PUTTING ON CHRIST "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. 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. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:11-14, NKJV) Devotion 1 of 33 The church of Rome was, in many respects, most remarkable. We do not know precisely how this body of believers originated. There is no satisfactory evidence that an Apostle was there prior to its establishment. Yet this church had so distinguished itself as to gain the attention of Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. He said of them, "your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world" (1:8). Their "obedience" had also become known to everyone (1:19). – Tomorrow:
The list of spiritually distinguished persons among them is most impressive. Paul sends special greetings to them in the closing chapter of the book. No other Epistle contains such a lengthy list of personal greetings. They included the following, together with their productive ministries (16:3-15).
01. Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus, who had a church in their home.
02. Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
03. Mary, who bestowed much labor on us.
04. Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
05. Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
06. Urbane, our helper in Christ.
07. Stachys my beloved.
08. Apelles approved in Christ.
09. Them which are of Aristobulus' household.
10. Herodion my kinsman.
11. Them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
12. Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord.
13. The beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord.
14. Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
15. Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
16. Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
Twenty-seven individuals are mentioned, with at least nine of them being women. One would be hard pressed to find a congregation of any size these days with such a number of spiritual notables. Here was a body of believers that had distinguished themselves by their hearty faith and obedience. As well, they had a number of unusual and signal kingdom laborers among them. All of this was apparently accomplished without the presence of an Apostle. It was also accomplished in the heart of heathendom – a citadel of idolatry and immorality.
How does an Apostle speak to a group like this? What things will he teach them? What will he open to their already unusual understanding? The book of Romans reveals how the Spirit moved Paul to address these people. There are expositions of redemption here that are not found in such a measure in any other Epistle. These elucidations are like mighty spiritual pillars that hold up sound reasoning, supporting faith and hope.
From 1:17 through the conclusion of the eighth chapter, we have a remarkably lengthy exposition of the righteousness of God – i.e., a righteousness that is "from God" and is "by faith from first to last" (1:17, NIV). It is declared in the Gospel (1:16-17), realized by faith (5:1), and effectively addresses the dreadful entry of sin and death into the world through Adam (5:12-19).
From 1:18 through 3:20, the Spirit establishes the absolute need for a righteousness from God. He shows that within a period of 2,500 years, without Law, human wisdom and discipline did not produce a single righteous person. He also shows that within the following period of 1,500 years, under the informative ministration of the Law, not a single righteous person was produced by the obedience that Law required. The Divine epitaph over the first 4,000 years of human history is clearly stated: "There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (3:10-12).
It is then that a most powerful exposition of justification by faith is introduced (3:20-8:39). It is one of longest extended teachings of all Scripture, and continues to challenge the minds of the most prodigious thinkers among men. Without a single exception, those who have seen the truth of this construal have been radically changed through it. The impact of perceiving justification by faith is staggering. Likewise, the failure to see it sends a defiling ripple of confusion throughout the whole of human thought.
Justification by faith is not a cold and calculating doctrine, as it has too often been presented. It is not possible for a Living God to issue a lifeless doctrine, intended only for the intellect, and having no impaction upon practical life. The thought of such a possibility must be thrust from us as poison that will anaesthetize the soul. Neither, indeed, is justification by faith, or the imputation of righteousness, to be viewed as a subject for theologians alone, or those with specialized academic credentials. This is not a doctrine for the "doctors of the law" (Lk 5:17), although it is often so viewed. This is food for those with faith. It clarifies what has occurred in Christ Jesus, and empowers the individual to live acceptable toward the Lord.
This section of Romans (chapters 12-16) is the logical exposition of the EFFECTS of justification. The imputation of righteousness is declared to have a calculated impact upon the WAY we live, as well as upon our ATTITUDES.
This series of devotions will deal specifically with the moral and spiritual affect of justification by faith. There are certain things that must be thrust from us – things that will place us in jeopardy – eternal jeopardy. There are also things that are to be appropriated – things that will not be thrown upon us like a heavenly mantel, but must be put on with all diligence. There is no such thing as a salvation that does not involve the activity of the saved. Neither, indeed, is there a salvation that is accomplished in a moral and spiritual vacuum. The salvation of God is accomplished within the individual in a teeming environment of competing and hostile influences.
In these devotions believers will be told to "put on Christ." There will be no compromise of the exhortation, for the subject is to critical for men to philosophize about it. Believers will be told to wake up, and to have an understanding of the times. They will be admonished to rid themselves of "the works of darkness," and to "put on the armor of light." Any theology that treats these admonitions as though they were not essential, or attaches to them only a token significance, is an enemy to the soul. Such teaching is to be abandoned with great zeal, for it is nothing more than an ill and destructive blast of tempestuous wind upon the soul.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to live in such a manner as adorns the doctrine You have provided in the Gospel of Your Son.