Gonna Let It Shine

INTRODUCTION:

If you have your Bible open them to Romans 13.

It’s New Years Eve. It’s a time of year that inspires us to set new goals, dream new dreams and press the reset button to make 2024 different than 2023.

I love this time of year because people often set spiritual goals alongside their physical, financial goals.

God deserves our very first and our very best and so as we begin a new first of the year we want to position ourselves to do just that.

I’ve entitled this new series “This is the Way” because Romans 12-13 offers a roadmap and a blueprint for how Christians are to live in this world.

It’s a play on the phase used by the Mandalorians in Star Wars. An appeal to a higher standard; a code of conduct.

Of all of the passages in the New Testament to help shape our thinking on what faithfulness to Christ looks like in 2024 - this is one of the best.

Culture & Values

But it’s not just a series to remind us of how Christians ought to live. It’s also a series to Scripturally communicate the core values of our church.

One of the things we started in 2023 was a Strategic Planning Process that reexamined the mission, vision, values and strategy of our church. We’re actually right in the middle of that process and it’s been really helpful in some important ways.

One of the most helpful outcomes of this process was a crystallization of what our church really values and why our church looks and feels the way that it does.

I think each of us have our own language to describe it but the reason that you’re at Broadview instead of some other church isn’t because of the style of the architecture or the color scheme of the website. It’s something about the people. It’s something about the culture.

The culture of a church gets shaped by the values of it’s people.

If you have a toxic culture in your church then you need to examine the values the people hold in that church.

Values @ Broadview

The core values of our church have been articulated historically in a variety of ways.

I pulled up an old new member class from 2002 and the values were articulated using Broadview as an acrostic:

B = Build Body more than Buildings

R - Relationship

O - Outreach

A - Acceptance

D - Discipleship

V - Vision

I - Implement

E - Encouragment

W - Worship

I also came across a publication from 2004 that stated them even more succinctly.

Submission

Worship

People

Fellowship

Mission

Discipleship

In 2013 you got a new senior pastor who thought he had to come up with even more so he built a list.

Worship

Discipleship

Unreached People

Outreach

Bible

Authenticity

Friendliness

Unity

Excellence

The Big Country

World Evangelization.

Then in 2018 that same preacher got wise to the fact that nobody is going to remember 11 words! So we boiled it down to three statements.

Them Before Us

There Are No Strangers

Whatever it Takes

I don’t think any of these lists misrepresent what our church values but most of them are overly generic and require some kind of explanation for what we mean by each individual word.

That’s why part of our strategic planning process was to prioritize and crystalize these core values so they effectively communicate who we are and why we do what we do.

New Core Values

That conversation hinged around five big umbrellas: the Mission of God, the presence of God, the Word of God, the People of God, and a Culture of Grace.

Because those broad categories don’t communicate with specificity we came up with five sentences that articulate our core values.

We make Jesus known wherever we go.

We foster tangible encounters with the living God.

We teach Biblical truth that transforms lives.

We build communities that serve like Jesus.

We welcome people as they are.

I love these five statements because I truly believe they represent our core values in this church.

What’s even better? These core values are BIBLICAL values. I see them THROUGHOUT Old & New Testaments.

These are the values that JESUS prioritized and therefore these are the values that we must promote.

So for the next five weeks we’re going to unpack these five values out of the New Testament letter to the Christians in Rome.

I’ve bounced around to so many passages to articulate these values but in my quiet time the other day I was struck by this passage and the presence of all five values in Paul’s application section in the book of Romans.

But we could really use ANY NT letter because most of them were written to local churches trying to put into practice the teachings of Jesus in the context of a local church.

If it was relevant then it’s relevant for us today.

READ THE TEXT

So with that in mind, we’re going to begin our journey where Paul ends his point in Romans 13:8-14

Romans 13:8–14 CSB

8 Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law. 11 Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.

It’s a fitting exhortation as we close out 2023 and begin day 1 of 2024.

Discard the deeds of darkness, put on the armor of light - Walk this way and make Jesus known wherever you go.

MAKING JESUS KNOWN:

What do we mean when we say we want to make Jesus known wherever we go?

The late 19th century British Evangelist Rodney (Gypsy) Smith once quipped, “There are five Gospels.” (which is a scandalous statement given the Christian church has only recognized four authentic Gospels).

