Review.
In chapter 13 Paul began by instructing us to submit to our civic leaders and officials, and pay our taxes. Then he return ed the theme of love he’d begun in Romans 12:9. He spoke of love in terms of a debt we owe everyone, one that will never be fully paid. He reminded us of why love was so important, because when we love others we fulfill God’s law. That is, in loving others we naturally do for them (and treat them) just as God wants.
The motivation he gave was recognizing the debt we do owe other to love them. In this final passage in Romans 13, Paul will give us another motivation to love: because we are soon going to face Jesus.
Paul is quite urgent in the passage, packing a lot of commands in just four verse. We’ll outline what Paul says under the heading of four commands.
up!, 11-12a
“Besides this” – besides the fact that we should be motivated to love each other because it fulfills the law, there’s another motivation.
Salvation is near. The day is at hand.
What is Paul talking about? The return of Christ or our going to be with Jesus in death?
Paul is almost certainly speaking of
Paul says that we .
Remember what Jesus taught us by way of a parable?
Matthew 25:1–13 (ESV)
Paul insists that it is time to be , to be , to be r and the bridegroom to come at .
It doesn’t matter it’s been since Jesus promised to return. The only thing that matters is how much time before he returns. Paul says, “Time is running out.” Wake up!
up! 12:b, 13b
First clean-up direction: cast off
Pretty generic – any sin, but especially those done behind closed door, done in secret, done in darkness.
Second clean-up direction: get rid of .
More specific – sin that is both out in the open and also private
Orgies (excessive feasting and drinking), drunkenness, sexual immorality, sensuality, quarrelling, jealousy.
These are sins of , lack of l, sexual expression outside of , animosity and .
Paul says, “You want to meet Jesus Since he could come at any time, now is the time to clean up.”
up! 12c, 14a
Paul gives us two directions about dressing up for Jesus’ return.
The first thing to put on:
No Christian getting ready to meet Jesus should ever be found without his/her on.
What is the armor of light?
Paul may mean the armor he describes in Ephesians 6.
He also may be describing light the armor we need to put on.
Light stands for , knowledge, , holiness, right behavior, and so on.
We protect ourselves by living in the light: living y, by knowing and reminding ourselves of the , keeping our mind, body, and spirit , by acting to the highest whether before others or on our own, etc.
The second thing we are to put on:
Some see this as just so others see Jesus through us.
I think of it more as clothing myself with Christ’s , Christ’s , Christ’s , Christ’s , and Christ’s .
Up! 13a, 14b
Start living like we believe we might meet Jesus at anytime. Paul says this stepping up will involve two things:
We will /live properly
Our behavior should always be evaluated by the question: is it for a child of God anticipating the Lord’s return at any time to act ? Is our behavior by all standards? Would others say it is for a professed believer to act as we are?
We will make no provision to gratify .
In other words, don’t make it easy to sin.
Ex: Diet – pantry full of snacks and a freezer full of ice cream.
Apply this to:
Purity
(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
Right use of the tongue –
(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
Sobriety –
(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
Protecting your marriage
(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
If you make it easy to satisfy the desires of the flesh, you should not be surprised you are having a problem doing what you want to do.
We should make provision for the flesh. We should be making it to be tempted., not easier.
CONCLUSION
(MULTILINE)