IT’S TIME TO ….
Romans 13:11-14
INTRODUCTION: Paul continues to teach the church at Rome. He now moves into eschatological matters dealing with the coming of the Lord and our preparation for this event.
Today is a critical time for the church. There is an evident complacency in the body of Christ. We have gotten much too comfortable, and our comfort has made us insensitive to the changes in the spiritual climate. The Scripture declares that a time will come when the church will not heed the call of the word of God. Jesus encourages us to be vigilant – for we do not know when the bridegroom comes.
This text deals not only with our vigilance as the coming of Christ approaches, but with our preparedness as the time grows short.
I WAKE UP 13:11
A Understanding the present time
1 Understand means to make sure we know
a The present time is a time for spiritual vigilance
b The present time is a time for spiritual industriousness
2 The word time means a critical time – an important time
a Christ’s return is a critical time in human history
b The judgment seat of Christ is a critical time in the life of a believer
3 We need to be alert
a Waking from a slumber
b Too many Christians have an indifference to eternal things
c Too many believers do not care what is going on in this world
d “our salvation” – the day of Christ’s return is close
e “nearer” – speaks to our preparedness, not to some chronology
II CONSIDER THE TIME
A The night is nearly over and the day is coming
1 Satan’s time is short
2 Christ’s return is coming
B It is time to.
1 “put aside” the deeds of darkness
a Cast off as a dress
b Dark deeds are deeds we do under cover …
1) Which men want to keep secret
2) Which men know are unacceptable
3) Which men know would cause hurt
4) Of which men are ashamed
5) Of which men fear the results
6) Which men know would do great damage
2 Put on the armor of light
a Ephes. 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
b Ephes. 5:14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
c 1 Thes. 5:5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
III SEE WHAT WE NEED TO REMOVE
A We are to seek victory over sin
1 Walking decently
2 “daylight” – not doing what is not fit for daytime
a Intemperance
b Impurity
c Hateful feelings
IV KNOW WHAT WE MUST PUT ON
A Walking in a way pleasing to God
1 Galatians 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
2 Ephes. 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
3 Col. 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
B Thinking ahead so as to avoid sin
C Scripture lists seven things that the believer is to put on or with which he is to clothe
himself.
1 The believer is to put on and be endued (clothed) with the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49).
2 The believer is to put on and be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14;
Galatians 3:27).
3 The believer is to put on and be clothed with immortality (1 Cor. 15:53-54; 2 Cor.
5:3).
4 The believer is to put on and be clothed with the new man (Ephes. 4:24; Col. 3:10).
5 The believer is to put on and be clothed with the nature of God (Col. 3:12).
6 The believer is to put on and be clothed with the armour of light and of God
(Romans 13:14; Ephes. 6:11f).
7 The believer is to put on and be clothed with love (Col. 3:14).
