3/10/24 - Love Without End - Romans 13:8-14 - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday we read from the last half of Romans chapter 13. It is beautiful. It contains the distinctively Christian virtue of love. I say, "distinctively Christian" because of the specific Greek word used by Paul - agape. This word is rarely used outside of the Bible. Yet it is the primary way in which Christians are commanded to love each other - without condition and without end. It is this unending love in action that gave rise to the spread of Christianity around the Mediterranean. The world had never seen anything like it.

 

First century AD culture was deeply divided and separated. There was strong prejudice in every direction. There were deep lines of division between male and female, Barbarian and Greek, Jew and Gentile, slave and free. Class differences kept people from speaking to each other. “Stranger” and “enemy” were the same word in many languages.

 

This was the backdrop against which Jesus said to his followers, “love one another” and, “love your neighbor." As the years went by and as people from all walks of life embraced Christianity something remarkable began to happen. Former enemies considered each other family. They sat at the same table holding hands and sharing food. It was unheard of before this time.

 

"Christian" is a word that was made up by those who were trying to identify this unusual collection of people. The name was not invented by Christians themselves. Christ means messiah and the suffix ‘ian’ means party of or belonging to. (Romans soldiers called themselves Caesarians, meaning they belonged to Caesar.) This diverse group was brought together by Christ. They were the party of Jesus!

 

How did it begin? With this attitude of heart...

 

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

 

Friends, we have a lifelong debt of love. No matter how much you give, you are called to give more. You never reach a point where you say, “I have loved enough, I’m done!” The motivation for this is God’s love for us. God loved us immeasurably through his son Jesus. We understand His love to the degree that we love others.