High Time to Awake

Presented, February 19, 2005 pm

HIGH TIME TO AWAKE

Romans 13:11-13

Chapters 12 and 13 of Romans contain some very practical instruction to Christians. Paul has noted our need to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God, and emphasized how to behave as Christians – considering the way we treat our brethren, our neighbors, the world and even our government. In our last study from this book we noted the importance of loving our neighbors as ourselves. Having said all these things, Paul now makes an important challenge – DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW! In this section Paul is clear in distinguishing between those who are pleasing to God and those who are not. Let us notice some lessons from this section.

I. NOW is the take to WAKE UP

a. Paul begins noting, “and do this” speaking of all the admonitions he has presented thus far. He then gives a reason WHY.

b. “Knowing the time” – Paul here calls for them to pay attention to the time in which they live. Truly their times were perilous and dangerous times (2 Timothy 3:1, Philippians 2:15 – a crooked generation). They faced all sorts of dangers from their physical worldly enemies, whether they be the Jews or various Roman dignitaries. AND if that isn’t enough – there are their brethren. Paul here is saying, YOU FACE ENOUGH problems from the world – DON’T DEVOUR AND DESTORY each other! Much of the lessons gleaned from these two chapters has called for brethren to behave properly toward one another. But WHY?

c. Because NOW it is time to WAKE UP out of your sleep.
1 Corinthians 15:34 – Do not allow the devil to deceive you, but rather WAKE UP to righteousness.
Ephesians 5:13-14 also notes the need for those sleeping to WAKE UP!
The Christian life is to be an alert and sober life – 1 Thess. 5:4-8.
The obvious point is: quit being slothful in serving God. One of Satan’s favorite tools is procrastination – he wants you to put off what you need to do now. He wants to lull you into a sense of security and to sleep.
We understand this thought in life. What happens when you put off tasks that need to be addressed? Most often, they don’t go away – rather they get worse. Cancer won’t go away just because you put off seeing a doctor. You bills will not disappear if you ignore them.
The same is true spiritually – we need to WAKE UP! But WHY?

d. Because NOW our salvation is nearer.
I believe Paul here to be speaking of the end of our life on this earth. His point is, you have come a long way – and are closer to the finish line than ever before. DON’T blow it now!
You are closer to death now than you were before – Hebrews 9:27.
Who knows when the Lord is going to return? 2 Peter 3:10-11

e. The statement, “when we first believed.”
This points to both the approaching time AND their maturity. Surely they have begun building upon their faith (2 Peter 1:5-10, etc.) and matured. Knowing more and having endured so much – Paul challenges them to NOT FALL ASLEEP.

f. The night is far spent, the day is at hand –
Some believe “the day at hand” has reference to the coming of the Lord (I.e. – we don’t know when He will return), but it could be at any time.
Others see this as a description of the darkness of sin and time has come to wake up and expose it.
While both of these are equally true and MOTIVATION, the text is a simple statement pointing out again that it is time to WAKE UP. The day is approaching – QUIT SLEEPING.

But what does waking up involve?

II. Cast off works of darkness and Put on the armor of light (12b – 14)

a. The call for change – Paul challenges them to both:
CAST off the works of darkness – Continually scripture calls for change. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Peter 4:3, etc. These works of darkness would include their ungodly attitudes toward one another. 1 John 2:9 says, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.”
AND put on the armor of light – Instead of sleeping, PREPARE yourself to overcomes the sins of this world and the darts that Satan continually hurls at us – 1 Thess. 5:8, Ephesians 6:11-12

b. Walk properly
The word properly means, honorably, honestly, in a proper or fitting manner. Our integrity is important.
He then proceeds to explain how NOT to walk –
not in revelry or drunkenness – outward, physical acts that dull our senses and cause us to act improperly
not in lewdness or lust – matters of morality.
not in strife and envy – matters or attitude Christians need to guard against as they interact with each other.
These 3 areas once again describe the avenues of lust – 1 John 2:16 (flesh, eyes, pride of life).

c. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ –
They had already put on the Lord in obeying the gospel (Romans 6:2-4, Galatians 3:27). And certainly that is where it would start.
But here the call is for them to clothe themselves in Christ, to wear Him in their lives. It means to imitate Him (1 Corinthians 11:1), have His mind (Phil. 2:5), follow Him example (1 Peter 2:21), etc. We may remember the saying from a few years ago, “What Would Jesus Do?” That is a good question to ask in every situation we find ourselves in.
AS these brethren faced their differences they needed to remember who they belonged to – and put that before their personal and fleshly desires.

d. Make no provisions for the flesh – Paul concludes this section noting that in choosing Christ, you put off your own desires. He had dealt with this in chapter 8:12-13.
You CANNOT have both. Galatians 5:24 notes that those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh and its desires.
Jesus Himself taught in Matthew 6:24 that you cannot serve both God and mammon.
Summarizing Paul’s point here – IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!

Thus we find Paul’s practical admonitions concerning the way we as Christians are to behave. But Paul is not done. In our next study we will notice how we deal with our differences, especially in matters of liberty. It is a much misunderstood and abused passage. But until then, let us not forget to WAKE UP!