Summary of passage: Put aside sin (orgies, drunkenness, sexual immorality, debauchery, dissension, jealousy, etc) and put on Jesus (the armor of light).
Questions:
10) I don’t know about normalized but it’s more ignored. These behaviors are so widespread now that I think society has given up the fight. We are so overwhelmed with the prevalence that we can’t handle it so we choose to ignore it.
11) The opposite of verse 13: sexual purity, abstinence or moderation in drink, compassionate, helpful, etc.
12) Personal Question. My answer: I do tend to get jealous when others do things I want to do or follow in my footsteps because I like to think I’m unique. I tend to hold back instead of be forthright and giving.
Conclusions: More ways Paul encourages us to be good people and godly. Remember our time here is limited. Avoid sin. Walk with Jesus.
End Notes: Putting aside darkness (sin) and putting on light is a metaphor with putting on clothes (which we all do). Put on Jesus (the armor of light) every morning!
Spurgeon explains this passage: “The rags of sin must come off if we put on the robe of Christ. There must be a taking away of the love of sin, there must be a renouncing of the practices and habits of sin, or else a man cannot be a Christian. It will be an idle attempt to try and wear religion as a sort of celestial overall over the top of old sins.”
The night is the present evil age. This is a clear teaching of the nearness of the end times (1 Corinthians 7:29; Philippians 4:5; James 5:9, 1 Peter 4:7; 1 John 2:18). Early Christians did not believe Jesus would return within a few years. Instead, they saw the death and resurrection of Jesus as the events that began the last days (Hebrews 1:1-2). “The night is nearly over” is the next great event in God’s plan, which is the Second Coming. The day is when Jesus does come and ushers in the consummation of the kingdom.
The armor of light allows us to both defend and attack like in battle.
We have to work to not let sin creep into our lives since it is our nature to sin. This is part of being present so you can stop sin in its tracks!
When we clothe ourselves with Jesus, he becomes our partner and helper and he works through us (not for us) to combat sin.
Fun Fact: God used this passage to show Augustine, the great theologian of the early church, that he really could live the Christian life as empowered by the Holy Spirit – he just had to do it. And so do we.