But the quote doesn’t end there. The five Gospels he lists are “Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the Christian.” He closes by saying, “Most people will never read the first four.”

It’s similar to what William Thorn said, “Be careful how you live. You might be the only Bible some people ever read.”

I’ve always disliked the famous quote by St. Francis of Assissi to “preach the Gospel at all times and to use words if necessary.” Because you literally cannot preach the Gospel without words.

That being said - it’s indisputable that the way we live communicates what we believe more powerfully than any other thing.

Grace & Effort

There’s a stream in Christianity that says we should stop focusing so much on a Christian’s behavior. Because the Gospel is salvation by grace not works so no man can boast.

And that’s true. Even our BEST righteousness is a filthy rag before the Lord. Our only hope of salvation is the grace of God that is given to an undeserving sinner.

But once you’ve been truly touched by grace your life will never be the same. it results in a holiness of life.

The reason we pursue holiness is not so that God will love us even more. His love and forgiveness are grace gifts in Jesus. We pursue holiness so that WE and OTHERS might be able to SEE him more clearly.

This is a dominant theme in the Scriptures.

Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? Clean hands/pure heart.

The prayer of a RIGHTEOUS man availeth much.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

And in our passage today a call to discard darkness & put on light.

I’d like to package today’s message under three basic headings to make Jesus known wherever we go.

Wake Up

Gird Up

Fight

Wake Up

The first thing Paul says is to “wake up” from sleep because you see the day approaching.

Romans 13:11–12 (CSB)

11 Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near…

What does Paul mean by this phrase “the night is nearly over and the day is near?”

He assumes the Christians he is writing to ought to understand this. “You know what time it is… you better wake up…

The Day is a reference to the second coming of Jesus. (Heb 10:25) A day of judgment for God’s enemies and a day of deliverance and glorification for God’s people.

If that’s the day then what is the night? The night is the old order of this world. The night is the kingdom of darkness that resists the kingdom of light.

Already/Not Yet

Paul is developing the main message of Jesus. Namely, the Kingdom of God is AT HAND. The coming of Jesus into the world brought about a definitive turning of the tide.

Now, we saw with the Kingdom Parables in Matthew 13 that the kingdom advances within an already not yet tension. But it’s not as though the kingdom advance can be stopped.

The night WILL come to an end because the sun is rising

Why is Paul saying this? It’s a motivation for WHY Christians ought to live in a Christian way.

Why should we make Jesus known wherever we go?

Why should our love be without hypocrisy?

Why should we practice hospitality? Become a living sacrifice?

Answer: Because the old order of things is passing away and there ain’t no going back.

Illustration: Briggs/Morning. My youngest is at the age where he likes to crawl into our bed if we wakes up in the middle of the night. So long as he wakes up and it’s still night outside it’s good. But as soon as he sees a little sunlight he’s over it. “Daddy. Chocolate milk! It’s morning!”

That’s exactly what Paul is saying here.

The Sun is already out because the Son has already come. Now it’s just a matter of time.

Salvation is Nearer

He also mentions this phrase, “Salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”

Salvation isn’t just something that happens to us in the past. It’s something that is happening to us in the present and will be completed upon Christ’s second coming.

We were saved (justification) are being saved (sanctification) and will be saved (glorification.)

So when Paul says, “Salvation is nearer than when we first believed” he’s encouraging those Christians who are suffering under the incompleteness of salvation.

Sin is forgiven, guilt is removed, condemnation is gone but for certain things we still wait.

What does the incompleteness of salvation entail?

The daily fight against our flesh and old nature.

The inescapable reality of brokenness and suffering.

Diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders.

Realities like death whether expected or unexpected.

Today we see in a mirror dimly but on that day we will see “face to face.”

That’s why you gotta wake up! It’s morning.

Sleeping is for night time and we’re not in night time any more. Sleeping is what the world does.

Gird Up

In addition to taking off these things Paul also exhorts us to “Gird Up” and put on the armor of light.

It’s a reminder that the Christian life includes spiritual warfare.

Romans 13:12–14 (CSB)

12 ……so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light…… 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.

What is this connection between the armor of light and the Lord Jesus Christ?

It’s pretty obvious that we can make Jesus know by “putting Jesus on” but what does that look like practically speaking?

