Epistles (written)

Saturday, 7 December 2013

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12

Based on his preceding comment concerning our need to “awake out of sleep,” Paul uses a set of metaphors “night” and “day” to explain that. He says “the night is far spent.” The literal night equates to the darkness of the world and its spiritual corruption; a world lacking order and which is in chaos. This is seen, for example, when Jesus was confronted at night at Gethsemane –

“When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:53

This time of spiritual darkness is still in the world. Victory is found in Jesus, but it is not yet fully realized. That will only occur when He returns. For now, and for an indeterminate length of time, “the day is at hand.” The rapture of the church and what comes after that has been imminent from the start of the church age. There is no time that a believer could rightly say, “the Lord won’t come back today.” Therefore, that day is always at hand. And because it is, Paul gives us a stern admonition – “Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.”

“Therefore” asks us to consider what has been said and then to act on it. “Let us cast off the works of darkness” implores us to live in spiritual light and in holiness. Time and again, the Bible refers to the light in this way. John speaks of the light contrasting the darkness in the first chapter of his gospel – “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4, 5)

In order to “cast off darkness” one must be clothed with light. Darkness cannot overcome itself. Only when found clothed in light will the darkness flee away. This is why Paul next says to “put on the armor of light.” In order to do this, one must move from the devil to Christ; from the misdeed of fallen Adam to the triumph of Jesus. He is our armor from the darkness which is found in the fallen world and the One who can protect us from being cast into “outer darkness” when our days are complete.

Once one has put on Christ, they need to continue in Christ actively through prayer, studying His word, fellowshipping with others, etc. By doing this, we won’t be unfruitful, nor will we be pulled back into the spiritually corrupt world around us.

Life application: The Bible uses many metaphors to help us understand spiritual truths. As your read the Bible, take time to think through these things – elements, types of animals, types of grain and other foods (milk and honey for example), light and darkness, etc. God uses things we understand in the natural world to show us these spiritual truths.

Heavenly Father, thank You for another beautiful day. I look forward to walking in Your presence, talking to You, enjoying the sights and sounds as they come my way. As the day unfolds, please keep reminding me of our close and personal relationship as I ponder the work of Jesus and how He has reconciled me to You. I want to thank You for all You do for me! You are great, O God. Amen. 

Wednesday, 4 December 2013

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely,“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:9

Paul now makes a statement similar to what Jesus said in Mark 12. He was confronted with a question concerning the law as is seen in this exchange –

“Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?'”

Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.'” Mark 12:28-31

Jesus showed that these are the two greatest commandments. In Matthew’s account of the same incident, He went on to say, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:40

Israel was given the Ten Commandments. They came from the Lord and were engraved on two tablets of stone. The first five commandments generally deal with man’s responsibility to God; the second set of five commandments by and large deal with man’s responsibility to neighbor. The second set are highlighted by Paul today. When one commits adultery, they violate the marriage bond set between two people, thus harming one’s fellow man.

Murder is an act committed against a fellow human being with willful intent. Accidental killing of another is considered differently under the law (see Deuteronomy 19:4-7, for example). Further, the execution of criminals for capital offenses is not considered murder. Rather, it is considered against God’s wishes to let a capital crime go unpunished. But the intentional taking of another life, murder, is an utter failure to lovingly consider one’s fellow man.

Next he cites the law against stealing. What a person has worked for or earned in whatever legal way is that person’s private property. To willfully take what belongs to another fails to regard that person’s right to his possessions. In so doing, it is showing a disregard for the life and efforts of the person who is being stolen from. This concept can and should be elevated to the wrongful taking of assets from citizens by a government, including unfair taxation. By levying taxes in an arbitrary manner, thus favoring some over others, it demonstrates an unloving attitude towards all citizens. By taking from producers, it demonstrates a disregard for their efforts; by handing out welfare to those who can work for themselves, it demonstrates a disregard for their value as productive members of society. It is harmful and unloving.

Bearing false witness is unloving in that it is injurious to the innocent. When someone is wrongfully testified against, their rights as individuals are stripped and they become accountable for crimes they haven’t committed. A good example of this from the Old Testament concerns Naboth’s vineyard in 1 Kings 21. False testimony against him led to his death and his family inheritance being stolen away.

Coveting harms one’s fellow man because it inevitably leads to a violation of some other commandment. Coveting the wife of another will lead to adultery. Coveting someone’s personal property will lead to theft. Coveting one’s position or authority will lead to false testimony against them in order to usurp them. Further, coveting in particular will inevitably violate some of the first set of commandments and thus it shows a lack of love not only for others, but for God as well.

