearing false witness - telling something not true about a person. Gossiping, slandering, lying. - doing so damages someone else. #

5. coveting - Covetousness is to desire that which is not yours, or forbidding, and being dissatisfied until getting it. - Ahab and the garden he coveted after. #

6. The rest of the commandments, are summed up in love one another! #

C. Defined Love (10) #

1. Love worketh no ill - You will not try to take advantage of, destroy, hurt, steal from, lie about, or harm someone you love. #

2. We are to live this in action. #

II. Living your Life (11-14) #

A. Day light (11-12) #

1. Time #

• He gives us an illustration, of daytime. WAKE UP!

• Our salvation is closer now... the day of redemption draweth nigh

  • Either Jesus will come, or we will die! Either way, we are all one day closer to heaven!

2. Wake up! #

B. Dark fleshly living (12-13) #

1. Cast off the works of darkness #

• Darkness, and night time is often associated with the list in vs 13:

  • Rioting & drunkenness - unrestrained, uncontrolled eating, partying, and doing what ever you want.
  • Chambering (sleeping around) wantonness (uncontrolled passions),
  • strife and envying - power struggles, trying to be better, or more important than someone else.

C. Dressed in righteousness (14) #

1. Dressed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, every day! - Living like Jesus would! #

Gal. 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.