STAY THE COURSE

Romans 13:11-14

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. 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. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:11-14


The TIMES:
The present time (vs. 11), the hour (vs. 11), salvation is nearer than it was (vs. 12), the night is almost over and the day almost here (vs. 12).

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There are three things we do to STAY THE COURSE.

  1. Discern the times.
  2. Resist the times.
  3. Redeem the times.

1. Discern the Times.

And do this* understanding the present time. 13:11.

Do what? Do everything he has been saying since 12:1.
Relate with those who follow Jesus in a robust moral-ethical way.
Develop a posture of wisdom about the government.
Be a generous presence with the non-Christian world around you.

And do this understanding the present time. 13:11.

…from Issachar, those who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command… they came to Hebron fully determined to make David the King. 1 Chronicles 12:32, 38

Karl Barth. We read with the newspaper in one hand and Bible in the other.

Peter Kreeft. As we read the times, we read the eternities and we understand the times in light of the eternities.

We live in Post-Christian Times when much of our culture is NEGATIVE toward Christianity, or ambivalent at best.

2008 Great Emergence.
2012 Bad Religion
2012 Christianity After Religion
2020 Strange Rites.

2. Resist the Times.

Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world. Romans 12:1.

The night (vs. 12).
The deeds of darkness (vs. 12).
The desires of the flesh (vs. 14).
Carousing and drunkenness (vs. 13).
Sexual immorality and debauchery (vs. 13).
Dissension and jealousy (vs. 13).

3. Redeem the times and Redeem YOUR time.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17

Wake up from slumber (vs. 11).

Put on the armor of light (vs. 12).

Behave decently as in the daytime (vs. 13).

Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 14).