Walking right with God: (13:11-14):
Paul was referring to the end times the imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We should all the more be energetic and committed to a right walking with God instead of sleep walking. We must wake up from slumber, realising the times that each passing day in the faith brings us closer to final salvation. As we look forward to the consummation of salvation for all believers, Satan is working at his best speed to thwart the believers coming closer to Christ. All believers considering as soldiers in a conflict need to be alert and well equipped for the battle with uprightness, honouring Christ in each and every situation. We need to behave decently as in the day time, putting off the deeds of darkness. As we know that crime, violence, wickedness, jealousy, dissension, immorality etc. are deeds of darkness and have no place in Christian’s life (Gal.5:19-21). Since we belong to light as Christ is the light of this world. To Galatians Paul say: instead of the deeds of darkness, we must possess the Fruit of Spirit (Gal.5:22). We must clothe with the Lord Jesus Christ. At the point of initial salvation, we were clothed with Christ, we must “continue to work out Salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil.2:12). In other words, we must continue with humility, in obedience to work toward the sanctification of our lives, not gratifying the desires of the sinful nature. The members of the Roman church were not probably involved in debauchery or sexual sins, but it appears that they were involved in groupism, dissension etc. But is a sin which can be grouped under the big sins, because Church is not a place where one person vies against another. Further “clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ” is pointing towards the Fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal 5:22-24). For a believer the allegiance to Christ should make him to lead modest, pure and a holy life.
A few questions to answer before we move to next chapter:
- Why you should yourself to the government? (13:1-3)
- Why a Christian must pay tax honestly? (13:6-7)
- According to Paul what should be our outstanding debt? (13:8-10)
- What is night and day represent according to Paul? (13:12-13)
- In the light of the scripture (13:13-14), how should we behave?