We continued our study of Romans last night by looking closely at the last four verses of chapter 13. Here are the notes:
The renewed mind…
1. …sees things in terms of God’s time. (v.11) It sees things chronologically, and globally, in terms of God’s plan for the whole world. And it lets the things God had said to us tell us where in that timeline we are. (in other words, it doesn’t primarily interpret things in terms of or personal history, or our family history, or, say American history.)
2. …sees the darkness as passing away, not gaining or winning. (v.12a)
3. …desires to throw off the things associated with the darkness. (v.12-14)
Some implications:
1. The renewed mind doesn’t mistake the momentary gains of those we disagree with as in indication of the victory of the darkness. (v.12).
2. So therefore, The renewed mind doesn’t fear the darkness.
3. …And, the renewed mind doesn’t desire the darkness or the things that make it up. It doesn’t compromise with the darkness by indulging in the things which are keeping people spiritually unconscious. It doesn’t leave room for the darkness to creep back in our lives where Christ has banished it. (v.14) Since the light that has dawned is Christ (that is, the light that is shining is God, who came into the world as a man), we “put on Christ” which is to say, we associate ourselves closely with everything Jesus is and everything that his coming means to the world. (True humanity is being formed! Men and women can now live lives that are forgiven, free and in close connection to God! Sin has no more rule over anyone who wants out!)
Final observation: This means that the dominant note of the Christian, the strongest flavor we give off, is joy. We are like people who’ve been stranded somewhere outside for an entire night, and we have just noticed that the first rays of sun are breaking over the hill. It’s still pretty dark out, but now we know exactly what time it is, and that there’s only a short time left before all the darkness is gone. We live in the hope that the light has already dawned, and we define the way we feel about things based on the dawning, growing, strengthening light.
So when we look out at our culture, or the world in general, we don’t have to deny the darkness. We admit it’s real! We don’t ignore it or run from it or hide in our houses from it.
And we don’t fear, hate or get angry at people who are still “asleep” and in the grip of darkness. We don’t see them as the darkness. We see them as in need of the same grace and power that freed us from the darkness, and woke us up.
Instead of loving darkness, we oppose it victoriously be being so awake and freed from it that we can spend our short time left working with God to rescue as many people from the fading darkness as possible.
We also looked at these scriptures: 1 John 2:8; Isaiah 9:2,6; and John 12:48
I neglected to read these two passages as well, and afterwards I wished I had. Notice how much they add to the discussion:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
Concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Ephesians 5:8-16
You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.