Romans 13:11-14 | Know the Times
Notes
Transcript
SERMON TITLE: Know the Times
SCRIPTURE: Romans 13:11-14 (ESV)
SPEAKER: Josh Hanson
DATE: 8-24-25
TURN MIC ON / WELCOME
As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And there’s one thing I want you to know — and this is true if you’re worshiping with us for the first time — if you’re joining us at our North Main Campus or are with our friends in Bucyrus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.
INTRODUCTION
We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend. We’re in the practical application section of Paul’s letter where — after eleven chapters of rich theological truths — Paul gets to the so what beginning in chapter twelve. Meaning he addresses how all of the theology that’s found in the first eleven chapters is to play itself out in how we live. Or — at least — how it should influence the way we live. That’s the journey we began earlier this year with Paul’s big “therefore” statement — when he writes…
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Paul nows tells us — in light of all the theology he’s taught us — to live our lives as sacrificial offerings to God — where our lives are acts of worship that make our God look glorious to the world.
But — now — I need to let you in on a little secret about these verses that ties to our sermon today. When Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world,” the word translated in English as “world” is not the Greek word that means this planet we live on — nor is it the word that’s typically translated to mean “that which is in opposition to God” — the “world”. The word used here is a word often translated as “age or era”.
I think you’ll see why I bring this up if you turn to our text for today. We’ll be in Romans chapter thirteen — verses eleven through fourteen. Again that’s Romans chapter thirteen — beginning in verse eleven — where Paul writes…
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Paul’s returning to the idea he said back in chapter twelve — do not be conformed to the world — with the phrase “you know the time.” Not being conformed to the world means to not be conformed to the time in which you live — the era — the age in which you live. For every age has its ways of leading us away from faithfulness to Christ and we must not conform — we must stand firm — for this is war.
So here’s where we’re headed today. We’re going to talk about knowing the time in which we live — something we’re commanded to do — to know the time. Then we’ll look at how not to live in this age in which we find ourselves in — before — looking at how to live in this age in which we live.
Know the time. How not to live in these times. And how to live in these times. That’s where we’re headed.
KNOW THE TIME
Beginning with Pauls command to know the time in verse eleven where he says…
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
The first thing I want you to notice is the urgency in Paul’s words. The hour has come. Salvation is now nearer to us. The night is far gone. The day is at hand. There’s urgency here. Urgency.
As you may know, Emily and I have three kids. Three kids — three very different birth experiences. For Wesley — our oldest and firstborn — her water broke while we were playing a game at our table. We went to the hospital. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Her water may have broke but Wes didn’t get the message it was time. Emily and I played board games in the hospital for hours to pass the time away. There was no since of urgency until — at least no until after they induced her.
For Caleb — our second child — things were quite different. We lived in Tampa at the time and the hospital was quite big with lots of babies being born. Emily started having contractions and said it was time to get to the hospital. Things felt kind of urgent — so to the hospital we went. Though Emily felt an urgency — the hospital staff — not so much. We got checked in but were sent to a large waiting room. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Or — at least that’s what I did. Emily — on the other hand — was going through labor. There were some young gals waiting for their friend to give birth and I’m pretty sure them watching Emily go through labor may have changed their minds about having any kids in the future. Eventually Emily strongly suggested that I go tell the security office that he either needed to get someone to see us ASAP or he was going to deliver a baby. So I went up the guy and was all like, “Yeah. So you probably get this a lot. But my wife says she really needs to be seen or you need to go deliver a baby.” So a nurse came out and took us to what seemed to be an ER type room — and left! That’s right — she left me with my wife all by myself. A few more minutes go by and Emily strongly suggested I go get a nurse because it was time. I do not like telling people how to do their job — but I also don’t like to be on the bad side of a very stressed — and about to deliver a baby — wife. So I went to the nurse desk and said, “Yeah. So you probably get this a lot. But my wife says she really needs to be seen because she’s about to deliver the baby.” Though I think she didn’t trust my wife’s assessment of the situation — she did follow me. She asked a few questions and then said she’d check to see how things were progressing. And — ALL OF A SUDDEN — things became very urgent for that nurse. She pressed some button and a flood of medical personnel came rushing into the room. I was pushed to the side. And Caleb was born. There was a sense of urgency for Emily — but the hospital staff didn’t quite see things the same way — until they did!
