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. 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. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:11-14)
Growing up my mother would come into our room in the morning when it was time to get up. She would open the blinds to let in the morning sunshine, and say in a very cheerful voice, “Time to get up and start the day!”
Especially in my teenage years, I was not a fan of this wake-up call. But now I’m a morning person - probably thanks to those cheerful morning wake-up calls by my mother.
In Romans 13:11-14, Paul is telling the Christians in Rome that it’s time to wake up and get dressed - because this is what life in Christ Jesus demands.
It’s Time to Wake Up!
There is considerable debate about what Paul meant by “knowing the time.”
Some think Paul was reminding the Christians that the return of Jesus could happen at any time, and so they should remain in a state of readiness (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11). However, “Paul spoke of his dying and going to be with Christ and he spoke of a coming apostasy before Christ could possibly come finally (Philippians 1:23-24; 2 Thessalonians 2:1ff)” (McGuiggan, Romans, 378).
Others think the “time” refers to the approaching trouble and persecution of Christians in Rome under the reign of Nero - which would occur just a few years after Paul wrote this letter. If this is the case, then Paul’s reference to “our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” is a sobering reminder that some would face death for their faith.
Either way, Paul is urging Christians to “wake up” because the time to meet the Lord is drawing nearer with each passing day. What a shame it would be for a Christian to know this and to be unprepared to meet the Lord (2 Peter 3:11-14)!
It’s Time to Get Dressed!
Knowing that the “night is far spent” and the day is dawning, it’s time to get dressed for the day. Paul tells Christians to throw off the deeds of darkness (evil, sin) and put on the armor (or weapons) of light.
The word for “armor” is plural and is better translated as “weapons.” Armor is more defensive, while the call seems to be for Christians to take action against the forces of darkness, armed with weapons of “light.” The imagery is that of the Christian’s battle against evil, using weapons that are not physical (2 Corinthians 10:4)…What is involved is nothing less than the transcendent struggle between the forces of God and the powers of Satan. Paul was trying to rally the Roman brethren to be prepared for spiritual conflict. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 480
Knowing that we walk ever closer to the time when our life on this earth is over, it’s “high time” we dress ourselves for the spiritual battle taking place between good and evil (Ephesians 6:10-18).
It’s Time to Get Going!
Paul urges the Christians to “behave properly” as those who live and walk in the day (1 Thessalonians 4:12).
Paul highlights some sins Christians must avoid that were especially common and accepted in Roman society.
Revelry (“letting loose” or immoral partying).
Drunkenness (indulging in “strong drink” or intoxication).
Lewdness (sexual activity outside marriage - Hebrews 13:4).
Lust (filthy, unbridled, shameless behavior).
Strife (quarreling and contention).
Envy (jealousy and rivalry).
By commanding Christians not to behave in these ways, Paul urges Christians in Rome to live counter-culturally.
It’s very possible that “strife” and “envy” are in a place of prominence at the end of this list because they were the root cause of some of the issues happening among the Christians in Rome - which Paul will address in Romans 14 and 15.
Paul was writing to those who were already Christians [Galatians 3:26-29], but he had a spiritual transformation in mind (Romans 12:1-2). This transformation involves the Lord Jesus Christ’s becoming the personification of “the armor of light” (Romans 13:12). The best protection for believers against the forces of evil is to put on Christ like a suit of armor. The power and presence of Jesus provide the best defense against the spiritual forces of darkness, as well as the seductions of the flesh. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 482
It’s this reminder that we are to be “living sacrifices” for God, walking as children of the light, that serves as the “jumping off point” for what Paul will write about some of the issues among the churches of Christ in Rome.
Thank you!
I’ve enjoyed the study of Romans, thank you! Where can I find the truth for today commentaries you use frequently?