And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  (12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (13) Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  (14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lust. 

The letter to the Romans was written to the Christians in Rome by the Apostle Paul. The verses we study today are metaphorical – the light is the revelation of divine truth and the good news of the gospel. Christians are no longer ignorant of God’s completed plan for salvation through Christ Jesus and they no longer are blind andi insensible as are those who sleep in the night. The day of salvation  is not approaching but it has appeared.

Paul exhorts the Christians to renounce their former lives because they are new men and women in Christ. We yet sojourn as strangers on earth – we Christians are no longer in darkness and should not sleep but be alert.  We are certain of the final salvation for all who believe but uncertain of the time – all we can be sure of is it will come like a thief in the night.

Paul is calling for us to walk in holiness but more important he urges us to put on the armor of Christ –  to be fortified on every side of the power of the Spirit for alone we cannot live in light.  Paul tells his readers that there should be great contrast between believers in Christ Jesus and those who are of this world in darkness.  In Romans Paul tells us that man is NOT basically good and that the world lives in ignorance about our true treasure; about death, eternity and judgment.  In Romans chapter 1, verse 16, Paul writes “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…..”.