GOD’S LAW OF LIVING.

EXODUS 20, ROMANS CHAPTER 8 & CHAPTER 13

EXODUS 20

(1491 B.C.) 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1 And God spoke all these words, saying (the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai are the foundation of all law, at least law that is righteous, for the entire world; it is the moral Law of God and, as such, cannot change), 2 I am the LORD your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage (the Lord doesn’t appeal to the Israelites as Creator, even though He definitely was that; He appealed to them as their Deliverer; as a result, He was to be obeyed by His people from a sentiment of love, not by fear). 3 You shall have no other gods before Me (the manner in which this First Commandment is given indicates that each individual of the nation is addressed severally, and is required personally to obey the Law, a mere general national obedience being insufficient; this Commandment requires the worship of one God Alone, Jehovah; it implies, in point of fact, that there is no other God). 4 You shall not make unto yourself any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in Heaven above, or that is in the Earth beneath, or that is in the water under the Earth. 5 You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them who hate Me; 6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them who love Me, and keep My Commandments. (The prohibition intended here does not forbid the arts of sculpture, painting, photography, etc., or even to condemn the use of them, but to disallow the worship of God under material forms. Those who ignore this Commandment are guilty of the sin of idolatry. Also, many have tried to derive from Verse 5 that which they refer to as the “family curse”; however, let it be known and understood, every curse was addressed at the Cross of Calvary [Gal. 3:13-14]. As well, Jesus has perfectly kept all the Commandments, and all who trust Him, and what He did for us at the Cross, are participants of God’s gracious Mercy.) 7 You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His Name in vain (taking the Name of the Lord in vain pertains to all blasphemy, all swearing, all perjury and, in fact, all irreverent use of God’s Name in ordinary life). 8 Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labour, and do all your work: 10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made Heaven and Earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath Day, and hallowed it. (The seventh day was not so much to be a day of worship, as we think of such now, but rather a day of “rest.” Even the very beasts, pressed into man’s service since the Fall, shall rest. All were to observe this day. Everything pertaining to the Law of Moses, in some way, spoke of Christ. The “Sabbath” was no exception. It was meant to portray the fact that there is “rest” in Christ and, in fact, that there is rest “only in Christ” [Mat. 11:28-30]. So, when a person presently accepts Christ, they are in effect keeping the Sabbath, which speaks of the “rest” that we have in Christ — rest from self-effort to attain unto Righteousness. Even though there was no written command by the Holy Spirit to do so, gradually we find Believers, during the time of the Early Church, as recorded in the Book of Acts, making Sunday, the first day of the week, the day of our Lord’s Resurrection, their day of worship, etc., which is different than the Sabbath of old, because Christ has fulfilled in totality the old Jewish Sabbath.) 12 Honour your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God gives you (honoring the father and the mother sets the stage for the honoring of God; the first five Commandments have to do with man’s obligation toward God, while the last five have to do with his obligation toward his fellowman). 13 You shall not kill (should have been translated, “Thou shalt do no murder”; God, in His Holy Word, commands magistrates to put evil men to death [Rom. 13:4]; that is not murder; to “kill” and to “commit murder” are two different verbs in the Hebrew Text). 