11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
In the this section of the letter, Paul discusses how we live together with other believers. This section goes from 13:8 to 15:14.
V. 11 - “Do this, knowing the time” - The previous paragraph (vss. 8-10, above) shows us the motive for our behavior with friends and neighbors, i.e., “Love Does No Wrong.” Knowing that, Paul gives us in the next verses three ways to show that love.
(1) Lay aside the deeds of darkness, in vs 12.
(2) Behave properly, in vs 13.
(3) Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, in vs. 14.
Paul emphasizes the ‘time’ with several admonitions:
(a) You need to awaken from sleep. (Vs. 11) You were spiritually unaware of trouble you were in - you were spiritually dead, doomed to eternal separation from the Lord. You were sleep walking through life, oblivious to the pending doom awaiting you.
(b) Salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. (Vs. 11) Every moment from the moment you believed and accepted Christ as Savior brings you closer and closer to being with Him forever. Those moments should be used to learn and implement how to be controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
(c) The night is almost gone. (Vs. 12) The day is coming for Christ’s triumphant return. The long spiritual night of Satan’s dominion on earth is almost over. I use the term ‘dominion’ reservedly. Satan does not own the world. It is not his, but he has temporary rule.
(d) The day is near. Jesus Christ is coming again in power and glory to place the new Jerusalem for HIs beloved - you and me if we have believed in Him.
V. 12 - “Let us lay aside the deeds of darkness” - Paul lays out an active faith. We are not to sit and let the waves of life wash over us. We are to live for Christ - purposefully. Don’t live the way you did before you accepted Christ. We now can live for Jesus and not for ourselves.
“Put on the armor of light” - We are not bowling pins set up to be knocked down by the vagaries of life. We are active participants, girding ourselves for spiritual battle. See Eph. 6:13-17 - “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
V. 13 - “Let us behave properly as in the day” - Paul gives us examples of what he is opposite of behaving properly - carousing, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, sexual sensuality, strife and jealousy. All of these are self-centered, self-pleasing, looking for the instant gratification and not thinking of consequences to self or others.
V. 14 - “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts“ - Let Christ rule in your life, and don’t go the other direction. See: Col. 3:16.
Also: “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Cor 12:9)
And: “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,” (Eph 3:17).
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