Jesus will come back unexpectedly… Matthew 24:36, 42, 44, 50; 25:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10. Jesus could not be any clearer. There are no signs of His return.
Let’s keep this in mind as we move into our study of how the Gospel gets us prepared for the return of the Messiah, our Savior…
WE NEED TO “WAKE UP” AND LOVE – 13:8-10:
When God sets a opportunity in front of us to do good – feed the hungry, give water to those who are thirsty, clothe the naked, etc. (legitimate needs) – then we are obligated to do that to the best of our ability. It is sinful not to do that. We owe love to those who need love.
In verse 9, Paul quotes from a few of the Ten Commandments, especially those relating to interpersonal relationships. On the flip side of the coin, in verse 10, Paul says, “Love does no wrong.” Don’t do anything wrong.
WE NEED TO “WAKE UP” BECAUSE SALVATION IS NEARER – 13:11:
Paul tells Christians “wake up!” Why? Because time is marching on and the time when Jesus returns is actually getting closer and closer. Do we know when Jesus is coming back again? No, but the time of His coming is actually getting closer and closer.
WE NEED TO “WAKE UP” AND LAY ASIDE THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS – 13:12-13:
The “night” that is almost gone is the night of our ignorance; it is the night when we were unprepared for the coming of Christ. It is the time when we were non-Christians and living in sin. The time of darkness, of sin reigning in the world, is almost gone. The day, when Jesus returns, is almost near.
So, Paul warns us to “wake up” and lay aside the “deeds of darkness,” the works of darkness. These are behaviors that associate us with Satan and his demons, not with the holy God, His holy Child Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and His holy angels.
“Carousing” – lewd and immoral parties.
“Drunkenness” – We’re talking about something that is far more important than crashing a car or even killing someone, as awful as that is. We’re talking about sinning against Jesus Christ and throwing our souls into an eternal torment. Just what does it take to get us to stop playing around with the “devil’s brew”?
“Sexual immorality” – sexual behavior that is unrestrained.
“Strife” – arguing which usually ends with division.
“Jealousy” – a strong desire to have what someone else has.
WE NEED TO “WAKE UP” AND PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT – 13:14:
For non-Christians, “putting on the Lord Jesus Christ” would refer to immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins: Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:11-12.
For those who are Christians but are living more like the world than they are Jesus, to “put on Jesus Christ” means to wear His teachings in our lives, as Paul mentions in Titus 2:10.
Family, Christ calls us to wake up and be prepared at any moment for Him to return.
Paul Holland
