NEW CLOTHES
Romans 13:11-14 NKJV
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
This is a great passage. I don’t know that I have taught much on these verses, but there are some great truths that we can apply to our lives. If we stop and think, it’s not just the Bible principles we know that change us; it’s the Bible principles that we put into practice.
Paul has shared some wonderful theology with the church at Rome. He succinctly laid out the importance of being righteous by faith, not by works, and revealed that all can be right in God’s sight through faith in Jesus. Paul also has some wonderful practices for daily living that he shares with the church starting in chapter twelve. This is Paul’s pattern in his inspired letters to the churches: theology and spiritual truths first, followed by practical ways to live out what has been done in us in Christ.
Paul shared with the church that it is time to wake out of sleep. This is a condition we do not often discuss, but believers can be sleeping spiritually. And similar to sleeping physically, a spiritually sleeping believer will not be alert or sensitive to their spiritual environment. It’s easier to sneak up on a sleeping person and it’s easier for Satan to sneak up on a sleeping believer.
Paul encourages the church to wake up and cast off, or put away, the works of darkness. The works of darkness would include the things that weigh us down and the sins that trip us up. Notice that Paul does not ever infer that the works of darkness dominate a believer. We are told to throw them off, meaning we are not victims, and we are not stuck. Paul had a revelation that because of Jesus, we are more than conquerors over the works of darkness.
Paul also refers to putting on the armor of light. The armor of light is more fully explained in chapter six of Ephesians. But we can also gather that putting on the armor of light would involve the list that Paul had given in chapter twelve, keeping in mind that the letters were not written in chapter and verse. So, the armor of light will involve walking in love, rejoicing in hope, blessing those that persecute, and not repaying evil for evil. We think doing all these things is simply being a good Christian, but we can’t underestimate the protection and power of walking in the light.
Paul writes we are to walk properly. My Bible has a note in the margin that says walk decently. Decently involves no hard partying and drinking. No uncleanness and sexual lust. No strife and being envious. Remember, this is not an attempt to make our lives dull but to spiritually protect us. This is what the armor of light looks like.
And put on Jesus. Walking in fellowship with Him and emulating Him. This also involves saying no to our flesh and the strong desires that we feel. Desires and feelings may be present, but we don’t have to give in to them. Putting on Jesus and the armor of light are clothes that never wear out or go out of style.
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, that I am awake and putting away the things that block my way and slow me down. Thank You for the armor of light and the power to say no to the feelings and desires of my flesh.