Awake to Righteousness

Romans 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
1Corinthians 15:34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Ephesians 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

As a man or woman awaken, it could seem to be a move from one life into a new. A make-believe scenario must be replaced with a real-life picture, and this takes place in the minds of men. For the believer in Christ, we wake up to real life salvation and to righteousness. These are facts of our new-born standing which never change.

However, our dream states often do not include these unbreakable truths, and make-believe images cling to our memory centers as we awaken physically and mentally. The challenge for us centers around daily mind renewal, and for this “Christ shall give us light.”

Lets examine Paul’s words in Ephesians:

 ” …put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV

Robertson describes the thing to be put off as, “The old, unrenewed self.” He says, “Paul sees this “old man” as another person.” — A corrupt one. “shriveled, withered, spoiled (by any process) or to ruin (especially figuratively by moral influences, to deprave): defiled.”

Paul refers to his personal old man in Galatians:

“beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. “Galatians 1:14

And again in Philippians 3:  

“Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” Philippians 3:6 

Indeed, Paul exclaims, ” … we were enemies…”Romans 5:10 

Beloved, in every believer there is yet an enemy, relentlessly urging itself forward, alienating, discouraging, disapproving and dis-believing. But Paul answers:

“But when” …it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me…” Galatians 1:15

O, Paul refers to his being chosen by God, separated at birth, by grace, and now made privy to it, that he might reveal Christ. This is the light of Christ available for awakening — Light which applies to every believer.

And again Paul gives advise in his testimony:

” …what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Philippian’s 3:8-9

Friends, as we adjust to our calling, to our unmerited favor, and recognize the enemy within and count his world but dung, we can be renewed in the spirit of our mind.

JFB tells us, “By the Spirit of your mind,” that is, by your new spiritual nature; the restored and divinely informed leading principle of the mind.” (for all believers.)

In closing, “Romans 13:12 proclaims loudly “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.”

 As the metaphor of putting-off and putting-on pictures a simple change of clothes, let us make the exchange daily. The new clothing resides within every believer. Just put it on as armor. Discard, disown, disavow, and dismiss that old thief and liar.

Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, you are the new creation of God in righteousness and true holiness. Renewed after the image of him that created him. Put Him on and enjoy. love ya