Romans 13:12b-14 “So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

Living in the light is a matter of taking something off and putting something on. Off goes a lifestyle that simply lets our urges and desires run wild. There are three word pairs here, and each word in the pair is loosely connected. With orgies and drunkenness Paul is saying, “You can’t join your neighbors in losing all self-control and decency in hard partying and drinking. It is not wrong to get together to feast and celebrate. It is not wrong to have an alcoholic beverage. But those who live in the light won’t let either drinks or desires turn them into a different kind of person than they are when they are stone-cold sober.”

The second pair focuses more on our sexual behavior. Again, Paul isn’t saying that sex is evil. But living in the light means we will have nothing to do with it when it is not between one man and one woman who have taken a vow of marriage. Christians understand that it is not just for recreation and fun between consenting adults. God has a higher purpose for it, one that requires the stability of a life-long commitment.

The last pair, dissension and jealousy, deals with the angry passions. Believers find it much too easy to imitate their unbelieving neighbors in the first two sets of sins we have mentioned. But at least among believers, there is still some recognition that there is sin involved in them?

If the kind of language I hear coming out of professed Christians’ mouths is any indication, or the kind of things I see them post on Facebook gives any insight, then I am not sure that even many Christians recognize the problem with this last set. We have become inclined to defend our anger and its expression instead of regretting of it. Like the rest, off it has to come in repentance.

In place of all this “darkness” Paul urges, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Off goes sin. On goes Jesus. Clothing ourselves with Jesus begins with simply trusting him. We stop with the rationalizations, the defenses, the excuses for our bad behavior. We trust him when he calls it sin and calls us to repent. Even more, we see his perfect life of love, his sacrifice and death as our substitute, his payment for our sins, his resurrection to new life and ascension to power. We trust him when he forgives us, offers us grace, invites us into God’s family, and gives us new life.

When we do, Jesus comes and lives inside of us. We know his power. We take on a new identity. It changes us. You know how dressing up can affect how you feel about yourself, your confidence, your behavior. If you put on wedding formals, and you know you look sharp, and you start to act the part. You carry yourself with dignity. You are civil and well-mannered. You are gracious and charming. Okay, maybe some people can become arrogant and insufferable, too. But dressing up can change things inside as well as out.

When we put our faith in Jesus we become new men and women. It is like dressing ourselves up in Christ, putting him on, only it is not an act. Jesus begins the process of making us more like him, and the more we look to him in faith, the more we focus on his love, the more like him we become. With the return of Jesus nearer every day, there is no time like the present to live in the light of his grace and love.