1. Romans 13:11- 13 A THESIS ON SALVATION - ROMANS 1-11
The first 11 chapters of Romans offers a detailed dissertation on the salvation of sinners by the grace of God
Paul pinpoints the intersection of grace, faith and works in Romans 6
Furthermore he demonstrates that the salvation of a soul required God’s work throughout the ages and man’s participation throughout life
THE REASONABLE RESPONSE
Beginning in Romans 12, Paul describes what can only be seen as the reasonable response to the outpouring of God’s grace as witnessed at Calvary
He calls on the justified to give themselves as a living sacrifice, wholly devoted to the Lord
He then goes on to offer detailed applications of this principle throughout the chapter
In 13:11-14, he sums this up in the description of a mindset that each of us would do well to cultivate
THE MINDSET OF THE JUSTIFIED
Regarding Salvation - vs. 11
Regarding the time - vs. 12
Regarding this life - vs
Romans 13:11- 13

2. Romans 13:11- 13 A THESIS ON SALVATION - ROMANS 1-11
The first 11 chapters of Romans offers a detailed dissertation on the salvation of sinners by the grace of God
Paul pinpoints the intersection of grace, faith and works in Romans 6
Furthermore he demonstrates that the salvation of a soul required God’s work throughout the ages and man’s participation throughout life
THE REASONABLE RESPONSE
Beginning in Romans 12, Paul describes what can only be seen as the reasonable response to the outpouring of God’s grace as witnessed at Calvary
He calls on the justified to give themselves as a living sacrifice, wholly devoted to the Lord
He then goes on to offer detailed applications of this principle throughout the chapter
In 13:11-14, he sums this up in the description of a mindset that each of us would do well to cultivate
THE MINDSET OF THE JUSTIFIED
Regarding Salvation - vs. 11
Regarding the time - vs. 12
Regarding this life - vs
Romans 13:11- 13

3. Viewing Salvation A Past Event “you have been saved”
The moment of baptism
The moment of forgiveness
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
Romans 13:11 (NASB95)
A PAST EVENT
For the Christian, there is undoubtedly a moment in our past in which we were saved from our sins
“By grace you have been saved through faith” Eph 2:8
It is fair and accurate for us to look back on the moment of our baptism, wherein the body of sin was done away with, and think of that as the moment in which we were saved - Romans 6:4-7
We might speak of this as our initial justification - that moment when the sinner if first declared not guilty
Viewing Salvation

4. Viewing Salvation Future Expectation
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
Romans 13:11 (NASB95)
A FUTURE EXPECTATION
In Rom 13:11, Paul speaks of a salvation that “is nearer to us than when we believed
He is presenting the notion of final salvation, the ultimate goal of every Christian, and holding it up as an ever approaching reality
He speaks of salvation in a similar way in Rom 5:10
Here reconciliation is the concept of salvation in the here and now
However we still seek to be “saved by His life”
Paul wants the believer to have confidence in the fact that they have been redeemed in the present, but he still points them to the future for their salvation
Viewing Salvation

5. Viewing Salvation Future Expectation An ever approaching reality
A goal set before us
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 5:10 (NASB95)
A FUTURE EXPECTATION
In Rom 13:11, Paul speaks of a salvation that “is nearer to us than when we believed
He is presenting the notion of final salvation, the ultimate goal of every Christian, and holding it up as an ever approaching reality
He speaks of salvation in a similar way in Rom 5:10
Here reconciliation is the concept of salvation in the here and now
However we still seek to be “saved by His life”
Paul wants the believer to have confidence in the fact that they have been redeemed in the present, but he still points them to the future for their salvation
Viewing Salvation

6. Viewing Salvation A Present Reality We are in the midst of a process
“storing up wrath for yourself” or seeking eternal life”
We must have a forward looking view
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, … 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
Romans 2:5–7 (NASB95)
AN ONGOING REALITY
1Cor 1:18 - Here Paul speaks of two groups of people - those who are “perishing” and those who are “being saved”
The two groups are described with present participles, in other words they are presently in the thick of a process, currently moving toward their respective destinations
Romans 2: Paul describes the same ongoing process here using the idea of “storing up wrath for yourself” and seeking eternal life by “perseverance in doing good”
We must be careful that we do not have an attitude toward our salvation that allows for complacency; rather we must have a forward looking view
Viewing Salvation