One of the ways to answer that question is by examining how Paul uses this language in other letters to other churches. Interestingly, the idea of “putting off and putting on” is something he uses more than once.

Theology of Armor

The most famous example is Ephesians 6 and Paul’s extended treatise of the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:11 CSB

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.

Ephesians 6:13 CSB

13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

If you keep reading Paul identifies various elements of the amor of God. (belt/truth, breast/righteousness, sandals/peace, shield/faith, helmet/salvation, sword/word)

In other words, the amor is for resisting evil and advancing righteousness.

He uses similar language a smaller sister letter to the church in Colossae.

For example, Colossians 3:12

Colossians 3:12 CSB

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

Notice the phrase “As God’s chosen ones.” It’s not that we put on these virtues to become God’s children. Rather, because we belong to the Lord we gird up with these things.

There’s a similar dynamic in 1 Thess 5:7-8

1 Thessalonians 5:7–8 CSB

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.

Again, we fight “as children of the day” not to “become children of the day.”

In our passage in Romans it is “in view of God’s mercy” that we live in this way.

God has already transferred us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. All that’s left is to dress, live and fight light it.

Faith, Hope & Love in Jesus

The reason I wanted to share the passage from 1 Thess is because it’s such a close parallel with Paul’s imagery in Romans 13. It’s almost as if he’s defining what he means by “armor of light.”

The armor of light is the armor of faith & love and the helmet of salvation’s hope.

It’s the classical theological triad of faith, hope and love.

But faith hope and love in what? That’s too general.

That’s why the parallel in Romans 13:14 is to “put on Christ.”

It’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is what it means to gird up.

Weapons of the World

This world of darkness has a litany of spiritual weaponry aimed at our heads. But those weapons aren’t primarily to cause us physical arm. They are to bring about spiritual compromise and dullness.

The world has dulling, desensitizing weapons aimed at our heart and our head. To dull our faith, hope and love. Their aim is not to scare us. It’s to lull us to sleep.

Wake up to the battle! Put on armor of light. Only faith, hope and love can keep us awake in a world of sleep walking.

We put on Christ (faith/hope/love) as a protective shield.

It’s like our parachute when sky-diving.

Bullet proof vest from bullets of unbelief and sin.

Badge that admits you to all the resources of heaven you need to do his will.

Intercom system for constant communication.

Once we have woken up and put on our armor the next and final requirement is to get out and fight.

Fight On

Paul concludes by telling us to fight for holiness by going to war against the sin in our life.

Romans 13:13–14 CSB

13 Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.

I want to discuss this is a positive sense and a negative sense.

Every good war has an offensive strategy and a defensive strategy.

Paul uses six words in three pairs to describe “deeds of darkness” that are common and accepted in this world but have the effect of damaging us spiritually when we engage in them as Christians.

I’ll use the CSB translation to list them:

Carousing and Drunkenness

Sexual impurity and Promiscuity

Quarreling and Jealousy

Excessive Substances

The first pair of words deal with excess in terms of intoxicating substances: carousing and drunkenness.

The word “carousing” was often used to describe the kind of party you went to in order to get drunk. (I remember these parties as a teenager! The “cause of Celebration” was irrelevant. The only reason everybody showed up was to get drunk and watch the fireworks fly.)

The word “drunkenness” is just what it sounds like. It’s the state of mind that results from drinking too much (or smoking too much or taking too much).

He’s saying, “avoid the kind of gatherings that exist to promote substance abuse and the tomfoolery that such abuse promotes.

And you think the Bible isn’t relevant?

He’s warning against behaviors that dull your senses so that you begin to say things you wouldn’t normally say, think things you wouldn’t normally think and do things you wouldn’t normally do.

It was as common then as it is today.

The Bible never forbids the use of alcohol but it STRONGLY warns against its seductive power and our tendency to use it in excess. (and we could add to it a list of other substances as well. )

Excessive Sex

The second pair of words deals with excess in terms of illicit sex: sexual impurity and promiscuity.

The first word translated “sexual immorality” isn’t the more common “Pornea” which means sex outside of God’s design (covenant of marriage).

The word originally just meant bed. Then it came to refer to the “marriage bed.” But in the first century it became a crass way to describe any kind of sexual intercourse particular sex outside the moral boundary lines.