14 You shall not commit adultery (regarding this sin, both man and woman are placed in the same category; our duty toward our neighbor is to respect the bond on which the family is based, and that conjugal honor which to the true man is dearer than life; marriage, according to the original institution, makes the husband and wife “one flesh” [Gen. 2:24]; and to break in upon this sacramental union was at once a crime and a profanity; it is a sin against man and against God). 15 You shall not steal (as it regards our neighbor, we are to respect his property; we simply don’t take that which doesn’t belong to us). 16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour (false witness is of two kinds, public and private; we may either seek to damage our neighbor by giving false evidence against him in a court of justice, or simply culminate him to others in our social intercourse with them). 17 You shall not covet your neighbour’s house, you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is your neighbour’s (covetousness addresses what causes the evil deed; this Commandment teaches men that there is One Who sees the heart; to Whose Eyes “all things are naked and open”; and Who cares far less for the outward act than the inward thought or motive from which the act proceeds). FEAR 18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off (the word “saw” in this Verse is a particular type of Hebrew verb which means “perceive, witness”; in other words, no one of the hundreds of thousands of the Children of Israel had any doubt as to what they had witnessed and experienced). 19 And they said unto Moses, You speak with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die (as powerful as was this manifestation, one far more powerful was yet to be manifested, and we speak of the coming of Christ, Who manifested the Father as He had not been manifested before). 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that you sin not (the Lord manifesting Himself in this fashion was not meant to strike fear in the people, even though it definitely did that, but rather that the people would want to obey the Lord, because of His Almighty Power). 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was (the Cross made it possible for all who “stand afar off” to now “come near” [Rev. 22:17]). WORSHIP 22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus you shall say unto the Children of Israel, You have seen that I have talked with you from Heaven (the greatest Revelation yet!). 23 You shall not make with Me gods of silver, neither shall you make unto you gods of gold (no image was to be made of what they thought God looked like; even if made of silver or gold it would be grossly wrong). 24 An Altar of earth you shall make unto Me, and shall sacrifice thereon your Burnt Offerings, and your Peace Offerings, your sheep, and your oxen: in all places where I record My Name I will come unto you, and I will bless you. (The Altar pictures Christ and what He would do for us at the Cross. The earth pictured His humanity; the stone, His Deity; the shed blood of the animal sacrificed, His priceless Life sacrificed to put away sin and bring the sinner back to God [I Pet. 3:18]. All blessings come exclusively through the Cross, and no blessings come other than through the Cross, at least not from God.) 25 And if you will make Me an Altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone: for if you lift up your tool upon it, you have polluted it. (No tool was to embellish the Altar; it was perfect in its beauty to the eye of God. And such was, and is, Jesus. As well, one might seek to paint the lily or adorn the rose, as for man to attempt to add to the beauty of Him Who is altogether lovely. As well, man must not seek to add to Calvary, or take from Calvary, which the “tool” would do, and which it is doing in countless places at present.) 26 Neither shall you go up by steps unto My Altar, that your nakedness be not discovered thereon. (When man exalts himself above God, he only exposes his own moral nakedness. The Cross, of which the Altar was a Type, must not be changed in any way. If so, meaning if men try to picture or present Christ in another fashion rather than “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified” [I Cor. 1:23], they then find themselves with “another Jesus” [II Cor. 11:4]. Lifting up the tool upon the stone, desiring to make it into their own likes or dislikes, thereby pollutes the Message. This is the great sin of the modern Church.)

