SERMON TITLE: Know the Times
SCRIPTURE: Romans 13:11-14 (ESV)
SPEAKER: Josh Hanson
DATE: 8-24-25
Sermon Discussion Guide
Take notes here
As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And there’s one thing I want you to know — and this is true if you’re worshiping with us for the first time — if you’re joining us at our North Main Campus or are with our friends in Bucyrus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.
We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend. We’re in the practical application section of Paul’s letter where he shows us how all of the theology — that’s found in the first eleven chapters — is to play itself out in how we live. That’s the journey we began earlier this year with Paul’s big “therefore” statement — when he writes…
Romans 12:1–2 ESV
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Paul tells us — in light of all the theology he’s taught us — to live our lives as sacrificial offerings to God — where our lives are acts of worship that make our God look glorious to the world.
But now I need to let you in on a little insight about these verses — and this ties into today’s sermon. When Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world,” the word translated in English as “world” doesn’t mean the planet we live on — nor does it mean “that which is in opposition to God.” The word used means “age or era.”
I think you’ll see why I bring this up if you turn to our text for today. We’ll be in Romans chapter thirteen — looking at verses eleven through fourteen. Again that’s Romans chapter thirteen — beginning in verse eleven — where Paul writes…
Romans 13:11–14 ESV
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. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Paul’s returning to the idea found back in chapter twelve — do not be conformed to the world — when he writes “you know the time.” Not being conformed to the world means to not be conformed to the time in which you live — the era — the age in which you live. For every age has its way of leading us away from faithfulness to Christ — so we must not conform — we must stand firm — for this is war.
Which leads us to where we’re headed today. We’re going to talk about knowing the time in which we live — something we’re commanded to do — to know the time. Then we’ll look at how not to live in this age. Followed by how to live in this age.
Know the time. How not to live in these times. And how to live in these times.
Let’s begin in verse eleven where Paul writes…
Romans 13:11–12 ESV
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.
The first thing I want you to notice is the urgency in Paul’s words.
There’s urgency here.
As you may know, Emily and I have three kids. Three kids — three very different birth experiences. For Wesley — our oldest and firstborn — Emily’s water broke while we were playing a game at our dining room table. We went to the hospital…and we waited. And waited. And waited. Her water may have broken, but Wes didn’t get the message it was time to be born. Emily and I played board games in the hospital for hours to pass the time away. There was no sense of urgency.
For Caleb — our second child — things were quite different. We lived in Tampa and the hospital was quite big with lots of babies being born. Emily started having contractions — things felt kind of urgent — so we went to the hospital.
Now — though Emily felt an urgency — the hospital staff — well — not so much. We got checked in but were sent to a large waiting room. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Or — at least that’s what I did. Emily — on the other hand — was going through labor. There were some young gals waiting for their friend to give birth and I’m pretty sure watching Emily go through labor changed their minds about having kids in the future.
Eventually Emily strongly suggested that I go tell the security officer that he either needed to get someone to see us ASAP or come over and deliver a baby. So I went up to the guy and was all like, “Yeah. So you probably get this a lot. But my wife says she really needs to be seen by someone or you need to go deliver our baby.” He went and got a nurse who took us to what seemed to be an ER type room — and then she left! That’s right — she left me with my wife all by myself — can you believe she treated me that way? More time went by — resulting in Emily strongly suggesting I go get someone because it was time.
Now — I don’t like telling medical professionals how to do their job — but — even more so — I don’t like to be on the bad side of a very stressed — and about to deliver a baby — wife. So I went to the nurse's desk and said, “Yeah. So you probably get this a lot. But my wife says she really needs to be seen because she’s about to deliver our baby.” Though I think she didn’t trust my wife’s assessment of the situation — she did follow me to the room. She asked a few questions and then said she’d check to see how things were progressing. And — ALL OF A SUDDEN — things became very urgent for that nurse. She pressed some button and a flood of people came rushing into the room. I was pushed to the side. And Caleb was born. There was a sense of urgency for Emily — but the hospital staff didn’t quite see things the same way — until they did!
