Romans 13:7-14 Clothed in Christ
Introduction: As we move from the glories of Christmas to looking forward to a brand new year, it is easy to feel a ‘let down’. The parties and gatherings are now behind us. The presents have all been opened and somehow, the anticipation often seems better than having the actual goodies in our hands. While some of us are still off of work or school, many have returned and the prospect of going back to the regular daily grind looms over the rest of us. What’s more, we have the bills for and the clean up of all that Christmas cheer. However, Christmas (the true meaning of Christmas) is not something that should come and go with December 25th or even the month of December! The Christmas story is all about the advent or coming of God (Christ, the Messiah) into our world. Now we live in between the Advents of Christ (His first and second comings), but that does not mean that He has left us! His Spirit still convicts the world of sin, drawing the lost to Christ and indwelling those who receive His grace and mercy. We must not live life occasionally reminded that Christ has come - - - we must live in the light of His mercy and grace! Jesus Himself said “. . . I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b)
While most people will be making resolutions to exercise, lose weight, stop smoking or travel or read more – our quality of life is tied to Christ. The closer we walk with Him, the more our eyes are on spiritual things and not the temporary things of this world – the more abundantly we live! Sadly, most Christians struggle with following Him.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
We are new, we are empowered to live victoriously, no longer enslaved to sin – but we do remember it and instead of walking in newness of life, we fall for the Devil’s lies and go back to walk in the old familiar ways. In order to exhort us all to walk in the newness of life provided by Christ, our Savior (Romans 6:4) – I’d like to take you to Romans chapter 13 this morning. We’ll begin at the seventh verse.
In the beginning of this Chapter, the Apostle Paul has been talking about the believer’s responsibility to government, a God-appointed authority. Paul then begins to talk about our responsibility to live in this world – with our neighbors. Mr. Rodgers famously asked “Won’t you be my neighbor?”, but we are all neighbors – sharing the same world and life. Some more closely than others as residents of the same areas, close relatives or more intimately as brothers/sisters in Christ - but all neighbors! This is the same definition of neighbor Jesus used in the story of the Good Samaritan.
{Romans 13:7-14 NIV} {7} Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. {8} Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Notice that this general rule is not all about money. As we walk through this life, there are many things we owe to others. The apostle gives a few examples –
· taxes (yes, Christ came so that we would be free – but not free from taxes!) Jesus taught that we must pay to Caesar what he demands, even if we don’t agree or like it! (Beware of anyone who says otherwise!)
· revenue – have you hired or purchased (then pay what you owe!) – believers are not free from such obligations (watch out for heresy about the Year of Jubilee and canceling debts – we aren’t living under that covenant!) Another of the famous resolutions is to get out of debt. This seems hard to those under the burden – but Biblical wisdom makes it easy – don’t buy what you don’t have money to buy! (Count the cost!)
· respect – This is difficult for our culture, we have become so disrespectful. We owe our parents, our employers and yes, every other neighbor we come in contact with respect! God has created each and every one of us and we all bear the Maker’s mark – that alone requires respect, courtesy and kindness. It has become so easy to disrespect someone because they come from a different area or because they see the world differently than we do. If God grants us the right to be wrong (sinful, foolish, etc.) then how dare we deny our neighbor the same right? (Respectfully disagree!)
· honor – to esteem or value, this is very similar to respect perhaps only differentiated by a greater sense that honor has a component of earned approval. We see this in “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17). The honor is for the work toward a praise-worthy goal.
Finally, we have the summary about such debts – all of these may be ‘paid’, with the exception of our duty to love! Paul instructs us to keep current on our accounts for everything, but in the matter of love, we can never pay the full due. Much like traveling east or west, we can never reach the easternmost or westernmost spot! No matter how much we love – there is always more due!
All of this is to transition from what is due the ruling authorities to our individual relationships (our neighbors). This is what we are trying to get to – how to live a life that pleases God, making the most of each day! Jesus came to reveal God, to show us the way to live - - to love! We know that God is love, and anyone who does not love does not know God (1 John 4:8)
{9} The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." {10} Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
As we have said many times before (and it bears repeating – repetition is the key to learning!) – The entirety of the Law, Old Testament, New Testament, oral, written and unspoken - - - it is all covered by Love! We struggle with circumstances, loopholes and ‘details’ hoping to find a way to avoid the law without breaking it or to break it with a ‘good’ excuse, like modern day Pharisees. God however, simply summarizes His requirements over and over again – “Be like Me!” God reduces the whole of life to one thing – Love! If you like, you can divide that into two branches: Love God; and Love your neighbor.
