Romans 13:13-14 Walk In The Light

Hi and thank you for coming back for another episode of Perspective For Today. In our previous episode we expounded on the armor of light that Paul mentions in Romans 13:12. We went over in some detail what that armor is and how it applies to our lives according to Ephesians 6:14-18.

So let’s just review Romans 13:12 and today we will finish up chapter 13.

Romans 13:12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

The works of darkness doesn’t refer to the late evening hours.

Rather it refers to the state of one’s heart. The light of Christ can’t penetrate a darkened heart. I’d like to say that most crimes are committed at night, but after some research I’d have to say that’s not true. Specifically 2/3 of all burglaries are committed in daylight hours. How can that be? If your heart is darkened and your conscience no longer bothers you, then it is easy to become bold in the evil you commit. Yet even a darkened heart can find the light of Christ and come to a saving Grace.

1 John 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

If we are walking in the light then we are walking on that path of righteousness.

Romans 13:13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

As a child of God orgies, drunkenness, sexual immorality, sensuality, quarreling, and jealousy have no place in our lives.

I didn’t want to elaborate on what Paul is saying here, but I feel we need to know who the enemy is. You need to know your enemy in order to defeat him.

Those who participate in orgies or group sexual encounters do so, because if others are doing it it must be okay. They get validation when others indulge in the same dark activities. In other words, birds of a feather tend to flock together. So as Christians, we need to flock together and draw strength from one another.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Drunkenness is a means for someone who has a void in their heart to try and fill it.

Alcohol is nothing but a lie. It can’t fill that void and it can’t take away the pain that you’re dealing with or rather not dealing with. Booze numbs the soul and removes the conscience from the equation. Inhibitions are lessened and sinful desires are allowed to take control.

I’d like to be able to say that the Bible condemns drinking, but it doesn’t.

I believe that the Bible encourages moderation rather than excess. Here are a couple verses that make that clear.

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

For those who are unfamiliar with the word debauchery the Merriam Webster dictionary defines it as, extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures and especially sexual pleasures : behavior involving sex, drugs, alcohol, etc. that is often considered immoral.

The next reference comes from 2nd Peter.

2 Peter 2:19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

So many people have become slaves to alcohol.

It has dominion over their lives. Anything that you put ahead of God has become your master. Some folks can have a drink and stop, other folks can’t. For me personally I don’t want anything to cloud my judgment. So I choose not to drink. I don’t want to take a chance that I may make a wrong choice under the influence of alcohol. That is just my personal preference.

Next Paul mentions sexual immorality and sensuality.So many people have become slaves to alcohol.

So what is sexual immorality? The word most often affiliated with sexual immorality is the Greek word porneia. Which means to surrender sexual purity. It is primarily used in the context of premarital sex.

Hebrews 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

If you’re married, cast your gaze on your spouse and don’t look at the forbidden fruit.

f you are living a spirit-filled life then the desires of your flesh will be lessened.
Even if you don’t act on the urge to cheat, you will never give your spouse the full respect they deserve. By looking outside of your marriage you have desecrated the sanctity of that marriage.

Matthew 19:6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.

If you’re single wait until you’re married for the pleasures of sex.

It’s what God intended. Sexual intimacy should not be cheapened by having multiple partners. If you wait until your wedding day you will appreciate the one that God gave you so much more. Sexual immorality is not only a sin it manifests itself in sexually transmitted diseases and other medical issues. God’s plan for your life is perfect. If you stay within the confines of the marriage covenant then you have a zero chance of bringing home an STD to your spouse.

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Finally Paul says not to quarrel or be jealous.

Since we’re on the marriage topic, let’s just keep going with that. Some couples just love to quarrel. It’s almost like a sport. Each feels that they are in the right. Eventually it gets to a point where it’s either my way or the highway. How important is being right? If you have a spirit of humility you will always put your spouse ahead of yourself. You won’t need to be right. It’s more important to be right with God than to constantly quarrel about things that in the long run really don’t matter. We should always prefer our spouse over ourselves.

2 Timothy 2:23-24 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

Last but not least, jealousy.

Jealousy in a marriage is a sign of a lack of faith in God. If God joins you together, then it’s because you both share the same values. If that’s not the case then I would question if God really brought you together. If you are unequally yoked then strife and envy will be rampant in your marriage.

James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Maybe your spouse is the breadwinner in the family and that makes you feel like you are less in the relationship. It makes you jealous of what your spouse has accomplished. Instead of being supportive of their accomplishments you become bitter and resentful.

Pride and envy are evil twins.

They go hand in hand. When someone offends you whether it’s real or imagined then your pride is wounded as a result. So when you’re jealous you feel a sense of betrayal to your sense of well-being. If you are humble and not prideful then jealousy will not have a place in your heart.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Our last verse of the day is,

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

In verse 12 Paul encourages us to put off the works of darkness. In this final verse Paul says that we should put on the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words we should  walk as Christ walked, talk as Christ talked, live as Christ lived and do so with the love of Christ in our hearts. We should never give in to the desires of our flesh. If we are living for Christ then our appetite will be for the spiritual and not the carnal.

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

If you are living a spirit-filled life then the desires of your flesh will be lessened.

I wish I could say the desires of your flesh will be gone, but it just ain’t so. So just draw near to God and He will draw near to you. This concludes this episode for today. As always I’d thank you fof you are living a spirit-filled life then the desires of your flesh will be lessened.
r listening.  Next week we will start our study of chapter 14. Until then, may you have a week full of opportunities to share this good news with those that need to hear it.