Romans 13:8-10

Love is a debt that we can never repay in full. It is a recognition that we do love ourselves, and commands us to love others just as genuinely and sincerely as we love ourselves.

Paul contends that the Spirit of Jesus can motivate us to live responsible, Christlike lives.

Romans is a mighty leveler, for it declares that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). Since all are sinners, it comes as a delightful shock that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (5:8). This is the Good News.

This letter was written to a vibrant church in the city of Rome. When Paul wrote this letter he had not personally visited Rome, although he had desired to do so for some time.Paul admired their faith and prayed regularly for them. It is evident that the church included both Jews and Gentiles. Little did Paul know that his eventual arrival in Rome would be in captivity (Acts 28:17–31).

Paul hammers home his central theme: The righteous God justifies and ultimately glorifies both Jew and Gentile by grace through faith.

Romans 13:8–10 (NKJV)

⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ 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.” ¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 

John 13:34

¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Galatians 5:14

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 

James 2:8

³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

Mark 12:31