10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.(NIV)
Main Points
1. Christians are to "know their age" (vv. 11-12a).
What marks it?
- that the kingdom (i.e. "reign") of God, having arrived in Jesus Christ by His first coming (Mk 1:15; Lk 17:20-21), is growing and expanding through the proclamation of the gospel (Acts 1:8; Col 1:3-8)
- that sin, death, the world, and Satan himself have been dealt a death-blow by Jesus' death and resurrection; they are on their way out ("night is...over; day is...here" - Lk 10:17-20; 1 Co 15:24-26; Heb 2:14-15; 1 Jn 2:17; 1 Jn 3:8)
- Nevertheless, sin, disease, a decaying earth, and death are still with us - and Satan is called the "god of this world" (Lk 4:5-7; 2 Co 4:3-4) and a "roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pe 5:8)
2. Then, Christians are to live accordingly (vv. 12b-14).
- this is a call to "put off" sin and "put on" righteousness - a call that has already been made by Paul in Romans 6 (vv. 12-14) and Romans 8 (vv. 12-13) is made again here.
- "armour of light" - until the Lord returns, we are not to think that this life is anything less than a real spiritual war against the world, the devil, and our heart's corruption (1 Th 5:1-11; Eph 6:10-20)
- What are fighting for? Holiness, which is purity of heart and mind (Eph 1:3-5; 1 Pet 1:14-16)
- Why? "Without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Heb 12:14; Mt 5:8; Eph 5:25-27; 1 Jn 3:1-3
- note carefully: the sins listed in verse 13 demolish the idea that there is any "license" in the Christian life to do what we want with our bodies
- and yet, the list doesn't stop just with the "outward" sins (ponder "dissension and jealousy"! See also Gal 5:19-21; Eph 4:29; Col 3:5; Mk 7:20-23)
APPLICATION
- the fact of Christ's return and our future salvation should be a cause for great celebration and great hope, yet also for great seriousness and humility. Time is running out for us to meet the King in all of His majesty!
