Grow With Pastor Joe

In the ending passage of this chapter of Romans, Paul is urgently calling all believers to wake up, look up, clean up, and dress up. We have seen that there is danger afoot and the battle is at hand. It is no longer time to slumber because the Lord Jesus Christ is soon returning for His Bride, the Church, to call her to Himself. Rom. 13:11-14 does not just act as a warning of exhortation to believers, but it is also pointing back to the transformational truth that all of life is in Christ. Our Christian life is Christ for us, in us, through us, and with us. From conversion, consecration, to the coming consummation, the Lord Jesus is our very life. Because He is expected at any moment, we must put into practice our positional realities in Him. Paul is calling us to live the Christian life as holy instruments in and for the Lord. Our life is one that has been transformed, is being transformed, and we are awaiting our final and full transformation when we take this mortal flesh off at Christ’s appearing. The Lord is calling all believers in this passage to cast off the old rags of our sin and self-righteousness, and to put on the riches and robes of Christ’s righteousness. The whole passage is centered around Christ’s coming and the practical holy living of the believer in expectation of Christ’s return. Because we are expecting His imminent arrival we should be dressed appropriately. Simply, stop wearing the old clothes of sin that no longer fit your position in Christ and practically put on Christ as you draw upon His grace to live in and for Him.

            What we wear matters. What we wear also says a lot about us. No, this is not going to be some sermon about why women should wear dresses and men should wear suits to church. Frankly, I’m happy that people come to church with clothes on. Clothes are important. It covers our nakedness, yet sometimes what we often wear can still be shameful or inappropriate. I hate dressing up. In college we had to adhere to the dress code for class, but as soon as I went back to my dorm room it was back to shorts and a t-shirt. Throughout the school year, there would be evening music recitals from the school of music students who would perform as a part of their curriculum, but it was always open to the public. I loved to go and support them. It also helped that my sophomore year I started dating a music student who is now my wife. Believe it or not, in Bible college I was a rule breaker. I was good at being bad. Nothing outrageous. Fortunately, 99.9% of the time I could talk my way out of it or at least have little to no real repercussions. Well, one day there was a music recital at 4:00. Now, mind you, I was done with class for the day soooo… I showed up in my cargo shorts and t-shirt. Sitting across the aisle from me is the Dean of women, Mrs. Bottoms. Mrs. Bottoms quickly noticed my alleged “inappropriate” dress for a “semi-formal” recital. I played dumb. I wasn’t. I knew precisely what I was doing. Thankfully, Mrs. Bottoms gave me a brief and polite lecture on etiquette. Needless to say, at the next recital I wore the required dress.

In the real world, we must wear what is appropriate for where we are and for who we are. Imagine a judge showing up to court in shorts and a t-shirt. While he is still positionally a judge he is practically a disrespectful and unprofessional slob. Or perhaps a lifeguard wearing a three-piece suit while they look out over the kiddie pool? For the Christian, we are always positionally in Christ. This is our eternal unending unbreakable union with Him. However, our sanctification in this present life requires us to be dressed appropriately. This means that we should wear both spiritually and physically what is appropriate for an ambassador of Christ. The attitudes and actions that we wear display what we believe and represent who we belong to. We have been given the uniform of Christ, but how often we tarnish the name on the jersey. In this passage there are some “put offs” and “put ons.” This is a common theme throughout the New Testament, but specifically that of Paul’s practical exhortations in his letters. We are told now to put on practically what has been put on positionally. The moment of your salvation, you put off yourself and put on Christ, however, in this present life we must deny ourselves by putting off the old man (the Flesh) and put on Christ through appropriating our position and possessions in Him. What happened to you positionally at your conversion must now be put on practically through continual consecration to Christ. In Rom. 13:11-14, the “put off” and “put on” are both in the aorist tense and middle voice. The idea is that this is a deliberate decision with urgency and effectiveness. We are to literally put off us and put on Christ. Our position in Christ is the doctrinal indicative statements of the passage and previous chapters (Rom. 1-11). Now, our practical putting on Christ (Rom. 12-16) is to presently do according to what has been previously done for us. The work of Christ is for us, in us, and through us. These truths are seen clearly in Rom. 6; Eph. 4; and Col. 3. Each of those passages shows us the practical implications of our position in Christ. Because I belong to Jesus I need to behave like it.

