Living a Life Pleasing to God

Romans 13:11-14 Commentary

“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (v. 11)

This verse serves as a powerful wake-up call to believers. It emphasises the urgency of living a righteous life in light of the approaching salvation.  

• C.H. Spurgeon echoes this sentiment, stating, “The Christian should always live as if he were about to die; he should always act as if Christ were about to come.”
• Matthew Henry also highlights the need for spiritual alertness, stating, “It is high time to awake out of sleep, out of the sleep of sin and security, and out of the sleep of spiritual sloth and negligence.”  

“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.” (v. 12)  

This verse draws a contrast between the darkness of sin and the light of righteousness. It exhorts believers to abandon their sinful ways and embrace a life that reflects Christ’s light.  

• C.H. Spurgeon interprets this as a call to action, urging believers to “Cast off the works of darkness; not only cease from the practice of them, but detest and abhor them, and have no more to do with them.”
• Matthew Henry also emphasises the need for a decisive break from sin, stating, “Sinful works are works of darkness; they come from the darkness of ignorance and mistake, they covet the darkness of privacy and concealment, and they end in the darkness of hell and destruction.”

“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.” (v. 13)

This verse outlines specific behaviours that believers should avoid. It calls for a life characterised by decency, self-control, and harmonious relationships.

• C.H. Spurgeon warns against indulging in sensual pleasures, stating, “Christians must not overcharge their hearts with surfeiting and drunkenness.”
• Matthew Henry also cautions against giving in to the lusts of the flesh, emphasising the importance of self-control and moderation.  

“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (v. 14)

This final verse provides the key to overcoming the temptations of the flesh. It calls on believers to focus on Christ and His righteousness, rather than on their own sinful desires.

• C.H. Spurgeon highlights the transformative power of Christ, stating, “To put on Christ is to be clothed with His righteousness, to be covered with His blood, to be filled with His Spirit.”
• Matthew Henry emphasises the need for a conscious effort to resist temptation, stating, “We are not forbidden barely to provide for the body, but we are forbidden to fulfil the lusts thereof.”  

Conclusion

Romans 13:11-14 serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency of living a righteous life in light of the approaching salvation. It calls on believers to wake up from their spiritual slumber, abandon their sinful ways, and embrace a life that reflects Christ’s light. By focusing on Christ and His righteousness, believers can overcome the temptations of the flesh and live a life that is pleasing to God.