Lesson Seven
Are We Filled With God's Love?
Text: Romans 13:8-10
One of the hardest challenges we
face as humans is found in one of the most common experiences we talk about. We
talk a lot about love, but we all find loving to be a tremendous challenge. We
typically think that we would experience no difficulty in showing love if "he,"
"she," or "they" would simply be more lovable [by our personal definition]. The
problem with showing love is always "them" and never "me." It is true in some
circumstances "he, she, or they" are the challenging problem. However, whatever
problem exists with showing love, "I am part of the problem." That is why in
Christianity another human being is not the standard. The standard is God's love
expressed in Jesus Christ.
Discuss the difficulty of loving people who are hard to love. Discuss the
difficulty of loving people who are NOT "just like me" in thought patterns and
in priorities.
There are many debts we can repay. We can repay money [if we borrow reasonably].
We can repay kindness by returning the kindness. We can repay an act of labor
given to aid us by returning the act of labor in someone else's critical moment.
We can repay friendship, neighborliness, thoughtfulness, or consideration--even
gestures of grace and mercy.
Talk about the kinds of debts people can repay. Discuss how (a) selfishness and
(b) unwise use of indebtedness [emotional and monetary] are significant factors
in debts we cannot repay.
However, when we let God be the standard, there is something that we can never
repay. If God is the standard, we can never repay our indebtedness to love.
Consider Paul's statements earlier in this same writing:
Stress this fact: our indebtedness to God's love makes our indebtedness to
loving other humans unpayable.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
. . But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6, 8)
God did not love us when we were godly or righteous, but when we were ungodly
and unrighteous--when we were everything He was not, and when we had not even
accepted His offer to allow Him to make us righteous in His sight.
God loved us when we were helpless and unlovable by Someone Who is totally holy!
God loved us when we were a mess and were powerless to help ourselves! God loved
us when we were everything God is not--when we were His enemies!
The fact that God loved us when we were enemies should call attention to the
enormous nature of God's love.
The Ten Commandments were to be the heart, the core of an Israelite's behavior.
These commandments set the tone for human behavior in Israel. These commandments
stood in obvious contrast to the behavior of most people at that time.
The Ten Commandments stress human behavior responses that were not typical of
any society when those commandments were given. For centuries after they were
given, a person loved many gods, not just one God. Loving many gods was
considered a virtue and a practical way to live. Loving one God was considered
an insult to the other gods. Also, people were to be used, not trusted. The ways
of life common to the ancient world encouraged vengeance and the exploitation of
people.
These commandments were given for the first time to ancient Israel in Exodus
20:1-17. They can naturally and easily be divided into two sections: (1) the way
Israelites were to treat God; (2) the way Israelites were to treat each other.
Stress the two major, natural divisions of the Ten Commandments.
In the first section, verses 1-11, (a) Israelites were not to recognize other
gods as rivals to the God Who led them out of Egypt. (b) They were not to make
or worship idols. (c) They were to honor God's name. (d) They were to show
respect for God by not working on the Sabbath.
Note each of the ways that Israel was to respect God. Put each command in
practical, understood terms.
In the second section, verses 12-17, (a) Israelites were to care for their
parents. (b) They were not to murder. (c) They were not to commit adultery. (d)
They were not to steal. (e) They were not to lie. (f) They were not to covet.
Put in practical, understood terms the commands to respect other Israelites. [To
confirm the way they treated Israelites sometimes differed from the way they
treated people who were not Israelites, consider Leviticus 25:39-46.] Students
need a practical understanding of the fact that Israelites were expected to care
for their parents; and were not to exploit each other by murdering, committing
adultery, stealing, or lying. Be certain they understand what the concept of
"covet" is.
Paul [a Jewish scholar] said every human-to-human responsibility found in the
Ten Commandments was honorably and completely fulfilled by loving your neighbor
as yourself. The person who loves will not neglect his/her parents; or murder;
or commit adultery; or steal; or lie; or covet. Since love does not do wrong to
one's neighbor in any way or manner, love fulfills the law.