With Alice — our beautiful, talented, and — let me check what else she told me to say — amazingly funny daughter — I think Emily decided to split the difference. Here I am sleeping the night away while she went through labor. I guess she figured, “I’ve been through this before — I’ll know when it’s time.” She woke me up in the wee hours of the morning and said, “Josh. It’s time. We need to go to the hospital. We called our friend to come over to watch our boys, got to the hospital, and Alice was born within the hour.” Emily knew the times. Knew what to expect. I’m literally sleeping the night away — only to be awaken from my sleep to an urgent situation.
What Paul is telling us — who believe in Jesus — is that the time in which we live is a time of urgency. This is not like Wesley’s birth — a time for board games while you wait for a baby to be born. This is a mix of what that nurse in Tampa went through — when she finally saw that Caleb was coming — or what I went through — which may be the better analogy — as I was literally asleep — for Paul says, “The hour has come for you to wake from sleep!” A phrase he loves to use in his letters.
13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
And…
6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
And…
34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
And…
13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
And…
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
And not only Paul says this — Peter does as well.
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
And Jesus agrees.
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
And…
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
And…
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Know the times in which you live so that you stay awake — and don’t fall asleep. For the time in which we live is one full of urgency for we don’t know when our Savior will return — AND — the time is urgent because we do know that our enemy is prowling around seeking someone to devour. Additionally, our time is limited. Your time is limited and so is mine. Time is your greatest asset and we so easily squander it away while focused on things far less valuable.
For the non-Christian — you know your time is limited. All born into this world will die. And I know there are some crazy ideas out there right now — the AI apocalypse — not AI taking over like Terminator — but a merging of humanity with AI so we will somehow live forever. God help us for such manmade substitutions of promises he’s already promised, provided, and guaranteed. Humanity always puts our hope in the next great technological discovery that will be our defeat of death. We’re not the first generation to think we’ll conquer our greatest enemy — but we’ll we be as foolish as the previous generations that thought we could save ourselves while rejecting God’s Savior? Will you reject God’s salvation in hopes that man will come up with a better plan?
And — for the Christian — because your time is limited — for all who born into this world will die — there’s not time to waste. You have the Good News of salvation entrusted to you — by God — to share with others. No time for apathy. No time for waste. No time for indifference. No time to be caught like a worker who didn’t know that his Master was about to return.
I’m not talking about ignoring God’s gift of rest — I’m talking about wasting away God’s gift of life. For you are…
10 God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
And — until Jesus returns or your death day arrives — you are to live with God’s good works for you in mind. Knowing that every day is both a gift and one day closer to your day of salvation — the day when your salvation is completed when you see Jesus face to face.
But here may be the greatest hope about the times in which we live.
12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
With Jesus’ first coming — the rising sun of salvation began to dawn on God’s creation. The night — creation under the curse without the resurrected Savior — came to an end. Yes — it’s not fully day yet — that’s the eternal glorious day of eternity — but the night has come to an end. Winter is over. The first signs of spring — signs of joy and life — are upon us. The sun is rising, the day has dawned, and hope has burst forth into God’s creation. I love what one author says about the phrase “the night is far gone.” He writes, “The reign of evil has almost expired and is in its last gasp.”
Though we still live in — what Paul calls the “present evil age” to the Christians in Galatia — this isn’t an age of defeat for the people of God. It’s an age of power. An age of love. An age where the Holy Spirit lives in us — giving us new desires that run counter to the desires of the “present evil age” — new eyes that see that this age isn’t to be sought after and lived for — as if it’s the age to come. Our present age — the culture in which we live — like all cultures — is declining in morality — and this should not surprise us. For all cultures decline in morality to the degree that they reject Jesus. Thus we should live with eyes wide open to the values of the culture in which we live and not allow ourselves to be overtaken by a worldview that’s rejected Christ. Living for this “present evil age” is what we did prior to believing in Jesus — but now — we live for the “age which is still to come” — the age we catch glimpses of in this age — glimpses that give us an even greater longer for the sun to fully rise and for the night to give completely over to the new day.