With Alice — our beautiful, talented, and — let me check what else she told me to say — amazingly funny daughter — with Alice I think Emily decided to split the difference. Here I am sleeping the night away while she went through labor. I guess she figured, “I’ve been through this twice before — I’ll know when it’s time.” She woke me up in the wee hours of the morning and said, “Josh. It’s time. We need to go to the hospital. We called our friend to come over to watch our boys, got to the hospital, and Alice was born within the hour.” Emily knew the times. She knew what to expect. While I was literally sleeping the night away — only to be awakened from my sleep to an urgent situation.
What Paul’s telling us — we who believe in Jesus — is that the time in which we live is a time of urgency. This is not like Wesley’s birth — a time for board games while you wait for a baby to be born. This is a mix of what that nurse in Tampa went through — when she finally saw that Caleb was coming — or what I went through with Alice — which may be the better analogy because I was literally asleep — for Paul says, “The hour has come for you to wake from sleep!” A phrase he loves to use in his letters.
Ephesians 5:13–14 NLT
13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
And…
1 Thessalonians 5:6 NLT
6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
And…
1 Corinthians 15:34 ESV
34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
And…
1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV
13 Be watchful (wake up), stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
And…
Colossians 4:2 ESV
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
And not only Paul says this — Peter does as well.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
And Jesus agrees.
Matthew 24:42–43 ESV
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
And…
Matthew 25:13 ESV
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
And…
Matthew 26:41 ESV
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Know the time in which you live so that you stay awake and don’t fall asleep. For the time in which we live is one of urgency. For we don’t know when our Savior will return — AND — we do know that our enemy is prowling around seeking people to devour.
Add to this urgency that our time is limited. Your time is limited and so is mine. Time is our greatest asset and we so easily squander it away while focused on trivial things.
If you’re not a Christian — you know your time is limited. All born into this world will die. And I know there are some crazy ideas out there right now — the AI apocalypse — not AI taking over like Terminator — but a merging of humanity with AI so we’ll somehow live forever. God help us for such manmade substitutions of promises he’s already made and guaranteed. Humanity has always put our hope in the next great technological discovery that will be our defeat of death. We’re not the first generation to think we’ll conquer our greatest enemy — but will we be as foolish as the previous generations who thought they could save themselves while rejecting God’s Savior? Will you reject God’s plan of salvation in hope that man will come up with a better plan?
And — for the Christian — because your time is limited — for all who are born into this world will die — there’s no time to waste. You have the Good News of salvation entrusted to you — by God — to share with others. No time for apathy. No time for waste. No time for indifference. No time to be caught like a worker who didn’t know that his Master was about to return or a sleeping father who didn't know his daughter was about to be born.
I’m not talking about ignoring God’s gift of rest — I’m talking about wasting away God’s gift of life. For you are…
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
10 God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
And — until Jesus returns — or your death day arrives — you’re to live with God’s good works for you in mind. Knowing that every day is both a gift and one day closer to your day of salvation — the day when your salvation is completed when you see Jesus face to face.
And here may be the greatest motivation for living this way in the time in which we live.
Romans 13:12 ESV
12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
With Jesus’ first coming — the rising sun of salvation began to dawn on God’s creation. The night — creation under the curse without the resurrected Savior — came to an end. Yes — it’s not fully day yet — that’s the eternal glorious day of eternity — but the night has come to an end. Winter is over. The first signs of spring — signs of joy and life — are upon us. The sun is rising, the day has dawned, and hope has burst forth into God’s creation.
I love what one author says about the phrase “the night is far gone.” He writes, “The reign of evil has almost expired and is in its last gasp.”
Though we still live in what Paul calls the “present evil age” to the Christians in Galatia — this isn’t an age of defeat for the people of God. It’s an age of power. An age of love. An age where the Holy Spirit lives in us — giving us new desires that run counter to the desires of this “present evil age” — new eyes that see how this age isn’t to be sought after and lived for — as if it’s the age to come.