ROMANS CHAPTER 8

(A.D. 60) 

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

1 There is therefore now no condemnation (guilt) to them which are in Christ Jesus (refers back to Rom. 6:3-5 and our being baptized into His Death, which speaks of the Crucifixion), who walk not after the flesh (depending on one’s personal strength and ability or great religious efforts in order to overcome sin), but after the Spirit (the Holy Spirit works exclusively within the legal confines of the Finished Work of Christ; our Faith in that Finished Work, i.e., “the Cross,” guarantees the help of the Holy Spirit, which guarantees Victory). 2 For the Law (that which we are about to give is a Law of God, devised by the Godhead in eternity past [I Pet. 1:18-20]; this Law, in fact, is “God’s Prescribed Order of Victory”) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit, i.e., “the way the Spirit works”) of Life (all life comes from Christ, but through the Holy Spirit [Jn. 16:13-14]) in Christ Jesus (any time Paul uses this term or one of its derivatives, he is, without fail, referring to what Christ did at the Cross, which makes this “life” possible) has made me free (given me total Victory) from the Law of Sin and Death (these are the two most powerful Laws in the Universe; the “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” alone is stronger than the “Law of Sin and Death”; this means that if the Believer attempts to live for God by any manner other than Faith in Christ and the Cross, he is doomed to failure). 3 For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh (those under Law had only their willpower, which is woefully insufficient; so despite how hard they tried, they were unable to keep the Law then, and the same inability persists presently; any person who tries to live for God by a system of laws is doomed to failure, because the Holy Spirit will not function in that capacity), God sending His Own Son (refers to man’s helpless condition, unable to save himself and unable to keep even a simple Law and, therefore, in dire need of a Saviour) i n the likeness of sinful flesh (this means that Christ was really human, conformed in appearance to flesh which is characterized by sin, but yet sinless), and for sin (to atone for sin, to destroy its power, and to save and Sanctify its victims), condemned sin in the flesh (destroyed the power of sin by giving His Perfect Body as a Sacrifice for sin, which made it possible for sin to be defeated in our flesh; it was all through the Cross): 4 That the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us (the Law finding its full accomplishment in us can only be done by Faith in Christ, and what Christ has done for us at the Cross), who walk not after the flesh (not after our own strength and ability), but after the Spirit (the word “walk” refers to the manner in which we order our life; when we place our Faith in Christ and the Cross, understanding that all things come from God to us by means of the Cross, ever making it the Object of our Faith, the Holy Spirit can then work mightily within us, bringing about the Fruit of the Spirit; that is what “walking after the Spirit” actually means!). 5 For they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh (refers to Believers trying to live for the Lord by means other than Faith in the Cross of Christ); but they who are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit (those who place their Faith in Christ and the Cross, do so exclusively; they are doing what the Spirit desires, which alone can bring Victory). CONTRAST 6 For to be carnally minded is death (this doesn’t refer to watching too much television, as some think, but rather, it’s trying to live for God outside of His Prescribed Order; the results will be sin and separation from God); but to be Spiritually Minded is life and peace (God’s Prescribed Order is the Cross; this demands our constant Faith in that Finished Work, which is the Way of the Holy Spirit). 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God (once again, this refers to attempting to live for God by means other than the Cross, which places one “against God”): for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be (in its simplest form means that what is being done, whatever it may be, is not in God’s Prescribed Order, which is the Cross). 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (refers to the Believer attempting to live his Christian Life by means other than Faith in Christ and the Cross). 9 But you are not in the flesh (in one sense of the word is asking the question, “Since you are now a Believer and no longer depending on the flesh, why are you resorting to the flesh?”), but in the Spirit (as a Believer, you now have the privilege of being led and empowered by the Holy Spirit; however, He will do such for us only on the premise of our Faith in the Finished Work of Christ), if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you (if you are truly Saved). Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (Paul is saying that the work of the Spirit in our lives is made possible by what Christ did at Calvary, and the Resurrection). 10 And if Christ be in you (He is in you through the Power and Person of the Spirit [Gal. 2:20]), the body is dead because of sin (means that the physical body has been rendered helpless because of the Fall; consequently, the Believer trying to overcome by willpower presents a fruitless task); but the Spirit is life because of Righteousness (only the Holy Spirit can make us what we ought to be, which means we cannot do it ourselves; once again, He performs all that He does within the confines of the Finished Work of Christ). 