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Paul’s Interesting Advice – Week 9 / February 24th
“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 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 drunken-
ness, 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
The Apostle Paul saw the world on the edge of an apocalyptic event. That is, events could at anytime escalate into a deep international crisis that would lead to the second coming of Jesus. This is Paul’s world-view since it is repeated time and time again in scripture. Indeed even when teaching on marriage, in his first letter to the Church at Corinth, he states that this step should be carefully thought through because the “time is short.” (1 Corinthians 7:29) Paul was not alone in this view of things as even Peter tells us that “the end of all things is at hand” in his first epistle (1 Peter 4:7) and James calls upon his readers to be patient because “the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (James 5:8) John tells us that Jesus Himself says, “And behold I am coming quickly, and My reward is with me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:12)
The apostolic band of the early church knew that the blessed hope of the Church was nothing short of Jesus’ soon return and so they lived their lives through this prism and were not ashamed of it. Paul in his pastoral epistle to Titus acknowledges this fact when he writes that the very grace of God in our hearts teaches us to look “for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)
When Christians do not have this world-view there is something wrong with them as nothing keeps our lives active for the Kingdom of God and holy like the expectation that events could, even today, escalate into the visible second coming of Jesus. For Paul the grace of God working in us teaches us to live like this. (Titus 2:11-12) It is my experience that many Christians today, even preachers and leaders, disavow this attitude and even mock it. I have heard them do it! In Romans 13 then Paul give us this exhortation and couples it with the following good advice:
Because we know the time we should awake from any form of spiritual apathy and follow Christ. Salvation is at hand; meaning that our bodies are about to be transformed and clothed with immortality. When this happens salvation is complete. What a wonderful day this will be!
Because the night is far spent we should walk in the light of God and have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness. In fact we must “cast off” the works of darkness” and adorn ourselves with the armor of God. We are involved in a battle and the sooner we know it the better. A battle against our hearts, the world and the Devil! Christ will help us and give us victory.
Because the night is far spent we must be children of the day and therefore walk in the sunshine of God. Jesus could come at any time and we must be ready and a very important part of being ready is being in godly relationships with one another. Do not neglect this! And finally;
Because the night is far spent and the dawn of Jesus’ coming is approaching we must clothe ourselves with Him and be conformed to His image. This is what really matters and it is the reason why He died for us.
In the end we must say that Paul’s advice is good; but who will take it? Please note that he begins this passage by writing, “And do this…….”
Malcolm Hedding
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