Keep on Keeping on…

Romans 13:7–14

· Continue to Give (13:7-8a)

· What You Owe (13:7)

§ Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's

· What They Deserve (13:7)

§ We are becoming an increasingly crude society

§ Paul wrote this during the reign of Nero

§ Peter wrote: "Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." (1 Peter 2:17 <NIV>)

· Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” (Daniel 6:21-22 <NIV>)

· What Sets You Free (13:8a)

§ Often misinterpreted to mean not to borrow money

§ Financial Debt

· As long as you owe it is a negative

¨ Control over you,

¨ Reflects on Jesus

§ Emotional Debt

· Unforgiveness

§ Spiritual Debt

· Unrepentant sin

· Continue to Love (13:8–10): God’s love seeks and satisfies.

· Love Satisfies the law of God (13:8)

§ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28 <NIV>)

· Love Seeks

§ the best for one’s neighbor (13:9–10).

§ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:1-7 <NIV>)

· Continue to Look (13:11–14).

· The Realization (13:11–12a): We need to know the Lord’s coming is near.

§ Time is running out (13:11a, 12a). All of us…

· Thief on the cross… Today you will be with me in paradise

· Romans 14:11-12 <NIV> It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. ()

§ Not just for ourselves but for others!

· The Response (13:12b–14)

Wake UP! Stop snoozing, stop dreaming of heaven, get busy doing what needs to be done!!!!

§ What we are to put off (13:12b, 13b):

· Works of darkness.

§ What we are to put on (13:13a, 14)

· Jesus

¨ His divine power

¨ His example

¨ His teaching

¨ His expectations

§ What are we to do “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19 <NIV>) (Alistair Begg)

· Be fishers of men

¨ Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 <NIV>)

¨ To win…

Ø We must CARE

Ø We Must Believe

Ø We Must DO