11 But if the Spirit (Holy Spirit) of Him (from God) Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you (and He definitely does), He Who raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies (give us power in our mortal bodies that we might live a victorious life) by His Spirit Who dwells in you (we have the same Power in us, through the Spirit, that raised Christ from the dead, and is available to us only on the premise of the Cross and our Faith in that Sacrifice). 12 Therefore, Brethren (means that Paul is addressing Believers), we are debtors (refers to what we owe Jesus Christ for what He has done for us on the Cross), not to the flesh (we do not owe anything to our own ability, meaning that such cannot save us or give us victory), to live after the flesh (“living after the flesh” pertains to our works, which God can never accept, and which can never bring us victory, but rather defeat). 13 For if you live after the flesh (after your own strength and ability, which is outside of God’s Prescribed Order), you shall die (you will not be able to live a victorious, Christian life): but if you through the Spirit (by the Power of the Holy Spirit) do mortify the deeds of the body (which the Holy Spirit Alone can do), you shall live (shall walk in victory; but once again, even at the risk of being overly repetitive, we must never forget that the Spirit works totally and completely within the confines of the Cross of Christ; this means that we must ever make the Cross the Object of our Faith, giving Him latitude to work). DELIVERANCE 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God (the Spirit will always lead us to the Cross), they are the Sons of God (we live as Sons of God, which refers to total Victory within every respect of our lives; if the sin nature is dominating a person, he certainly isn’t living as a son of God). 15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage (to try to live after a system of works and laws will only succeed in placing one in “bondage”) again to fear (such living creates a perpetual climate of fear in the heart of such a Believer); but you have received the Spirit of Adoption (the Holy Spirit has adopted us into the Family of God), whereby we cry, Abba, Father (the Holy Spirit enables the Child of God to call God “Father,” which is done so because of Jesus Christ). 16 The Spirit itself (Himself) bears witness with our spirit (means that He is constantly speaking and witnessing certain things to us), that we are the Children of God (meaning that we are such now, and should enjoy all the privileges of such; we can do so if we will understand that all these privileges come to us from God, by the means of the Cross): 17 And if children (Children of God), then heirs (a privilege); heirs of God (the highest enrichment of all), and joint-heirs with Christ (everything that belongs to Christ belongs to us through the Cross, which was done for us); if so be that we suffer with Him (doesn’t pertain to mere suffering, but rather suffering “with Him,” referring to His Suffering at the Cross, which brought us total Victory), that we may be also glorified together (He has been glorified, and we shall be glorified; all made possible by the Cross). 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time (speaks of the world and its condition because of the Fall) are not worthy to be compared with the glory (the glory of the coming future time will bear no relation to the misery of this present time) which shall be revealed in us (our Glory will be a reflective Glory, coming from Christ). 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature (should have been translated, “for the earnest expectation of the Creation”) waits for the mani festation of the sons of God (pertains to the coming Resurrection of Life). 20 For the creature (Creation) was made subject to vanity (Adam’s Fall signaled the fall of Creation), not willingly (the Creation did not sin, even as such cannot sin, but became subject to the result of sin, which is death), but by reason of Him Who has subjected the same in Hope (speaks of God as the One Who passed sentence because of Adam’s Fall, but at the same time gave us a “Hope”; that “Hope” is Christ, Who will rectify all things), 21 Because the creature (Creation) itself also shall be delivered (presents this “Hope” as effecting that Deliverance, which He did by the Cross) from the bondage of corruption (speaks of mortality, i.e., “death”) into the glorious liberty of the Children of God (when man fell, Creation fell! when man shall be delivered, Creation will be delivered as well, and is expressed in the word “also”). 22 For we know that the whole Creation (everything has been affected by Satan’s rebellion and Adam’s Fall) groans and travails in pain together until now (refers to the common longing of the elements of the Creation to be brought back to their original perfection). 23 And not only they (the Creation, and all it entails), but ourselves also (refers to Believers), which have the Firstfruits of the Spirit (even though Jesus addressed every single thing lost in the Fall at the Cross, we only have a part of that possession now, with the balance coming at the Resurrection), even we ourselves groan within ourselves (proclaims the obvious fact that all Jesus paid for in the Atonement has not yet been fully realized), waiting for the Adoption (should be translated, “waiting for the fulfillment of the process, which Adoption into the Family of God guarantees”), to wit, the Redemption of our body (the glorifying of our physical body that will take place at the Resurrection). 