Rom. 13:11-14 says, “¹¹ And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. ¹³ Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. ¹⁴ But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Today, we will see that it is time to dress up and be clothed in Christ. There are two things that we see in these verses today. One, we see our warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil. We are called to the battle. Wake up and look up for the battle is here. The warfare is why we are to be clothed in Christ and put Him on practically. Two, we will see our wardrobe of what it really means to put on Christ in our daily life. This is no mere duty. It is decision time to deliberately be dependent upon Christ and draw upon the infinite riches of His grace to live in and for Him each day.

First, we need to see our warfare. The imagery of the passage is that of a soldier who had gone out the night prior in party dress while living in the darkness of the world. Now, the wake-up call has sounded, and it is time to not dress for a ball, but for battle. If a soldier wore their partying clothes to the battle they wouldn’t last a minute. Any Christian who doesn’t understand that they are a soldier in the army of the Lord doesn’t understand the nature of the gospel and Christian life. We are a triumphant military in Christ. The Church is militant and triumphant in the persona and work of Christ. We often emphasize the beautiful bride or body metaphors of the Church, but don’t forget that the Church of Jesus Christ is one that marches under His banner to do battle against the gates of Hell (Mt. 16:18). Dear believer, are you dressed for the battle or are you dressed for the bed? Wake up and armor up! In this passage, we are commanded to put on the armor of light to wage the warfare of this present day as we wait the coming of our Commander, the Lord Jesus Christ. The believer isn’t told to put on armor so they can sleep more comfortably in their beds but be dressed to combat the enemy of sin. Armor is for protection and preservation during battle as the enemy advances upon our ranks. This armor is of light for it is of Christ, through Christ, and to Christ. It is not the armor of self-righteousness, theological expertise, emotions, experiences, or rituals. It is the armor of light, which is not our own, but it is Christ for, in, and through us. Puritan Thomas Watson wrote, “It is light for beauty, and armor for defense. A Christian has armor of God’s making, which cannot be shot through. He has the shield of faith, the helmet of hope, the breastplate of righteousness. This armor defends against the assaults of temptation, and the terror of hell. This armor is of God’s making, and the Lord, with His armor, gives strength.” The armor of light is beautiful for nothing is as beautiful as the grace and glory of Christ. The armor of light is battle tested because Christ Himself endured the trials and temptations of the flesh, yet without sin. His armor is guaranteed for it is of His infinite grace and glory through the gospel of Jesus. This armor guards us from the terrors and temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Truly, light itself is the greatest defense against darkness, for darkness cannot dispel the light. Only light can dispel the darkness. Darkness flees even at the flickering candle; how much more than does darkness retreat from the light of Christ shining around and through the believer. 1 Thess. 5:1-11 portrays this when it says,

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. ² For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. ³ For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. ⁴ But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. ⁸ But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. ¹¹ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

            Paul then writes so famously in Eph. 6:10-18 about the believer’s warfare and the armor of our wardrobe that we are to wear as it says,

“¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

            It is time to wake up, look up, clean up, and dress up for the current conflict and the coming of Christ. The battle is here and now. The call is urgent. You must not delay. Arise and armor up dear Christian soldier. The battle will not be won by your flesh, but by grace through faith in Christ alone. He has provided all that you need for the battle. Do not neglect the armor of light that will protect and preserve you until the coming day of Christ. I believe that it is better to be carried off the field of battle on your shield of faith than to have never fought the enemy at all. Fight your sin. Slay it. Slaughter it. Show your sin no mercy for it will show you none. Do not give a truce to the world, the flesh, the devil or the lust of the flesh, eyes, or pride of life. Make “not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Without the armor of light then you and I may slip into apathy, apostasy, or anarchy as the world has. Be steadfast in the armor of light that Christ has provided and clothed you with.

            Second, we need to see our wardrobe. I believe that the reason the practical lives of Christians often suffer or is stale is because they don’t know who they are and what they have in Christ. Have you ever found something hanging in your closet that you didn’t know was there? There is excitement when you find an old shirt that you haven’t seen in years or perhaps the joy of getting to put something on that finally fits. When it comes to our Christian life, we have a closet full of the riches and robes of Christ. We need not dress ourselves up in ourselves or old clothing. Rather, we must “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” The only way that we will truly cast off the works of darkness is by putting on Christ for the power to live practically our position in Him. Notice though, it is not that we dress up for Jesus as if we would impress Him. It is that we dress up in Jesus. To be dressed up in Christ means that you disappear in Him so that He is then displayed through you (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6; Col. 3). To be dressed appropriately we must appropriate (take for one’s own use) our position and possessions in Christ to practically live the Christian life. He is all you need to be clothed in. You don’t need to add anything to the outfit. He completes you for He is your very life. It is our job simply to yield ourselves to Him (Rom. 12:1-2) so that He would live through us. You have been clothed in His righteousness positionally. Now, all of Christ is your spiritual possession. His riches and righteousness are now yours in and through Him. Therefore, we are to practically put on Christ to have the power to live the Christian life of holiness and wage the war against sin. To dress up in Christ is to hide ourselves in Him. His holiness. His love. His beauty. His strength. His being. This is our daily duty, but it must be a daily decision, truly a moment-by-moment decision. The decision to dress up in Christ by putting off ourselves and yielding ourselves to Him is one of self-denial, total dependence, and absolute devotion to Christ. Christ in all of His power and glory is before us, behind us, beside us, and within us. Col. 1:20-29 says,