HOW NOT TO LIVE
Thus — in knowing the time — let’s look at how not to live in these present age. We’re back in verse twelve. There Paul writes…
12 So then let us cast off the works of darkness…13 Let us walk…not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy… 14 and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Notice the instructions that Paul gives us. Cast off the works of darkness. Let us walk…not in. And make no provision for the flesh — which means our sinful, rebellious nature. In this age in which we live there are ways of living that we’re to cast off — that we’re to get rid of — like the clothes you’ve been wearing after a long day working out in the hot sun — you take them off and you throw them into the dirty laundry pile far away from the noses of your family members who don’t want to smell your stank. Similarly, Paul’s saying, “There are some ways you used to live — works of darkness, he calls them — ways that people are living in the present age — that you need to take off and throw in the dirty laundry pile.” And he gives a few examples. Not an exhaustive list — just a few highlights so we get the idea of what it means to live according to the values of the present age.
He says don’t walk in orgies and drunkenness. One Bible commentary states, “These words used together picture drunken individuals having a so-called “good time” and disturbing the citizens of the town.”
Don’t walk in sexual immorality and sensuality. The same Bible commentary says, ““Sexual immorality” is a Greek word which can simply be translated, “bed,” and the word rendered “debauchery” is one of the ugliest words in the Greek language, describing one who is not only given to immorality, but is incapable of feeling shame. The Christian who wants to love must understand that one cannot both love people and live for sex.” Our present age’s love for pornography — and it’s snare on many Christians — is exactly the kind of thing that Paul is saying we must throw into the dirty laundry pile.
And don’t walk in quarreling and jealousy. This would include things like holding grudges and being envious of the success of others.
This is how you used to live — Paul says — when you were in the darkness — when you lived according to the present evil age — when you were a child of wrath.
HOW TO LIVE
But now — Paul says - we’re to live differently as the people of God. In verse twelve he says…
12 So then let us…put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime… 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ…
Here’s a truth we all need to believe more deeply: We are not helpless victims, but are victors because of what Christ has accomplished on our behalf. Christ did not depart for heaven to leave as orphans — or in the illustration Paul is using — as soldiers without the weapons and equipment we need to fight and win. No — we’ve been provided with everything we need in order to defeat the works of our enemy, to not give in to our fleshly desires, and to live a life of victory. But only when we walk properly. Only when we walk closely with Jesus. Only when he has the desires of our heart instead of our desires being given to the things of this present age.
Paul’s use of armor — I’m sure — can’t help but remind many of you of what he says in Ephesians chapter six.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
While others may think of his words to the Thessalonians.
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Here Paul just mentions the breastplate and helmet — where to the Ephesians there’s much more to the armor. But how about this for an eye opening connection? In First Thessalonians Paul calls it a breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet the hope of salvation. Faith, hope, and love. Anyone recognize this trio of Paul’s? They’re also found in Paul’s love chapter — First Corinthians thirteen where he writes…
1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. 11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
If we think back to what we learned last time we were together — how love does no wrong — we now see how important love — along with faith and hope — is. It’s part of our spiritual armor. It’s part of how we live faithfully for Christ in this present age. It’s part of what it means for us to put on Christ — which Paul tells us that we’re also to do — because our faith, hope, and love are in a person — Jesus Christ.
Now — if you know your Bible — you may wonder, “But Josh, isn’t there some place in the Bible that says we’ve already put on Jesus Christ?” And you’d be right. And Paul’s even the one who says it.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
If we’ve already put on Jesus Christ how are we to put him on again? Great question! In Galatians, Paul is referencing our justification — a theological word that means the moment when we are declared to have a right standing before God. In Romans, Paul is referring to our sanctification — a theological word that means our ongoing growth in Christ-likeness and holiness that comes after us having been justified.
In other places in the Bible we see that we’re declared to be holy — justification — but to also grow in holiness — our sanctification. The Bible uses different language to express the same idea — but here in Romans — Paul is using the idea of putting off and putting on.