24 For we are saved by hope (means that the greater part of our Salvation is yet future): but hope that is seen is not hope (proclaims in another way the great Truth that all Salvation affords is not yet given unto the Believer): for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? (In effect, this bluntly tells us that what is coming is so far beyond that which is here at the present, as to be no comparison.) 25 But if we hope for that we see not (plainly tells us that more, much more, is coming), then do we with patience wait for it (proclaims the certitude of its coming, because the Holy Spirit has promised it would). 26 Likewise the Spirit (Holy Spirit) also helps our infirmities (the help given to us by the Holy Spirit is made possible in its entirety by and through what Jesus did at the Cross): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought (signals the significance of prayer, but also that without the Holy Spirit, all is to no avail): but the Spirit itself (Himself) makes intercession for us (He petitions or intercedes on our behalf) with groanings which cannot be uttered (not groanings on the part of the Holy Spirit, but rather on our part, which pertains to that which comes from the heart and cannot properly be put into words). 27 And He Who searches the hearts (God the Father) knows what is the Mind of the Spirit (what the Spirit wants done, and not what we want done), because He (Holy Spirit) makes intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God (the overriding goal of the Spirit is to carry out the Will of God in our lives, not our personal wills; in other words, the Spirit is not a glorified bellhop). CONQUERORS 28 And we know that all things work together for good (but only if certain conditions are met) to them who love God (the first condition), to them who are the called according to His purpose (this means it’s “His Purpose, and not ours,” which is the second condition; otherwise, all things will not work together for our good). 29 For whom He (God) did foreknow (God’s foreknowledge), He also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of His Son (it is never the person that is predestined, but rather the Plan), that He (Jesus) might be the Firstborn among many Brethren (doesn’t mean that Jesus was Born-Again as a sinner, as some teach, but rather that He is the Father of the Salvation Plan, having paid the price on the Cross, which made it all possible). 30 Moreover whom He (God) did predestinate (to be conformed to the Image of His Son), them He also called (without that “Call,” man cannot be saved; sadly, many refuse the “Call” [Prov. 1:24-33]): and whom He called, them He also justified (those who responded faithfully to the Call): and whom He justified, them He also glorified (shall glorify at the Resurrection; Justification guarantees it will be done). 31 What shall we then say to these things? (This refers to the suffering presently endured [Vss. 17-18] in comparison to “the Glory which shall be revealed in us.”) If God be for us (should have been translated, “since God is for us”), who can be against us? (It is who can be against us that will really matter.) 32 He Who spared not His Own Son (concerns the Great Gift of God, i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ), but delivered Him up for us all (the Cross), how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (We can have all things that pertain to Life and Godliness, which Jesus paid for at the Cross, providing our Faith is ever in Christ and the Cross [II Pet. 1:3-7].) 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? (In effect, means, “Who shall pronounce those guilty whom God pronounces Righteous?”) It is God who justifies (it is God Who sets the rules for Justification, not man). 34 Who is he who condemns? (No man has the right to condemn God’s Justification Plan.) It is Christ Who died (if one condemns a Believer who is trusting Christ solely for Justification and Sanctification, he is at the same time condemning Christ and His Death on the Cross), yea rather, Who is risen again (the Resurrection ratified the fact that Jesus was the Perfect Sacrifice, and that God accepted Him as such), Who is even at the Right Hand of God (refers to the exaltation of Christ), Who also makes intercession for us (at the Right Hand of God, showing that His Sacrifice has been accepted, which guarantees intercession for us). 35 Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? (This speaks of the Love of Christ for the Believer, instead of the Believer’s Love for Christ.) shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (We are protected against all outside influence, but not from ourselves. If a person so desires, he can separate himself from the Love of Christ by rejecting the Cross.) 36 As it is written (Ps. 44:22), For Your sake we are killed all the day long (the world has always been opposed to Christ and what He did at the Cross; regrettably, so is most of the Church); we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter (the way the world looks at us; in their eyes, we are fit only for slaughter). 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors (it is a Holy arrogance of Victory and the Might of Christ) through Him Who loved us (He loved us enough to give His Life on the Cross, which alone makes us “more than conquerors”). 38 For I am persuaded (the Apostle has faced the things of which he now speaks), that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (this Love of God extended to us is made possible solely by Christ, and what He has done for us at the Cross; once again, this is God’s Love for us, which never wavers because we are “in Christ Jesus”).

