Romans, Part 40
Romans 13:11-14
Introduction
This morning …
- We talked about obedience because of who God is in our lives
- We discussed our full submission to authorities … and how God calls us to act
- From scripture, we saw that it is because of LOVE that we can act this way
- We can get past the hurt of the past and move onto a life of submission
- IF … IF we will submit to Christ as Lord of our life and obey His commandments
- This evening we are going to focus on “Time is Short” … because it really is
- Stand and read Romans 13:11-14 / Pray
Point 1 – The Day is Near (11-14)
- This message is not a prophecy focus … for only the Father knows the end date
-- Mark 13:32, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
- What this message is tonight is encouragement to live; it’s a warning to respond!
- Paul writes to us from an end-state perspective; that the day is drawing to an end
- The world lives as if it will go on forever, without consequence or justice
-- Constant sin, aggressive disobedience to God, self-gratification/justification
- The believer must affirm in their heart that God is in control; never ending
- It is God that directs human history and He has predetermined it to end one day
- Since the end is coming, we are to wake up and focus on what is ahead
- Every day that we live we are one day closer to either death or Jesus’ return
- Being face to face with Jesus is a reality that all believers must be ready for
- Many believers ask, “What happens when we are face to face with Christ?”
- Tonight I’d like to answer that directly from Scripture to give us purpose to live
- Turn to and read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
- Our flesh and blood is not what inherits the Kingdom of God; it cannot
- What we have now (our physical bodies) are corrupt and decaying constantly
- If the Kingdom of Heaven is perfection, then our bodies are not able to go there
- Paul says that we will be changed, instantly, into something glorified BY Christ
- The dead (those in the grave) shall rise and be given new bodies; 100% complete
-- Note: Those who have already died in Christ are with the Lord, minus body
-- 2 Cor. 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
- But on this final day, something glorious happens to all of us
-- Our bodies will instantly change to be presented to God as complete and holy
-- IMP: The changing is not ours – it consists of Jesus’ righteousness placed on us
- It is the final act which completes what Christ has done on the cross for us
- It is the revelation of the promise that we should live for every day of our lives
- Why? Because the day is short and the ending could be coming at any moment
- Paul does something amazing here in this scripture that not many have ever done
- He actually mocks and challenges death to “do its worst” ; without fear
- Paul asks death where is its victory; he then asks again where is its sting?
- Saying … Death, you shall NEVER have any power of me and I don’t fear you
- Analogy: A teacher once asked her class who wants to go to Heaven, and all the children raised their hand but little Johnny. So, she went to little Johnny and said, “You don’t want to go to Heaven?” Johnny thought for just a second and then said, “Of course I do, but I thought you were getting a group together to go now.”
- While this is humorous, the application is real … it means something to us today
- You and I need to be prepared to go, right now, no matter what day or time it is
- This is the encouragement we need to walk under, knowing that God is in charge
- We are bought with a price so that Christ is glorified in our lives
- V58, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
- What does this encouragement to the church in Corinth sound like?
- Rom 13:14, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh”
- Because the night is nearly over, we must rid ourselves of darkness
-- Ephesians 5:11, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
- We must cloth ourselves with weapons of light; getting ready to see Jesus
- Our conduct should be decent and honorable … able to demonstrate Christ
- Prepared to meet Him and actually show others the way to go
Conclusion
- The life of a believer is not one of convenience; it is one of sacrifice
- Consider talking to someone about Christ; you sacrifice your agenda and pride
- But, this life is NEVER going to be about you and I; it is about Christ
- It is about the victory that Christ has given us … if only we will walk in it
- To walk in it means that we give up our way of thinking; without fear of death
- It means that we give God control over everything we desire – and simply obey
- Pray