Our present age — the culture in which we live — like all cultures — is declining in morality — and this shouldn’t surprise us. For all cultures decline in morality to the degree that they reject Jesus. Thus we must live with eyes wide open to the values of the culture in which we live and not allow ourselves to be overtaken by a worldview that’s rejected Christ. Living for this “present evil age” is what we did prior to believing in Jesus — but now — we live for the “age which is still to come” — the age we catch glimpses of in this age — glimpses that give us an even greater longer for the sun to fully rise and for the night to give completely over to the eternal day that’s coming.
Thus — in knowing the time — let’s look at how not to live in this present age. We’re back in verse twelve. There Paul writes…
Romans 13:12–14 ESV
12 So then let us cast off the works of darkness…13 Let us walk…not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy… 14 and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Notice Paul’s instructions.
In this age there are ways of living that we’re to cast off — that we’re to get rid of — like clothes you’ve worn all day while working out in the hot sun. You take them off and you throw them into the dirty laundry pile far away from the noses of your family members who don’t want to smell your stank. Similarly, Paul’s saying, “There are ways you used to live” — works of darkness, he calls them — “ways that people live in this present age — that you need to take off and throw in the dirty laundry pile.” And he gives a few examples. Not an exhaustive list — just a few highlights so we get the idea of what it means to live according to the values of the present age.
He says don’t walk in orgies and drunkenness. A Bible scholar states, “These words used together picture drunken individuals having a so-called “good time” and disturbing the citizens of the town.”
Paul says don’t walk in sexual immorality and sensuality. The same scholar says, “Sexual immorality is a Greek word which can simply be translated as “bed” and the word rendered “debauchery” is one of the ugliest words in the Greek language, describing one who is not only given over to immorality, but is incapable of feeling shame.” Our present age’s love for pornography — and its snare on many Christians — is exactly the kind of thing Paul’s saying we must throw into the dirty laundry pile.
And don’t walk in quarreling and jealousy. This would include things like holding grudges and being envious of the success of others.
This is how you used to live — Paul says — when you were in the darkness — when you lived according to the present evil age — when you were a child of wrath.
But now — Paul says — we’re to live differently as the people of God. In verse twelve he says…
Romans 13:12–14 ESV
12 So then let us…put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime… 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ…
Here’s a truth we all need to believe more deeply: We’re not helpless victims, but are victors because of what Christ has accomplished on our behalf. Christ did not depart for heaven to leave us as orphans — or the illustration Paul uses — as soldiers without the weapons and equipment we need to fight and win. No — we’ve been provided everything we need in order to defeat the works of our enemy, to not give in to our fleshly desires, and to live a life of victory. But this life of victory is only possible when we walk closely with Jesus — meaning when he has the desires of our heart — instead of our desires being given to the things of this present age.
Paul’s use of armor — I’m sure — can’t help but remind many of you of what he says in Ephesians chapter six.
Ephesians 6:10–18 ESV
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
While others may think of his words to the Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 5:4–11 ESV
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Here Paul only mentions the breastplate and helmet — where to the Ephesians there’s much more to the armor. But I found this to be an eye opening connection: In First Thessalonians Paul calls it a breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet the hope of salvation. Faith, hope, and love. Anyone recognize this trio of Paul’s? They’re found in Paul’s love chapter that we looked at last week — where he writes…
1 Corinthians 13:1–13 NLT
1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. 11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
If we think back to what we learned last week — how love does no wrong — we now see how important love — along with faith and hope — is. Faith, hope, and love are part of our spiritual armor. They’re part of how we live faithfully for Christ in this present age. They’re part of what it means for us to put on Christ — which Paul tells us to do — because our faith, hope, and love are in a person — Jesus Christ.
Now — if you know your Bible — you may wonder, “But Josh, isn’t there some place in the Bible that says we’ve already put on Jesus Christ?” Yes — and Paul’s the one who says it.
Galatians 3:27 ESV
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
If we’ve already put on Christ — how are we supposed to put him on again? Great question! In Galatians, Paul’s referring to our justification — a theological word that means the moment we’re declared to have a right standing with God. In Romans, Paul’s referring to our sanctification — a theological word that means our ongoing growth in Christ-likeness and holiness that comes after we've been justified.