But — specifically and practically — how do we put on Jesus? Let’s use faith, hope, and love as the key to our understanding what it means to put on Jesus. Paul told us earlier in Romans that faith comes from hearing — so we put on Christ — through faith — by hearing the Word of God about Christ. This would include regularly worshiping with a local church where Christ is faithfully preached. This would also include listening to Scripture and listening to Christ-exalting songs.
Hope comes by believing in God’s promises to his people. To put on Christ — through hope — we must know and remember and remind ourselves of God’s promises to us. We do this by reading and meditating on Scripture. We also do this through Bible memorization where — you take a verse that declares a promise of God to his people — and put it to memory. We also do this through discussing God’s Word with others — something many of you do by being part of a Life Group.
Finally — there’s love. We put on Christ — through love — by seeing and savoring the beauty and loveliness of Christ. By dwelling on his love for you — which will lead to you loving others as you’ve first been loved.
If we return to the clothes analogy — one person has said, “When I get up in the morning I put on my clothes, intending them to be part of me all day, to go where I go and do what I do. They cover me and make me presentable to others. That is the purpose of clothes. In the same way, the apostle is saying to us, “Put on Jesus Christ when you get up in the morning. Make him a part of your life that day. Intend that he go with you everywhere you go, and that he act through you in everything you do. Call upon his resources. Live your life IN CHRIST.” And Paul emphasizes that it’s “the Lord Jesus Christ” that we put on. We bow to his Lordship. We’re to live under his lordship. He is King of all or he is not King at all.”
And though I don’t want to make this a legalistic rule — as I understand some of us have unique situations — this putting Jesus on is accomplished during your quiet time — your devotional time — your whatever “Christianese you want to call it” time — and this is best done first thing in your day. I know some of us aren’t morning people — and I think our enemy loves for our “not being a morning person” to be the reason why we go about so much of our day without putting Christ on first thing. I mean — unless you’re someone who sleeps in whatever clothes you’re going to wear the next day — which — for most of us would be pretty weird — why do we think we can spiritually dress for the next day, go to sleep, and then wake up ready for the war that we’re sure to face? Yes — in war soldiers will sleep in their gear — but do you know the first thing you do before moving out in the morning? I do — you doublecheck to make sure you’ve got everything on. You don’t want to leave anything behind — not your weapon, not your helmet, not your radio, you ensure that you’ve got your full armor on. And — as followers of Jesus living in this present age — we need to wake up every day and put on the armor of light and put on Jesus Christ — so that we live faithfully each and every day.
If you don’t know where to begin — when it comes to starting your day by putting on your spiritual armor — let me recommend this booklet that I’ve written on How to Make the Most of Your Devotional Time. It’s available at the Resource Center at your campus and on our church website — gatewayepc.org. And it’s free! So grab a copy and begin starting your day by putting on Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
Know the time and — in knowing the time — make the most of every opportunity to live properly according to the day in which we live. For salvation is now nearer than when you first believed. Whether because of Jesus’ return or — the more likely — your eternal homecoming through death. Living faithfully in this present age includes — as one author has said, Allowing every “ache and pain, every new gray hair and wrinkle, and each funeral your attend to be a reminder that it’s later than it’s ever been.” The time is drawing near. Therefore put on the armor of light. Walk properly. Put on Jesus Christ. And live for him. Let’s pray.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word to us today. A warning about the time in which we live. And a hopeful message about the time in which we live. The night is far gone — the day is at hand. What hope there is in knowing that the dawn of the sun has pierced the darkness of our world.
Holy Spirit, we need your power, your guidance, and your wisdom to live faithfully in this present age. We need you to remind us each day — and each moment of every day — to put on the armor of light.
And we’re able to do so because you — Jesus — gave yourself in love for us. You lived faithfully in the age in which you lived. You remained faithful and hopeful as you saw all of us wandering aimless in the darkness. And you were determined to that our enemy would not be victorious — but that we would be victors because of your victory on the cross.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — indeed — faith, hope, and love will last forever. May you call many to come to faith, to experience true hope, by receiving your love them today. And may you empower those of us who do believe to live in faith, and with hope, and in love because of all that we’ve been given in Christ. And we pray all of this in his name. Amen.
BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)
In knowing the time — may you go and live faithfully having put on the armor of light and Jesus Christ. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.