The word translated “promiscuity” means excessive indulgence in sexual pleasure. Sexual debauchery and self-abandonment.

Again the Bible never discourages sex (quite the opposite) but it does restrict sex to a certain context: Biblical marriage.

And here Paul is warning against the inclination we all have to color outside the sexual boundary lines God has established and to do so to the point of becoming controlled by that desire instead of subordinating it to it’s proper use.

Interestingly when it comes to the excessive use of substances or sexual activity Paul uses the plural to connotes all sorts of different activities. When it comes to the last pair he uses the singular to describe the spirit of a person.

Excessive Self

The last pair of words has to do with excess as it relates to irritating selfishness: quarrelling and jealousy.

The word translated “quarreling” describes a contentious spirit. Always stirring up conflict, getting heated and causing strife.

The word translated “jealousy” is what it sounds like. A greedy prideful longing for what another person has whether it’s their stuff, their skills or their way of life.

When taken together it’s describing a spirit that is never content and always looking to take from another what it desires for itself.

It’s pride and selfishness at the highest level. It’s all for me and none for thee. Whether its money, success or status there is an unquenchable thirst for more: more me me me me me.

Defensive Strategy

So what does a defensive strategy look like in relation to these three things?

It looks like practicing wise discernment around what you put into your body, what you do with your body and how much attention you’re putting on yourself.

It looks like self-control: the first mention in the fruit of the Sprit.

It looks like going to war against these things if they’ve become addictions in your life. One of the chief ways that your enemy keeps you from making Jesus known is by compromising your integrity through one of these ploys.

It’s hard to share Jesus if you’re always engaged in sex outside of God’s design.

It’s hard to share Jesus with your drug dealer during the after party.

It’s hard for other people to want the Jesus you share if all you can ever think about is yourself and how little you think of others.

Make No Provision

The language Paul uses is to “make no provision for the flesh.” It’s a word that means “forethought.” (pro-noia)

In other words, don’t even allow yourself to entertain the thought of getting sucked into these excesses. Prevent even the thought of sinful desire by practicing an excesses in this areas.

Lonely hurting thinking a drink will make it better? Nip it.

Feeling unwanted married to a spouse who isn’t honoring their side of the romance? Nip it.

Been wronged and feeling rage over the opportunities you weren’t granted? Nip it.

That means in 2024 you may need to put a filter on your internet or bring somebody else in on your addiction that’s controlled your life.

That means in 2024 you may need to stop going to certain parties, stop hanging out with certain people or break up with a certain boyfriend or girlfriend who is uncooperative in your desire to love and follow Jesus.

You may have to get RADICAL. You may have to do something DRASTIC.

Whatever it takes is what you should do because the night is over and the day is drawing near.

Live as children of the light! Become in practice what God has made you in principle.

Nip. It. In. The. Bud.

Offensive Strategy:

But it requires more than playing defense. The best defense is a great offense and that’s what Paul means by “putting on Christ.”

We said that “the armor of light” is used interchangeably with “putting on Christ.” So I want to put our offensive strategy under three banners as well.

We said the armor of light was a reference to greater faith, hope and love in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Biblically speaking:

Faith comes by hearing - so listen to/engage with the Word.

Hope comes by remembering - so remember/rehearse God’s Promises.

Love comes from beholding - so look/behold the beauty of Christ and treasure him supremely.

In other words, it’s not enough to just say no to sin. You’ve also got to say YES to Jesus. You’ve got to pursue him and fill your heart and mind with his truth and presence because that alone has the power to drive these other desires out of your heart.

Call to mind the words of God that awaken more faith in Jesus.

Call to mind the promises of God that awaken more hope in Jesus.

Call to mind the beauty of Christ that awakens more love for Jesus.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. And let your transformed life make Jesus known to the people around you.

The best way to get rid of the dark is to turn on the light.

CONCLUSION:

We are all saying something by the way we live our life. We can make “Jesus known” or we can communicate our valuing something else.

We’ve been sent into the world to make Jesus known. (John 20:21)

What needs to happen as we bring 2023 to a close and begin 2024?

Maybe you can’t make Jesus known because he doesn’t live in your heart. The decision you need to make this morning is to receive him as Lord.

For others he lives in your heart but your lifestyle is hiding his light.

Wake up! The night is over. The day is drawing near. Now is the time to let your light shine.