In other places in the Bible we see that we’re declared to be holy — justification — and also commanded to grow in holiness — our sanctification. The Bible uses different language to express the same idea — but here in Romans — Paul’s using the imagery of putting off and putting on.
But — specifically and practically — how do we put on Jesus? Let’s use faith, hope, and love as the key to help us understand what it means to put on Jesus. Paul told us earlier in Romans that faith comes from hearing. So we put on Christ — through faith — by hearing the Word of God about Christ. This would include regularly worshiping with a local church where Christ is faithfully preached. This would also include listening to Scripture and listening to Christ-exalting songs.
Hope comes by believing in God’s promises to his people. To put on Christ — through hope — means we must know, remember, and remind ourselves of God’s promises to us that are guaranteed because of what Jesus has done for us. We do this by reading and meditating on Scripture. We do this through Bible memorization where — you take a verse that declares a promise of God to his people — and put it to memory. We also do this through discussing God’s Word with others — something many of you do in your Life Group.
Finally — there’s love. We put on Christ — through love — by seeing and savoring the beauty and loveliness of Christ. By dwelling on his love for you — which will lead you to love others as you’ve first been loved by Christ.
If we return to the clothes analogy — one person has said, “When I get up in the morning I put on my clothes, intending them to be part of me all day, to go where I go and do what I do. They cover me and make me presentable to others. That is the purpose of clothes. In the same way, the apostle is saying to us, “Put on Jesus Christ when you get up in the morning. Make him a part of your life that day. Intend that he goes with you everywhere you go, and that he acts through you in everything you do. Call upon his resources. Live your life IN CHRIST.” And [remember that] Paul emphasizes that it’s “the Lord Jesus Christ” that we put on. We bow to his Lordship. We’re to live under his lordship. He is King of all or he is not King at all.”
And though I don’t want to make this a legalistic rule — as I understand some of us have unique situations — this putting Jesus on is accomplished during your quiet time — your devotional time — your whatever “Christianese you want to call it” time. And it’s best when this is done first thing in your day.
I know some of us aren’t morning people — and I think our enemy loves for our “not being a morning person” to be the reason why we go about most of our day without having put Christ on. For that’s what happens if you wait until half or nearly all of the day has gone by to spend time with Christ.
Think about it — how many of us sleep in the clothes you’re going to wear the next day? For most of us that’d be weird. If that’s true for our physical clothes, why do we think we can do this spiritually? As followers of Jesus — who live in this present evil age — we need to wake up every day and put on our armor.
If you don’t know where to begin — when it comes to starting your day by putting on your spiritual armor — let me recommend this booklet that I’ve written on How to Make the Most of Your Devotional Time. It’s available at the Resource Center at your campus and on our church website — gatewayepc.org/booklets. And it’s free! So grab a copy and begin starting your day by putting on Jesus Christ.
Know the time. And — in knowing the time — make the most of every opportunity to live faithfully in the day in which you live. For salvation is now nearer than when you first believed. The time is drawing near. Therefore put on the armor of light. Walk properly. Put on Jesus Christ. And live for him. Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word to us today. A warning about the time in which we live — and — a hopeful message about the time in which we live. For the night is far gone — and the day is at hand. What hope there is in knowing that the dawn of the sun has pierced the darkness of our world.
Holy Spirit, we need your power, your guidance, and your wisdom to live faithfully in this present age. We need you to remind us each day — and each moment of every day — to put on the armor of light.
And we’re able to do so because you — Jesus — gave yourself in love for us. You lived faithfully in the age in which you lived. You remained faithful and hopeful as you saw all of us wandering aimless in the darkness. And you were determined that our enemy would not be victorious — but that we would be victors because of your sacrifice on the cross.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — indeed — faith, hope, and love will last forever. May you call many to come to faith, to experience true hope, by receiving your love for them today. And may you empower those of us who do believe to live in faith, and with hope, and in love because of all that we’ve been given in Christ. And we pray all of this in his name. Amen.
In knowing the time — may you go and live faithfully — having put on the armor of light and of Christ. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.
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