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Romans 13

Love Fulfills God’s Requirements


Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.


This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see.


Romans 13:8-14 New Living Translation (NLT)



Sometimes Scripture can be confusing which is why believers in Christ are called to rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Those who believe are charged with the responsibility of knowing God's Word. The Holy Spirit exists to help us with this and we don't have to rely upon our own understanding. God knew the enemy would use Paul's words to distort the Truth. He has done this from the beginning. That snake in the Garden of Eden knew what he was doing and it is a trick he has used throughout time on every one of us. But it only works if we don't know the difference. If we get confused by what we read in God's Word, read what Jesus said (in some Bibles it is printed in red). Have you noticed that unlike other parts of the Bible, what Jesus says cannot be taken out of context? He was murdered on a cross because the authorities misinterpreted God's law and unjustly accused Him of breaking it. But God has a plan . . .


Romans 13:1-5, a very small section of the inspired Word of God, has been used throughout history to substantiate many crimes against humanity. However, those words from Paul are a suggestion of how order in the world should be maintained and God has a word for those in authority as well. On the other hand, we are ALL COMMANDED TO LOVE, all through the Word of God, by God, by His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and by all who were inspired to contribute to God's Word. God is love! When we know Jesus, we are given discernment to know the difference and prompted to understanding by the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts.


Hate is a powerful emotion. It causes people to say and do things that do not line up with the will of God. It is a tool the enemy constantly uses to try to destroy us and it is the antithesis of love. ALL authority has been given to Jesus Christ, who will return to judge the living and the dead. We can trust Him when we believe and follow Him. Those in authority who use God's Word to bring harm to others are already condemned because they have demonstrated they do not really believe God's Word. God will not be mocked.

If we are to give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's (Luke 20:25), who do you think comes first?


So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45 NLT

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