Definitions and Insights – Awake out of Sleep

Romans Chapter 13 ends with a contrast between the works of darkness and the reality of Jesus’ light. God equips us with what we need to live for Him in a dark world, but we can’t let “sleep” hinder how we love God and walk with Him.  

Scripture says:

“Now it is high time to awake out of sleep. … 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 armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:11-14 AKJV)

v.11  Awake out of sleep. From carelessness and indifference.¹

v.12  The armor of light. Those graces which stand opposed to the deeds of darkness.²

v.14  Put on the Lord Jesus Christ (NKJV). To be clothed with a person is a Greek phrase, signifying to assume the interests of another—to enter into his views, to imitate him, and be wholly on his side.³

Be subject to God in your personal works and walk.

• Awake out of indifference regarding spiritual and eternal things (v.11).
• Cast off ignorance and sin, and put on those weapons and graces that will protect and strengthen you for spiritual warfare (v.12).
• Live so that your daily walk can stand up to scrutiny (v.13).
• Make no provision to fulfill your lusts, but rather heed Christ’s teachings and example so well that you take on His likeness (v.14).

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1. People’s New Testament Commentary, quoted in Phil Lindner, Power Bible CD, CD-ROM (Bronson, Mich.: Online Publishing, Inc., 2007), Revelation 13:11.
2. Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ New Testament Commentary, quoted in Phil Lindner, Power Bible CD, CD-ROM (Bronson, Mich.: Online Publishing, Inc., 2007), Romans 13:12.
3. Adam Clark, Adam Clarke’s Commentary, quoted in Phil Lindner, Power Bible CD, CD-ROM (Bronson, Mich.: Online Publishing, Inc., 2007), Rom 13:14.

*This excerpt comes from Beebe Kauffman, A Whole Lot of Wonderful—Application of the New Testament for Today (Buford, Georgia: Lighthouse Bible Studies, 2018), 302.