Wake Up! The Day of the Lord Has Dawned :: Romans 13:8-14

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Owe nothing to no one, except to love each other, for the one loving the other has fulfilled [and continues to fulfill] the law. For [it has been written]: You will not commit adultery; You will not murder; You will not steal; You will not [have burning desire];’ and if [there is] another commandment, it’s all brought together under one heading: ‘You will love your neighbor as yourself.’ The love to neighbor does no evil; therefore, the fulfillment of the law is love. 

So [do] this, knowing the time that, already, it is the hour for us to be raised from sleep, for now, salvation is nearer to us than when we were given faith. The night advanced, and the day has come near. Therefore, let us throw off the works of darkness and clothe ourselves with the armor of light. As in the day, let us walk properly, not in excessive eating and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and indecency, not in quarreling and jealousy. But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not make for yourselves provision into the desires of the flesh (vv 8-14).

[Prayer]

Come, Lord Jesus. We know that your final day is near. So, come. Enable us now and forever to turn away from the sins of our flesh. Reform what is lacking in us and help us to grow in the knowledge of You. Bless the preaching of your Gospel and the administration of your sacraments so that we bear fruit until the day You come in glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Introduction]

It doesn’t take much to change the lives of people dramatically and deeply. History proves it over and over. In the blink of an eye, life as we know it is changed forever. 

Do you remember January 6, 2007, the day before the iPhone was introduced? The way we communicate was changed forever. Do you remember September 10, 2001, the day before terrorists flew planes into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania farm field? The way we travel was changed forever. Do you remember April 29, 1993, the day before the World Wide Web was made available to the public? The way we gain information was changed forever. These changes all came in the blink of an eye. So too will the Day of the Lord. 

As our epistle reading for the first Sunday of the new Church Year declares: It is the hour for us to be raised from sleep (v 11). Jesus is nearer to us now than ever before. 

The fact that we keep hearing this call to wake up from one year to the next should get your attention. Last week ... on the Last Sunday of the Church Year ... our Lord Jesus Christ reminded us of this truth through the Parable of the Ten Virgins. We all heard the call to wake up and be prepared. The day of the Lord will be here that quick. Our Lord ... who changed the world as we know it by being born without sin and living without sin and dying on a cross for our sin and rising from the dead into everlasting life ... is coming again to awaken us all to his second Advent. 

This should excite you. Clothe yourselves now with our Lord Jesus Christ (v 14). Listen to the voice of God through the Prophet. Listen through the Psalms. Listen through the Gospel.

Jeremiah writes. Behold, the days are coming, declares YHWH, when they will not say, ‘As the Lord who raised up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘as the Lord lives who raised up and who brought out the [offspring] of the house of Israel out of the north ... AND from all the lands to which he had driven them.’ (vv 5-8)

The Psalmist adds, All who wait for (the Lord) will not be put to shame (Ps 25:3). 

Now is the time ... the Lord declares to ...

WAKE UP TO THE REALITY THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD HAS DAWNED AND SALVATION IS NEARER THAN WHEN WE FIRST BECAME CHRISTIANS

I. Now is the hour to wake up to the Day of the Lord. 

Last Sunday Jesus gave us the call to awaken to this truth that the hour has come to meet the bridegroom and to enter into the Divine Marriage Feast of the Lamb in His Kingdom which has no end. Today you also should have been roused to awaken and hear the people still crying out ... Hosanna to the Son of David (Mt 21:9) ... that is, make for us salvation, Lord. 

Behold, Jesus said, that day is dawned ... just like it did before the flood when [the people] were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and they were swept away (Mt 24:37-38). The hour is coming when, Jesus said, I tell you ... two will be in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. Two will be grinding grain. One will be taken and the other left (Lk 17:34-35).

This is the way the Advent of God has always happened. It’s the way it happened when Jesus was born. It’s the way it happened when Jesus was crucified. It’s the way it happened when Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. No one saw it coming, even when Jesus warned us about it. And it’s the way it will happen on the Last Day. 

II. Are you ready for that Advent to dawn?

Paul writes, whereas the night advanced, the day has come near. Therefore, let us throw off the works of darkness (v 12) ... adultery, hate, theft, covetousness ... which is the burning desire to live out our lives the way we want, the way that gives no thought to serving our neighbor, the way that puts our feelings first (v 9). Let us walk properly, not in excessive eating and drunkenness ... both of which leave you slumbering and numb. Let us walk properly not in promiscuity and indecency ... both of which satisfy and gratify only yourselves. ... Let us walk properly not in quarreling and jealousy (v 13) ... both of which separate you from the body of Christ. 

Why are you separating from the body of Christ? Wake up and repent in the name of Jesus. 

III. The repentant call of Advent reminds us that salvation is nearer than when we first became Christians.

It’s time to stop telling ourselves it’s OK to do what you want when you want because you think you have something you call faith ... a faith that does little more than sit on its hands. 

Wake up and recognize Jesus on the cross ... to recognize that he who knew no sin, became sin for you, and ensured you sin died with him on the cross. 

Wake up and recognize that though he was dead and buried ... He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah! 

Wake up and recognize that though he has ascended, He is coming again to usher you into the eternal life he has prepared for you.

Wake up and return to new life in baptism every day ... praying every day ... looking into the mirror of the Law, which shows us how to love one another every day ... which shows you how to serve one another every day ... and how to share the gifts of God with each other every day. 

Wake up and hear the word of absolution every day ... and then announce that same Gospel of forgiveness to your brothers and sisters every day. 

Wake up and receive the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in HIS fellowship with you. ... He is the one who is calling you into HIS communion with you. 

Wake up and stop settling for bland and comfortable Christianity, going through the paces of life with bored and apathetic spirits.

Wake up in this the new year, and recognize that God Himself, who served you first through his life and death and resurrection, is still coming to you to serve you with the forgiveness of sins through his Word and sacraments to keep you in the one true faith. Jesus is still coming to give you his very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.

This is what Paul means when he says, Clothe yourselves with the armor of light ... our Lord Jesus Christ (vv 12, 14). 

[Conclusion]

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we can do that this year ... to live this way ... because we are Christians, forgiven and free. We belong to Him who came to us as a babe in Bethlehem. We belong to Him who heard our cry of Hosanna ... and has made salvation for us now, which is what Hosanna means. 

Wake up and open your eyes. The day of salvation is nearer than we first became Christians. What a wonderful gift love and forgiveness really are ... in Jesus’ name. Amen!

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