A Wake-Up Call
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Again, today we are continuing our study in the book of Romans.
If you’ve been with us over the last couple of weeks you will remember that we have been looking how to do what Paul says in Romans 12:2.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
In our passage today we are actually continuing the discussion from last week. If you were with us you might remember that we ended last week with Romans 13:10.
Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
This is where we are going to start today—Love does no harm to a neighbor. So if you have your Bibles, and I hope that you do, turn with me to Romans 13, and we’ll begin in verse 10.
“Love does not harm to a neighbor!” Now let’s look at what verse 11 says.
Understanding the Present Time
Understanding the Present Time
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Paul says that we are to “do this. . .” And as I said, the question becomes what is the “this” we are supposed to do? It refers to the previous verses where he tells us we are to love (unconditionally) our neighbors.
So, the “this” is that we love understanding the present time—literally understanding the season—We need to understand that the Christ’s return is immanent (could happen at any time)! (v. 11a)
Next, we’re told that the time has come for us to wake up from our sleep! (v. 11b)
—Because our salvation is near!
—It is closer than it was when we first believed!
When we think of the imminent return it might help to hear what professor, and theologian Darrell Bock says, “Christ’s return is both imminent, expected, and yet, prepared for by certain signs.”
If Jesus could return at any moment, then verse 12 rings true.
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
—The night is almost over (v. 12a). This emphasizes the shortness of time!
—The day is almost here (v. 12b). Paul emphasizes that our time here on earth, and the time before Jesus returns is very short!
Now, Paul gives us the first of two “let us. . .” We need to put aside (throw off) the deeds of darkness (v. 12c)
In John 3:19, Jesus says:
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
This is so true today. So often, the people that I talk to prefer darkness over light. Jesus tells us the reason is because their deeds are evil.
Echoing Jesus, Paul says in Ephesians 5:11,
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
If the world around us prefers the deeds of darkness, then followers of Jesus should be different—we should have NOTHING to do with being involved in the deeds of evil, but instead we should expose them! We are part of God’s plan to help restrain evil in this world!
Paul now gives us the first of two “let us. . .” Instead, of the we are to put on the armor of light! The idea of “put on”—be clothe with; or put on—the armor of light. This is the same message that we here in Ephesians 6. In verse 11 we read:
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Then in verse 13 Paul continues:
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 we get a short list of what the armor of God is all about.
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
Back in Romans, when Paul talks about the armor he calls it the “armor of light.” In John 8:12 we learn that Jesus is the light of the world!
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
It is at this point that we get Paul’s second “let us. . .” Look at Romans 13:13.
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Let us behave—in the Greek this phrase has the essence of let us walk around. . . (v. 13a)
So Paul says, “Let us walk around decently”—The idea here is that we are to walk around in a manner characterized by proper manners and conduct (v. 13b).
Paul says we are to act like we are in the daytime—daylight (v. 13c). Look at John 3:19. Jesus is speaking.
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
Now Paul tells us what we are NOT supposed to be involve with:
—Carousing (Gk. binge party, an occasional over indulging in eating and drinking) (v. 13d)
—Drunkenness (Gk. the state of being drunk, or staying drunk) (v. 13e)
—Sexual Immorality (Gk. sexual relations outside of marriage) (v. 13f)
—Debauchery (Gk. sinful abandon, indulging in sensual pleasure unrestrained by morality) (v. 13g)
—Dissension (Gk. bitter conflict, heated and/or violent conflict) (v. 13h)
—Jealousy (Gk. greedily wanting what another has and desiring the intangible i.e. a talent) (v. 13i)
When we come to verse 14, we get what we are supposed to do in contrast
The contrast--DO:
—Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a theme that we often see in Paul’s writings. Look at Galatians 3:27.
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Or Ephesians 4:24.
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Then in Colossians 3:12 we get clear picture of what should be the hallmark of our lives.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
—Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh (v. 14b)! In Galatians 5:24 we are told:
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
So What?
So What?
Here’s what we should learn from this passage:
First, as we learned last week, we are to unconditionally love the people around us!
The reason we love is because we understand the times!
—The hour has already come! The time of Jesus’ imminent return is close!
—We are to awake from our slumber! Today, we have churches filled with “Christians” that are sleeping. Completely unaware that our salvation is near—nearer now than when we first believed!
We also learn that we need to put aside all the deeds of darkness! Paul gives us a list.
—Carousing or over indulging in anything!
—Drunkenness
—Sexual Immorality
—Debauchery or getting lost in sin
—Dissension or bitter, violent conflict
—Jealousy
Instead we are to clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ, so that we don’t gratify the desires of the flesh!