Love, the Christian's response
Love for God and our neighbor is a powerful motivation toward a life of holiness. There is, however, another consideration that also shapes the Christian’s life. That consideration is a concern for our own spiritual welfare.
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 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 orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
For Christians of every generation, “the present time” is no time for spiritual slumber. In fact, the window of opportunity to lead a life of love and service to God and our neighbor becomes smaller with each passing day. The hymnwriter James Montgomery has it right when he says that the passing of each day brings us “a day’s march nearer home” (CW 213:2).
Along the same lines, the apostle observes that “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” The full realization of our salvation, either at our death or at the second coming of Christ, is always imminent. It could be today! Hence in view of the rapid passage of time, the message is clear: seize the opportunity to live a life of righteousness. The apostle states that in a negative/positive combination: let us “put aside the deeds of darkness” and “put on the armor of light.”
Putting aside the deeds of darkness means avoiding the disgusting things that sinful nature is inclined to do when it thinks it is operating under the cover of darkness and no one will see. Paul’s list of such things is representative rather than exhaustive. He urges his readers (and us) to avoid orgies and drunkenness, sexual immorality and debauchery, dissension and jealousy. As indicated, Paul is not listing every possible sin. The apostle would have us tailor the list to include our own special temptations and pet sins.
The counterpart to putting off such “deeds of darkness” is putting on the “armor of light.” Or as the apostle also states it, “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Again, the hymnwriter Nicolaus L. von Zinzendorf serves us well when with picturesque language he says, “Jesus, your blood and righteousness my beauty are, my glorious dress” (CW 376:1). Paul used a similar picture when he wrote to the Galatians, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (3:26,27).
Being clothed with Christ means, first and foremost, accepting by faith the righteousness Christ has earned for us. Adorned with that glorious robe, we have the righteousness that avails before God and thus are assured of our eternal salvation. But having Christ’s righteousness by faith involves more. It also enables and empowers us to live a new life marked by true holiness in our daily lives and conduct.
While such life and activity is not what saves us, holiness of living is not simply an optional feature of the Christian life. It is the mark and sign that our faith truly is living and active. That’s important! James states it very clearly: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (2:17).
We realize then why Paul devotes almost four chapters of this letter (chapters 12–15) to sanctification, that is, holiness of living on the part of the redeemed children of God. Sanctification is an inseparable part of the Christian’s life. For it to be lacking would be a most distressing sign, even to the point of putting the vitality of our faith into question. Hence we do well to strive earnestly, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to heed the apostle’s double encouragement to put off the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us do so all the more as we see the Lord’s Day approaching. After all, “the night is nearly over; the day is almost here.”