“11 Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.”
The conclusion of chapter 13 brings the climax of what Paul has to say to the church in Rome. “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.” (v. 14) This is the end goal for all those saved by grace in Christ Jesus. All that we do in service to others, all that Paul has instructed Christians to do, all of this is the application of putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. All of this serves to keep us from making provision for the flesh.
Verses 11-13 serve as the motivation for us to bring our Christian living in line with the righteousness we have inherited from Christ Jesus. These verses tell us why Christians need to put on Christ and deny the flesh, and do so urgently. Paul says, “Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” (v. 11) “Wake up!” Is essentially what Paul is saying. “Don’t you know what time it is? Jesus could return at any moment!” The book of Revelation bookends with a warning that the time of Jesus’ return is nearing.
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.” — Revelation 1:3
“Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.” — Revelation 22:10
James speaks to His readers in a similar manner:
“Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!” — James 5:9
James warns his readers that they must not be complacent. Jesus could return at any moment. When He does, it won’t be to bring salvation, not in His second coming. Jesus will return in judgment. The judge stands at the door!
Jesus could come back at any moment. How should Christians respond to this knowledge? Have a clear mind, pray, love, be hospitable, be cheerful, serve without complaining, and minister to others! To do this is to use the time God has given us wisely.
Paul tells us in verse 12 what we should not be caught doing when Christ returns. The time of sin lurking in the darkness is almost over. All things are about to be made visible by the light of day; by the light of Jesus Christ as He returns to judge. Jesus will expose all unrighteousness by the light of His righteousness. This means that Christians must be prepared, we must not be caught off guard. Christians must not be caught in sin. Jesus’ own words warn us against this:
““Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”” — Luke 12:35-40
There will be a great reward for those that the master finds ready when he returns. Jesus says the master will prepare a place for them and serve them. As Christians, how can we make sure that we are ready for our Master’s return? It is just as Paul says, we must put off unrighteous flesh, and put on Christ’s righteous light. “…so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (v. 12b) But how do we do that? Paul has spent the whole of chapters 12 and 13 laying out practical ways we can deny the flesh and put on Christ’s righteousness. We best serve God by serving others, even our enemies, and by submitting ourselves to the authorities He has placed over us.
You might say, “That is easier said than done.” Paul also describes our struggle to put off transgression and put on Christ’s righteousness as spiritual warfare. It is not easy.
“For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Paul elaborates that this armor of light is not our own. Nothing in us can dispel the darkness. Nothing in us can produce a revealing light like the truth of Christ’s righteousness does. Paul explains in further detail what it means to put on the armor of God in his letter to the Ephesians:
“Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit — which is the word of God.” — Ephesians 6:11-17
This is just what Paul has been telling the Roman church! Christians must have sober-minded judgment, and are called to serve God by putting on faith and love. We are called to have faith in Christ by confessing, “Jesus is Lord” and believing in His resurrection. (see Romans 10:9) We are called to have love for the body of believers, love in service. We are called to have a love that covers transgression, love that brings culpability upon the rebellious. Love that is shown even towards our enemies. For those who are in Christ, there is no more living in the darkness. To truly put on Jesus Christ as our armor, we must first discard our transgressions. Those who are still wearing their transgressions will not be allowed into the kingdom. God and sin don’t mix. In sin’s stead, we must put on the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (See Galatians 5:16-26)