In today’s passage, Paul exhorts the readers to “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” This is both an external call since Paul uses an external metaphor for light and darkness, saying that the night is gone and the day is at hand, and an internal call since Paul uses an internal metaphor of waking from sleep (a transition from darkness to light). The Christian is called to resist temptations both external to himself and internal (1 John 1:16), and to put on the armor of light. Paul encourages the readers by reminding them to look forward to returning of Christ, our salvation, which is nearer now than when we first believed.

Romans 13:11-12

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Why does Paul say that salvation is “nearer to us now than when we first believed”? (v. 11)

+ What does Paul mean by the armor of light? (v.12, see also Eph. 6:10-18)

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Through divine accountability, what is the Lord calling you to confess of, share with your community, and ask for help and correction in?

+ How does the Gospel encourage us to keep persisting in “casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light”?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?