Mars Hill Fellowship

MESSAGE |

The Debt of Love

SERIES |

One Another

SCRIPTURE |

Romans 13:7-10

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

Because of God’s great love for us in sacrificing his own Son for our sins, our obligation to God is to fulfill the continuing debt of love towards one another. The love described by God is distinct from selfish love because Godly love ACTS in TRUTH and does no harm to its neighbor.

1 – What does it mean to love one another?

1. God desires that our love towards one another encompasses more than making people feel good or giving them everything they want. God is love and those who try to walk in love without first experiencing the love of God, will always give others a counterfeit expression of love.
2. A counterfeit love outwardly looks genuine, but the heart-motivation is really about manipulating someone else to get what is wanted.
3. We often accept selfish love because we think that we are doing someone a favor by loving them. Instead, our love towards one another is part of our obligation to God.

2 - We have a debt to God to love one another.

1. Debt is an obligation incurred as a result of some benefit transferred. We have received the benefit of eternal life as a result of God sacrificing his Son on the cross for our sins. The benefit that we have received far outweighs the obligation.

3 – In addition to realizing that we owe a debt to God, we must also observe the terms of how the debt is to be repaid.

1. Our obligation of love is not something that we can fulfill by one good deed or by loving one another based upon our own preferences, it is “a continuing debt” to love one another according to God’s standards until we leave this earth. (v8)
2. You cannot fully understand how to repay this debt towards others apart from knowing and experiencing the amazing love of God. (1 John 4:7-11)
3. Selfish love is about talk but Godly love ACTS in TRUTH. (1 John 3:18)

4 – One aspect of Godly Love ACTING in TRUTH is that it “does no harm to its neighbor.”

1. Harm is distinct from pain. Harm inflicts a negative outcome for our lives. Painful experiences may challenge us, but in the larger scope, it helps us to mature.
2. Our love can harm someone when we pacify them or let them walk outside of the will of God because we are ashamed of what the Word of God says about an issue.
3. Godly love doesn’t harm others with careless words, careless deeds, or self-righteous judgments. Godly love doesn’t avoid difficult issues but deals with issues straight on based upon God’s word. 

Scripture Index:

Romans 13:7-10
Matthew 18:23-34
1 John 4:7-11
1 John 3:16-18
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Hebrews 12:6
Psalms 119:71

thoughts for further study

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