If you love a person, you will not murder him/her; commit adultery with her;
steal from him/her; deceive him/her; or seek to exploit another by taking what
belongs to him/her. Love shows kindness because love exists and kindness is a
part of love's nature.
Christianity stresses the all encompassing value in the God-to-human
relationship -- LOVE. This love is not a mere emotion that sanctions both godly
and ungodly deeds and feelings. It is an intent that regulates human behavior by
changing a person in his/her inner most level. It is much more than controlling
one's actions. It is changing one's thoughts and motives so he/she does not even
think in terms of ungodly acts. To control one's behavior is good. To change
one's thoughts and motives in a manner that pre-empts ungodly desires is
superior!
Do some research. The Greek language had four words for love. In Christianity,
agape love was founded on the person's will or intent instead of his/her
emotions. It is founded on an attitude of the mind. Thus the Christian can love
the unliked and the unloving. He/she does not feel the same way toward a family
member or a friend as he/she feels toward someone who is disliked or unloving.
Feelings are based on emotional responses. Agape is based on the mind. Matthew
5:43-48 states we exercise this intent because I want to be like our God Who
seeks the best interest even of the humans who oppose Him. The Christian's
behavior is not controlled by emotions that are allowed to overwhelm him/her,
but by a commitment to God's good will.
It takes very little insight to realize this commitment to God's love will not
murder, use for adultery, steal, deceive, or be materialistic in his/her
association with others.
It is not that Christian directives nullify God's laws concerning human behavior
in the Old Testament. It is that Christianity stresses a value and motive that
goes beyond behavior control. Even Israelites who viewed God's teaching as
nothing more than behavior control or behavior modification failed miserably
(consider scriptures such as Deuteronomy 6:5 and 10:16).
The ethic of agape does not set aside the Ten Commandments. It fulfills them and
goes beyond them in honoring God and honoring people. It is not a mere mechanism
to control behavior; it is a godlike commitment.
Paul did not seek to nullify God's law. Paul emphasized that Christians, whether
Jews or former idol worshippers, were governed by a divine value that treated
God and people properly. He or she would love! They would do more than go
through the motions! They would do more than honor traditions! They would do
more than behavior control or modification! They would love! Love of God
resulted in obediently honoring God. Love of people resulted in obediently
honoring people.
This is not merely the acquiring of a new behavior. It is acquiring the new
nature of God's new creation produced by becoming a part of Jesus Christ.
Love is the unpayable debt. It is impossible for Christians to love too much!
He/she loves the God who loved him/her while he/she was an unlovable enemy. God
loved him/her before he/she proved himself/herself. God loved enough to pay
forgiveness' full price [the death of God's son] before he/she responded to
God's initiative. Thus, even if an enemy refused to respond to the Christian's
initiative, the Christian still loved. Why? He/she existed because God's love
redeemed and sustained. Love was [is] the unpayable debt!
We in our love can never give as much to God as God gave [and continues to give]
us in redeeming us from sin. That is the foundation of love being the unpayable
debt.
For Thought and Discussion
1. What is one of the hardest challenges people face?
One of the hardest challenges we face is found in the challenge to love.
2. We typically think we would experience no problems in showing love if what
were true?
We typically think we would experience no problems if others we love would
just be more lovable.
3. Why does the problem of showing love exist?
The problem of showing love exists because "I am part of the problem."
4. In Christianity, who is the standard for showing love?
God is the standard of showing love.
5. Why does Christianity exalt God to the position of standard in showing love?
God's love always surpasses human love in its sacrificial nature and its
kindness [even to enemies].
6. Into what two sections can the Ten Commandments be naturally and easily
divided?
The Ten Commandments can naturally and easily be divided into (1) treatment
of God and (2) treatment of other Israelites.
7. What did Paul say about every human-to-human responsibility in the Ten
Commandments?
Paul said the human-to-human responsibilities of the Ten Commandments are
honorably and completely fulfilled by loving your neighbor as yourself.
8. What does Christianity stress?
Christianity stresses the ethical commitment of love is of all-encompassing
value in the God-to-human relationship.
9. What is impossible for Christians to do?
It is impossible for Christians to love too much.