It's Time To Wake Up

It's Time To Wake Up! (Romans 13:11-14)

INTRODUCTION

Aware of the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ, Apostle Paul admonished those who were still asleep to wake up from their deep slumber. He warned that the time of their salvation was nearer than when they first believed.

This warning is also proclaimed for our admonition today. Let us listen to Apostle Paul as he encourages us that in light of the imminent coming of Jesus, 

1. Let us Live in Readiness

2. Let us Live in Holiness

DISCUSSION.

I - LIVING IN READINESS (11-12a)

11 And do this, understanding the present time:

The hour has already come for you to wake up

from your slumber, because our salvation 

 is nearer now than when we first believed. 

 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. 

1. We are looking at the concluding verses of Chapter 13. Paul began his exhortation from Chapter 12, encouraging us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and not be conformed with the pattern of the world.

2. The chapter is filled with examples of virtues that signify the mark of a true Christian, foremost of which is the command to love our enemies. 

3. Chapter 13 begins with an appeal to obey the government, such as paying our taxes.

4. Apostle Paul also discussed that love is the fulfillment of the law in 13:8-10.

A. KNOWING THE TIME (Romans 13:11a)

11 And do this, understanding the present time:

 The hour has already come for you to wake up

from your slumber, 

1. The first reaction about time:

a) Time is short, brief, momentary.

2. Time is fleeting – James 4:14

4 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  

3. It also refers to what the present time is.

a) We are now in the  Light of the Gospel.

b) The Old Time was when we were in the darkness.

4. Now is the day of salvation - 2Co 6:1-2

5. Paul was not referring to physical sleep but spiritual sleep

a) When we are still conformed to the pattern of the world.

b) When we live in worldliness.

c) When we are wrapped up with activities that only serve as a distraction to our work for the Lord.

6. Effects of being spiritually asleep.

a) We become apathetic.

Which means that we have no motivation to do anything for the Lord. We don't care about what's going on in His Kingdom.

b) Another strong word here that describes our spiritual sleep is the word lethargy.

We become lethargic: We do not have the zeal to warn our loved ones, our friends, our associates about the judgment that is to come so that they may come to their senses and listen to the Gospel message.

7. Let us wake up to our duty to warn the unbelievers in our midst. This is our responsibility as Christians. (Matthew 28:18-20)

a) Many Christians "go through the motions."

b) It seems that coming to the assembly is such an ORDEAL. 

8. Many members of the church lack zeal for spiritual maturity.

9. Such problems were common in New Testament times...

a) The Church in Ephesus left their first love - Re 2:4

b) The Church in Laodicea became lukewarm'  Re 3:15-16

Hypocrites they were, with one foot in the world and the other foot in the Church. Jesus will spit them out of his mouth!

B. OUR SALVATION IS NEARER (Romans 13:11b)

because our salvation 

is nearer now than when we first believed. 

1. Paul encourages us about our final salvation – when Christ finally returns to take us to heaven.

2. Our salvation is nearer - in what way?

a) The Lord's return is nearer.

b) Our own death is nearer; should we die before the Lord's returns - (Heb 9:27)

3. Nearer than when we first believed

a) Nearer than when we first came to Christ.

b) Every day brings us closer to our final salvation.

c) Think of how much time has gone by since we OBEYED THE GOSPEL.

4. This is the encouragement that we get from this passage. We are nearer and nearer to eternal life with Jesus in heaven, where there will be no more pain nor sorrow. (Rev 21:3-4)

C. THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT (Romans 13:12a)

12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. 

1. The night - referring to the moral darkness of this world – 1 Jn 2:8

2. Is far spent - "is cut off" It is becoming short; it is hastening to a close – 1 Co 7:31

a) If you are still living in worldliness, be careful not to become all wrapped up – to be squeezed into the mold of this world. (same warning as in Romans 12)