And so Paul gives the remedy to us in order to keep from violating these, and “any other commandment” that may apply, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” No one would appreciate their own wife committing adultery against them; the thought of being murdered isn’t nearly as pleasing to a murderer as killing others; where theft of others may seem trivial, the same person will feel completely violated when their property is stolen; a person who has borne false witness may shrug off the sentence of the one they bore that witness against, until they are in the same cell with them, having been falsely testified against by another; and no coveter would sleep well knowing that someone else was continuously coveting what they possessed.

In the end, when the shoe is on the other foot, none of these crimes seems pleasant. By loving others as one loves themselves, we take away such thoughts and replace them with a right attitude toward our fellow man.

Life application: When you are contemplating harming another person in some way, consider how it would be if you were so harmed. In today’s wicked world, we can be small beacons of light if we simply hold fast to the words of the Bible and the faith we possess.

Lord, you have summed up the commandments by tying them all together in love for God and love for others. I love You and want to please You, but at times I’m less loving toward others. Help me to be a complete and responsible follower of You by loving as You love – completely and without holding it back from those I otherwise find it hard to love. Thank You Lord. Amen.

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

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

Although this verse is commonly used to express the concept of Christian love, this actually isn’t what Paul is first and foremost speaking of. Context… The past 7 verses have spoken of the Christian’s duties to the state – paying taxes, paying customs, showing fear towards those who bear the sword, and rendering honor to those whom honor are due. These are all considered debts to be paid. And so Paul now reiterates this.

“Owe no one anything” implies that we pay our debts. This cannot mean that we shouldn’t acquire debt, such as in the purchase of land, a vehicle, or some other big ticket item. Even the Old Testament has provisions for buying land and the payments to be made (see Leviticus 25:13-17 for example). However, in such a debt we are to be faithful in its repayment. We are to “owe no one anything.” If a loan is made, the part that is owed is the part that is due at any given time. True, the entire debt is owed, but it is spread out through a set duration so that it is not truly “owed” until that duration comes about.

We owe taxes when we buy something, not before (except maybe with healthcare, I suppose). Therefore, we are actually owing taxes at any given time. Again, Paul cannot be saying to acquire no debt at all or we could never buy anything. Instead, he is telling us that when the debt (taxes in this instance) are due, we pay them at that time.

Honor is owed to the office of the president. Charlie Garrett may become president someday, but he is currently not in that position and so no debt of office is owed to him. However, should his day of inauguration come about, he will be owed the debt of that honor; not because he is inherently worthy of it, but because the office he holds is. And again, Paul cannot be telling us to owe no such debt in the ultimate sense, because we always owe it if we are in the United States. What he is saying is that we are to render it at the time it is due. When ushered into the presence of a crummy president, even he is to be addressed as “Mr. President.”

The reason for paying our debts when they are due should be obvious. We bear a title and distinction which is higher than any other. We bear the name of Christ Jesus. We err when we –

1) Fail to render unto Caesar
2) Fail to pay our loans
3) Owe respect, but instead withhold it

In such instances and others like them we bring discredit upon the exalted name we bear. May it never be so!

This is why the selection process in Acts 6 is cited for a job even as menial as to “serve tables.” The apostles were being bogged down because of the daily distribution and so they came together and determined to correct the matter –

“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:3, 4

Honorable people were chosen to handle matters which demanded an honorable resolution.

After telling us to “owe no one anything” Paul now throws in one caveat which is “except to love one another.” The debt of love is a debt which can never be fully paid. Unlike other debts which are paid at the time they become due, the debt of love in on-going and will never end. It will continue as long as love exists. As “God is love” (1 John 4:8) and because redeemed man will live eternally with God (John 3:16) the debt of love shall never end. It will never cease towards fellow man nor will it cease towards exalted Creator. The office of president will someday disappear, the paying of taxes will cease (thanking the Lord for that one!), but God and the people of God will always be; the debt of love shall never cease.

While in this earthly life, the debt of love is to fulfill a set requirement and purpose. It is that “he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” This precept will be explained in and through the next three verses. There is a law which requires obedience and it is fulfilled in paying the debt of love.

Life application: Love is a debt. Be sure to pay it out in a continual stream of unceasing joy.

Heavenly Father, I know that all governments will cease, all swords will be melted down, and some great day ahead, there will be no taxes (!), but I know that there remains a debt that will continue forever. Not the debt of honor to a leader, respect to a uniform, or bars of gold to a greedy government, but the debt of love. You are Love and You are eternal. And because of Jesus, I shall eternally live in Your presence. I shall pay my debt of love forever! Amen.