“²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. ²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled ²² In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: ²³ If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; ²⁴ Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: ²⁵ Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; ²⁶ Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: ²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: ²⁸ Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: ²⁹ Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”

            Here is how you can tell if you are living the Christian life clothed in Christ or clothed in yourself. If you don’t deny yourself the pleasures of sin and run to it for satisfaction (which you’ll never find) then you are not dressed up in Him. You are wearing your flesh, and it doesn’t fit or look good on you. If there is no total dependence and surrender to Him then you are wearing your flesh. To put on Christ is a moment-by-moment decision of faith that depends upon His grace, is devoted to Him in love and totally denies oneself. When you put on Christ you disappear, and He is displayed. The world doesn’t need to see you; they need to see Him. There is not a situation, season, sorrow, struggle, or sin that cannot be conquered by putting on Christ. Putting on Christ is the only way that we are strengthened to endure the battles of the warfare that we face each day (Eph. 3:14-21). Jesus is your shield, strength, and His word is your sword. To put Him on is to put on and partake of His virtues and victory. One important thing to notice though is that Paul uses the full title, “the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is no accident. The word “Lord” is His sovereign name. He is the ruler and master of the universe. He created it for His own pleasure and is working out His purposes. Nothing falls outside of His command. He eternally rules and reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is no Lord but Him. The gospel demands that the hearer bow to Jesus Christ as Lord. He has always been Lord and will always be Lord. Either He is Lord of all or not at all. Because He is the Lord we must bow to His Lordship. To put on Christ, you must bow your heart and knee in allegiance to the Sovereign ruler of your heart. The word “Jesus” is His saving name. Jesus means God saves or salvation. Remember, your salvation in Christ has three tenses. He has saved you from sin’s penalty, is saving you from sin’s power (this is why you have to put Him on practically each day), and will save you from sin’s presence as His soon appearing. Jesus saves! Jesus saves! No other name will do! The word “Christ” is the word for messiah meaning anointed one. This is His supernatural name. The messiah had to be a man to represent man to God but had to be God to represent God to man. Jesus is the Mediator between God and Man (1 Tim. 2:5). Putting on Christ means that I have in Him the supernatural enabling power to do what my flesh never could or would even desire to do. The promised Messiah was the one who would redeem and reign over God’s people. He is the Messiah who is the only sufficient mediator because He is the master of the universe, including life and death. All things are in His hand. Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ means that I am dependent upon His direction, deliverance, and dominion over my life. He is in control, and I put Him on through giving up my alleged control of my life. Putting on Christ is putting myself aside so that He can do His work and will through me.

            Do you hear the call to battle? Wake up oh sleeping Christian! Where are you looking? What has your attention and affection? Look up for Christ is coming! Is your heart clean and clear? Clean up! What are you wearing? Dress up in Him! Disappear by denying yourself and depending upon Him so that He may be displayed through you! It is time to do battle with the enemy and do business with God. Do not delay. Do not hesitate. Don’t roll over! If you are in Christ, then you are a part of the Bride of Christ. As a bride clothes herself for her wedding she is devoted to presenting herself to her groom pure, clothed in white and clothed in devotion to him. As she walks down the aisle their eyes are only upon one another and for one another. Dear Christian, Christ the Bridegroom is coming to call us to Himself soon. Any day. Any minute now. Make yourself ready to meet the one who loves you so. Edward Mote’s hymn, “My hope is built on nothing less,” ends with this incredible fourth stanza, “When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found: dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.” Until that day may we stand up for Jesus, not in our strength, but His. Not in our sufficiency, but His. Not our own supply, but His. Live for Christ by living in Christ. Put Him on and keep Him on so that you can keep you off until He makes all things new.