7. A Divine Timeline Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 -
The divine activity that brought about the redemptive plan - Rom 1:16-17
My participation in this plan through obedient faith - Rom 5:1
The Last Day
Day 2 -
ROMANS PRESENTS A UNIQUE VIEW OF HISTORY
This timeline consists of three “days” or periods of activity
Day 1 - The divine activity that brought the Gospel to a point of reality, this would include all God has done to orchestrate the redemptive plan up to and including the cross - Rom 1:16-17
Day 2 - My participation in this scheme through obedient faith - Rom 5:1
Day 3 - The Last Day, the consummation of all things as Jesus once again acts in our behalf
In Paul’s mind the final day is dawning the first vestiges of light are on the horizon - (example of sunrise over the lake while duck hunting craving the warmth of that first light)
The question of the text is simple - are you preparing for that day?
Day 3 -

8. LAY ASIDE THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS
Preparing today for that day
Put on the Armor of light
The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12 (NASB95)
PREPARING TODAY FOR THAT DAY
This passage is at heart a call to action
“do this…” - Perhaps referring to the the reminders of the most basic principles of godliness in vs. 8-10, but perhaps reaching back through chapter 12 and the admonition to be transformed from this world
In vs. 12 Paul presents the need for action as pressing and immediate
The picture is of one dressing for the day, preparing for whatever may come
In this case there is an urgency a need
PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT
Paul uses the figure of light often and in each passage it represents something different
Eph 6 each piece refers back to the Word of God
1Thess 5:8 the armor represents faith, love and hope
In Romans, we have been called to an active, trusting obedient faith - Rom 1:5, 3:26, 4:12, 5:1
This faith is seen positively as we initially obey the Gospel in order to enter fellowship with God
Paul also presents such faith as turning away from those activities that would violate that fellowship
Thus we “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” - not in the sense of Gal 3:27 and baptism, but in the sense of theosis, becoming more like him and removing those things that would prevent us from showing His character to the world - Eph 4:23-24; Col 3:10,12
MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH
If we look forward to salvation on the day of judgment, or the day of Christ’s visitation, then the light of that day must illumine our steps today, tomorrow, and all our days.
Paul plays on the images of night and day, darkness and light. Looking ahead to the day of salvation, we must put away everything that belongs to the night, the darkness that the light of God’s dawning kingdom is driving away.
Since we know that this day is coming, we have this God-given opportunity to put away from ourselves all the attitudes, all the behaviors, all the secret sins that would bring us shame were they to see the light of day, especially the light of that day.
Provision - “thoughtful planning to meet a need” (BDAG)
“for the flesh in regards to its lusts” refers to the sins listed in vs. 13
As with most such lists in the N.T. Paul is dealing with sin categorically not merely the individual sins listed
The failure to overcome the attitudes, habits, secret sins would in fact be making provision for theme
As we stand here today, with the light of that day dawning clearly before us what excuses are we making that prevent us from living today in true preparation for that day?
LAY ASIDE THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS

9. LAY ASIDE THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS
Preparing today for that day
Put on the Armor of light
Make no provision for the flesh
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Romans 13:14 (NASB95)
PREPARING TODAY FOR THAT DAY
This passage is at heart a call to action
“do this…” - Perhaps referring to the the reminders of the most basic principles of godliness in vs. 8-10, but perhaps reaching back through chapter 12 and the admonition to be transformed from this world
In vs. 12 Paul presents the need for action as pressing and immediate
The picture is of one dressing for the day, preparing for whatever may come
In this case there is an urgency a need
PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT
Paul uses the figure of light often and in each passage it represents something different
Eph 6 each piece refers back to the Word of God
1Thess 5:8 the armor represents faith, love and hope
In Romans, we have been called to an active, trusting obedient faith - Rom 1:5, 3:26, 4:12, 5:1
This faith is seen positively as we initially obey the Gospel in order to enter fellowship with God
Paul also presents such faith as turning away from those activities that would violate that fellowship
Thus we “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” - not in the sense of Gal 3:27 and baptism, but in the sense of theosis, becoming more like him and removing those things that would prevent us from showing His character to the world - Eph 4:23-24; Col 3:10,12
MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH
If we look forward to salvation on the day of judgment, or the day of Christ’s visitation, then the light of that day must illumine our steps today, tomorrow, and all our days.
Paul plays on the images of night and day, darkness and light. Looking ahead to the day of salvation, we must put away everything that belongs to the night, the darkness that the light of God’s dawning kingdom is driving away.
Since we know that this day is coming, we have this God-given opportunity to put away from ourselves all the attitudes, all the behaviors, all the secret sins that would bring us shame were they to see the light of day, especially the light of that day.
Provision - “thoughtful planning to meet a need” (BDAG)
“for the flesh in regards to its lusts” refers to the sins listed in vs. 13
As with most such lists in the N.T. Paul is dealing with sin categorically not merely the individual sins listed
The failure to overcome the attitudes, habits, secret sins would in fact be making provision for theme
As we stand here today, with the light of that day dawning clearly before us what excuses are we making that prevent us from living today in true preparation for that day?
LAY ASIDE THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS