Introduction
As we have said before, it can be helpful, when we come to a passage to read what has come before. It is like the recap on the Rookie or Mandalorian.
Romans 13 fits into a new section in the letter from Romans 12-15.
Since Romans 12, Paul has shared a lot of instruction to the Christians in Rome – and of course to us centuries later. He has taught them about what it means to be an individual member of a church when gathered for worship – Romans 12:1-13;
and he has taught them about what it means to be an individual member of a wider society, which is mostly not Christian in attitude or lifestyle, that is Romans 12v14- 13:v10.
But before he wants to talk again about what type of Christian community they are and should be and should become, he wants to talk about eschatology.
Romans 13 – slide
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 Romans 13:11-12
The NLT puts it more direct. 11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here Romans 13:11-12.
‘’Understanding the present time’’ he says.
Paul is talking about eschatology as I said.
And what is that. Eschatology is about the time of the End.
The Eschaton was the climax, the fulfilment of God’s final purpose for his people and his
creation.
So let’s explore this a little.
Jewish expectation at the time of Paul was figure 1.
The Messiah would come as promised.
He would bring a dramatic end to the current age – this present world.
Then what would happen is the Coming Age – which would be marked by the resurrection of the dead, and the gift of the Promised Holy Spirit. Figure 1 on the screen explains that.
Now. The first Christians realized God, in Christ, was acting in a different way.
The first Christians believed that God’s promises had began with: the work of Jesus they witnessed and their experience and knowledge that the Spirit given to them individually and as a community since Pentecost.
So for the early Christians – initially Jewish and then Jews and Gentiles as was the situation in Rome – they saw they were living already in the beginning of the end times. This new perspective shaped everything about hope but also life for them.
See figure 2. SLIDE.
What helped them come to this conclusion.
Three things:
Jesus own proclamation – of the kingdom – and his language – it is near / here yet at times he talked – like in Matthew 24-25 of the kingdom to come. That ‘’kingdom’’ was the God’s final purpose.
They saw the Kingdom was present, shown in Jesus ministry – he spoke of the kingdom, he demonstrated the kingdom – but it was still a future event.
The resurrection of Jesus – second thing The resurrection for Paul, was the final event on God’s calendar. Jesus was raised and death was defeated – his resurrection means ours is sure. With the resurrection, they saw the pattern for the final resurrection. As theologian Gordon Fee put it ‘’the resurrection of Christ marked the beginning of the end: the turning of the ages.’’
The Third thing – the gift of the Promised Spirit – on Pentecost and to every Christians. The gift of the Spirit was promised in Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Joel. When the Spirit is poured out, the end times, the coming age, has come. The Spirit was a further mark of the new age, the final age.
With Jesus ministry, his resurrection and the gift of the Spirit, early Christians, like Paul,
believed that the future had been set in motion.
Yet the End had only begun is what they believed.
The final event – which was the second coming of the Messiah – was still to come. He was still to come.
With that coming, there would be resurrection / transformation of body, Satan defeated and cast out, new heaven new earth etc.
So Christians were living in the in-between times. I.e. already the future had begun, but had not yet been completely fulfilled. This is called also the ‘’already / not yet’’ perspective.
Christians like Paul believed they – and we – were living in the time of the End, and even though it was to be consummated, that end time, that eschatological framework determined everything – how they – we lived, how they – we thought, how they – we – understand our place in the world, …
An illustration could be: between engagement and marriage. Engagement is the beginning of entering into that future. Life long, growing old together etc. And yet while there is that commitment, it is not marriage, there is still more to come – becoming one flesh, the public statements etc. The already – you are engaged – on the road to marriage and all that means, and enjoying some of the fruit of that – but the not yet – you are not married yet. Yet being engaged shapes all – you are not thinking – will I meet the person to grow old with – will I be single or married. Engaged changes things.
A Closer Look at Romans 13:v11-14. SLIDE
This end time perspective shapes Paul’s theology – and shapes him now as he talks about to live as Christians.
He wants them to recognize the time. ‘’understanding the present time: The hour has already come.’’ as NIV says, or as we heard the NLT – 11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out.
What is the time? That the day is almost here. That the final kingdom is almost here. It will be a surprise when the Lord returns ‘’about that day or hour, no one knows ,,,’’
But note here Paul does not call them – or us as we wait for the Lord’s return – to read the bible, go to church more, or pray, even though that is important.
He says – live as those who belong to the day. As a writer said ‘’We are brought to life by the Spirit, so as to live the life of heaven on earth, also by the Spirit – walking in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, sowing to the Spirit.’’
Paul says live like those who belong to the day.
He is so sure what is to come. They are in the beginning of the end times. The day.
He compares the current age – darkness – to the age to come – day.
The day is almost here.
Lay aside deeds of darkness, put on light.
Let us behave decently as in the daylight.
He says – live the life of heaven – the heaven that is coming.
He teaches them and us. Be aware that the Lord is coming – the day is almost here;
Look at what is coming and what will be, and live in the light of it.
BUT we live in the inbetween times.
But Paul knows the night is still there – night is almost over – yes but it is still there, present, influencing things.
The conditions of the old age – are still around and vibrant – as NLT says ‘’don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarrelling and jealously.’’ The opportunities and temptations are there.
He says to them v12 put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.
Live differently. Live in the light of the day to come.
His words remind us that it is not automatic as a Christian to live in such a way.
We still need self discipline.
Spirit Empowered – next slide.
However, this is – to bring in his other thinking, already shared earlier in Romans 8, as well as in Galatians 3-6 – this is not a new set of commands and we try out best in our own wisdom or effort.
No, for Paul the gift of the Spirit is not only a promise about a future to come; it is not only about gifts in the church, but also the Holy Spirit is also about empowering for life, he wants to lead us in paths of righteousness, to transform us into the likeness of Christ, to walk in the right way.
Self discipline, yet seeking and relying on the Spirit’s help, wanting to walk by the Spirit, led by the Spirit.
But still a choice he says the believers must make.
We can wait for the return. We can long for the return, pray Maranatha – Come Lord Jesus – but Paul is saying, there is another challenge – live in the day that will be, despite the darkness around you, live in the light of heaven.
Living
And to live in such a way is a step we are to take. Daily – not a one off – daily to ‘’clothe
yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh / sinful nature.’’ To put on Christ – it is the same idea of putting on your clothes like all of you did successful this morning!
The word was used in theatre talk of the time – to put on Tarquin – meant to assume the character of Tarquin. So while in theatre it is a fake role – you become and then you leave – the idea is there – assume the character of the Lord Jesus. You could say – what would he do in your shoes…
For Paul, due to the threats of the night on the day, it is a daily choice.
Conclusion SLIDE
Paul has an expectation of the Lord’s return.
The Lord has not yet returned.
But his words challenge us – as we begin Advent – our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Yet he says, do not wait only, but live in the day, live in the light of what will be, Christians live in the light of heaven.
Shall we pray.
O God
give us a proper balance
between a confident trust in you,
an eager expectation and longing for your return
and the urgency and discipline we need
to live the life of heaven now,
give us the help of your Spirit,
to put on the Lord Jesus Christ daily
and not live the deeds of darkness.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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