ROMANS CHAPTER 13

(A.D. 60) 

HONOR AUTHORITY

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers (refers to Human Government). For there is no power but of God (refers to the fact that God has ordained Government): the powers that be are ordained of God (refers to Human Government being a permanent institution, brought into being by God for the regulation of human affairs). 2 Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the Ordinance of God (anarchy is not of God): and they who resist shall receive to themselves damnation (the Law of the Land is always to be obeyed, providing it does not offend our conscience or the Word of God; the “damnation” mentioned here does not necessarily refer to such coming from God, but rather from men). 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil (concerns the Divine right of Government to oppose crime and to protect its citizens). Will you then not be afraid of the power? (This means that Civil Government should be respected, and all should fear breaking the Law.) do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same (refers to obeying the Law, as all Christians ought to do; as well, it assumes that the Laws are right and just): 4 For he (the Civil Magistrate) is the minister of God to you for good (proclaims Government as a Divine Institution). But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain (the sword is the symbol of the right of the State to inflict Capital punishment for Capital crimes): for he is the minister of God (not a Preacher of the Gospel, but a servant of the State), a revenger to execute wrath upon him who does evil (proclaims the right of the State, as ordained by God, to use whatever force is necessary to stop “evil,” i.e., crime). 5 Wherefore you must needs be subject (plainly tells us that Christians are subject to the Law of the Land; that is, if it does not violate the Word of God), not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake (refers to the fact that the Believer has a higher principle than that of the unbeliever). 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also (refers to the paying of taxes): for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing (refers to public servants). 7 Render therefore to all their dues (means that it is proper and right for all people to pay taxes, Christians as well!): tribute to whom tribute is due (refers to that which is owed, and should be paid); custom to whom custom (addresses hidden taxes, which we should pay as well); fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour (Government is an Institution to be respected, extending to all Civil servants from the lowest to the highest). PUBLIC RELATIONSHIPS 8 Owe no man any thing (carries the idea that Christians do not “owe” their Brethren in the Lord the same obedience that is owed Civil Rulers), but to love one another (proclaims the only requirement between Believers): for he who loves another has fulfilled the Law (pertains to what the Law of Moses intended, but wasn’t able to bring about; it can be done under Christ, and Christ Alone). 9 For this, You shall not commit adultery (sex in any form outside of marriage is unlawful [Gen. 2:23-24]), You shall not kill (should have been translated, “murder”), You shall not steal (don’t take what’s not yours), You shall not bear false witness (don’t lie), You shall not covet (do not try to unlawfully take that which belongs to another); and if there be any other Commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbour as yourself (Divine Love produced by the Holy Spirit is self-sacrificial in its nature). 10 Love works no ill to his neighbour (will not hurt his neighbor): therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law (proclaims the fact that this is all the Law formally requires, but can only be done in Christ). 11 And that, knowing the time (the Believer is to do everything with the Judgment Seat of Christ in view), and now it is high time to awake out of sleep (spiritual apathy and lethargy must be shaken off): for now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed (actually speaks of the coming Rapture of the Church, and the Believer at that time being Glorified). 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand (refers to everything up until the coming Resurrection as “night”; all after the Resurrection is referred to as “day,” with both day and night used as symbols): let us therefore cast off the works of darkness (could be translated, “let us therefore cast off the clothes of darkness”; former bad habits of life are here, as elsewhere, regarded as clothing once worn, but now to be put off), and let us put on the armour of light (could be translated, “and let us put on the clothes of Light”). 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day (we should conduct ourselves in a manner befitting our high station in life as Saints of the Most High God); not in rioting and drunkenness (the ways of the world), not in chambering and wantonness (speaks of sexual immorality of every nature), not in strife and envying (speaks of constant manipulation and exploitation to best others regarding business, place, or position). 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ (avail yourself of all that Christ has accomplished at the Cross, which is available to all Believers), and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof (Faith in the Cross will give the Holy Spirit latitude within our lives, which alone gives us victory over the flesh).