Now today, we misunderstand and try to water down ‘love’. Some think that a warm feeling or general good wishes qualifies as love (it does not!) Some use those three little words, “I love you” whenever they want to get something as a tool to manipulate others. However, God gives a much higher standard! We are to love to the fullest extent – with all of our strength, our hearts and minds and with nothing less than the love we naturally have (selfishly have) for ourselves! Love means doing everything within our power to bless the one loved – not just doing or giving, it must be for the receivers good! Many a confused parent expresses their ‘love’ by giving gifts or being overly indulgent, which is just another way to harm – sometimes (often) love must be tough (as Dr. Dobson expressed). If we cannot weaken what it is to love, then we try to qualify who deserves our love. We want to define neighbors as those living on our block, or only as Christian brothers and sisters – people who first love us. God however sets the standard by loving the undeserving – “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This is how we should live – in love, as God loved us (so much so that He sent His only begotten Son – that’s Christmas!)
{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.
Time is perhaps the most valuable quantity in this world, but so many of us squander it away! If Satan cannot have us as his own, the next best thing is to have us as helplessly snoozing through life! Our enemy tries to lull us into every kind of ungodly or mindless activity and teaches us to expect to be rewarded with ‘happiness’ – even though it never really comes to us. While rest and relaxation are important, we must not sleep away our lives! As the hourglass of our lives begins to have more sand below than above, we begin to consider and regret these choices. What’s more, it is not just that our own days are numbered here on Earth (by God!)– we also know that Jesus is coming again! We are closer now than ever before! Do not mistake the many years that have passed as proof that He will not come! There have been many in every generation that have given up hope, losing faith that God will keep His promises! It is because we know the danger of losing time, or wasting our lives and because we anticipate the return of Jesus (any time – these are the last days!) that we should be all the more energetic and committed to a right walk with God instead of a sleep-walk with God!
{12} The 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. {13} Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
The night here represents the time of evildoers, the day those who live upright. We were once slaves to the darkness, citizens of Satan’s dark kingdom but since Christ has come we are free! Every believer now has the power (Holy Spirit power) to choose to do what’s right. We can turn the upside down priorities of this sinful world right side up, loving not just ourselves, but putting God first, then our neighbors and then finally ourselves! This language brings up the image of wicked men who do dastardly deeds under the cover of night, verses decent respectable people who live by the light of day (truly, the light of God!). Here we are given examples of immoral deeds, which are ways to waste our lives away. These are momentary distractions which only lead to judgement and death! The temptations which Satan promises will please the flesh, never last - - - just like the flesh itself, they are doomed and passing away.
Peter writes a parallel passage in which he says:
{7} The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. {8} Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. {9} Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. {10} Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. - 1 Peter 4:7-10 NIV
Whatever God has given to us, time, talents and giftings must be used as He would have us use them! This is the only way to live life to the fullest, or abundantly as Jesus puts it! That is the ultimate goal in life! This is the only way that we can live to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant”!
{14} Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Here is the greatest statement, put on (as if clothing) Christ! Make the most of the time given and be a walking talking representative of Jesus Himself. In order to do this we must put away the things of this world that would cause us to sleep, to ignore our duty to love and live a life without reward. The NIV translation “do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” is often translated “Make no provision for the flesh”. Think about this as a command not to give the sinful flesh any leeway; keep its leash so short that it cannot roam (or even breath!) We cannot put on ‘Christ’ over rags of sin and shame. If our hearts are still set on the selfish and sinful, we will never learn to discard those rags for the glory of Christ. Yet this is the key to really living, for the sleeper to awake we must live as Christ. I pray that we might all wake up. No matter who you are, how long you have walked with the Lord or how spiritually mature you are (or think you are) – there is always more to do! Let us all grab a great big cup of spiritual coffee and live an examined life, a life that will make Christ proud!