We're getting all sorts of signs that the end is drawing nearer than ever before.
So when Paul said, and do this knowing the time. That now it is high time to awake out of sleep.
Well, Paul, we've got more. fulfillments More readiness for Christ to return according to prophecy than ever before in history. For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed, our rescue from the curse of Eden. This is Cross Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville.
Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Romans. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. And now here's Pastor Rick in the book of Romans chapter 13 with this edition of Cross Reference Radio. Our Lord, he condensed the Ten Commandments into two commandments.
Now, Micah, he makes a run at it. You shall, he has shown you, oh man. What is good and what the Lord requires of you, but to live justly, love mercy, and walk. calmly with your God.
Well, Christ comes along and says, I'll give you the Ten Commandments condensed into two. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. I like that one. Love your neighbor as yourself. Have you met my neighbor, Lloyd?
That one is not so easy. But we have no option out. Love God, love your neighbor as yourself. If you go long enough without love, you become a savage. From heaven's perspective.
Animal instincts will surge and remain. We see this in societies. Love elevates all human behavior to levels That Make the laws of God. Unnecessary. By satisfying them.
The same way an oak tree is made an acorn, unnecessary. It has grown into what it was supposed to be. It doesn't have to run around quoting the law, it's living the law. Of course, there's some abstractness in that statement. We'll always need the law of God.
That's the concrete side. But the abstract is. I don't have to quote it so much if I'm living it. Though I need to hear it again and again, because, as you know, we are leaky vessels, and the Lord pours into us. and those things leak out of us, or we spend them like fuel and we have to be refueled either way.
Verse 10, Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Well, a man who loves his neighbor as himself is not going to steal from his neighbor, not going to try to kill his neighbor? But unloving self-centeredness. We'll twist the simple laws if it can, and we know that. It is not unloving for me to disagree With people who disagree with God's word, and though they'll try to turn that on us from time to time, love corrects that which is wrong. That's what parents do, do we not?
We teach our children how to be. upstanding and decent people. And much of that requires correction, not only instruction. But all scripture is given by God. and is profitable for a doctrine For reproof.
for instruction in righteousness. And we love that it is this way. Therefore, love is the fulfilment of the law. Again, the law is to protect people. Not to enable sin.
All sin is so because It bites people. That's why sin is sin. And God says, I don't want you to murder. I don't want you to commit adultery. I don't want you to steal.
I don't want you to lie. to bear false witness. I don't want you to start wanting what is not yours, just like Ahab did to the field of Naboth, his vineyard. Boy, I want that field.
Well, it's not for sale. It's my family's. And of course, Jezebel gets involved. Naboth gets killed. They use the Bible to kill him.
He bore, he blasphemed. We heard him. We're the two witnesses that the Lord demands, and the Lord demands death for Naboth, and they killed him.
So we take these lessons from scripture, and it is up to us to apply them because. I know Even though I may not be the lightest bulb in the room, or the sharpest knife in the drawer, I know God has given me a brain. I know, you're surprised, aren't you? That gives me courage. He's given me the ability to reason, to apply Scripture.
He's given me the Proverbs, and He says, you can figure out which ones to apply and when not to apply. They're not contradictory. They just It's not a one-size-fits-all. But Every pot has a lid, and you're smart enough to figure that out unless you got Tupperware. I hate Tupperware.
You can you s your file, here's the dish, it's fine. Where's the lid? doesn't exist. Top anyway. Verse 11, sorry, I'm thinking of all sorts of ways to get even with Tupperware.
Verse 11, and do this knowing the time. And do this knowing the time. That now it is high time to awake out of our sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Well, the prospect of the Lord's return is incentive to obey. I mean, he can come back any time now. Isaiah says, Arise, shine, for your light has come. And the glory of Yahweh is risen upon you. There's the prophet doing what the prophets want to do.
Build up the people. Christians Know how the world ends. We're not running around wondering, you know, we're not falling for the climate change doomsday scenarios. Or the Martian invasion? Just the other day, one of the passengers was talking to the mothership and Just wanted to see if you caught that.
We have Revelation. Not speculation. I love that too. I don't know, I know I say it a lot. I don't know if it's original or if I picked it up years, decades ago.
Let's go with its original. It's more flattering that way for me. Anyway, we have revelation. God has revealed to us what's going to happen to us, to the world, to many things. We're not speculating.
We do not have falsified scientific records. We're not promoting hysterical antichrist opinions. We don't need entertainers and athletes and politicians to shove up the hill. Ideas about humanity that aren't true. We have Isaiah.
We have Ezekiel and Daniel. We have Matthew 24. We've got 1 Corinthians 15. We have 1st and 2 Thessalonians and 2 Peter. We have Jude.
We have got the revelation of Jesus Christ. And within those, and there are others, but mainly in those. We have the end times. We know what's happening. Revelation 16, verses 14 and 16.
Or They are spirits of demons performing signs. which go out to the kings of the earth. and to the whole world to gather them. to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. And they gathered them together to the place called in the Hebrew Armageddon.
We know that the world's leaders will fall for Satan. They've been doing it For millennium. And they'll be doing it up to the end till Christ comes and puts an end to it. Matthew 24, verse 44. Therefore, You also be ready, the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
1 Corinthians 15:24. Then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom of God to the Father. when he puts an end to all rule and authority and power. That is all human rule, authority and power. Revelation 20, 10, the devil who Deceive Deceive them.
was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. Where the beast and the false prophet are. The beast, of course, is the Antichrist. The Antichrist is a system and a person over that system, a specific individual. And the false prophet is his sidekick.
And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. That's a long time. It has no end. Complete enough pieces of the puzzle for us to see what the final curtain is all about. When The apostles lived There were two things that had to be fulfilled.
before Christ would come back. One was right out the starting gate, the other emerged. The emergent one was when. Jesus said to Paul, you will stand before Caesar. He suffered shipwreck and a lot of other things before he got to Caesar, but Christ wasn't going to come back till Paul got to Caesar.
Well, that one's done. The second one was Christ could not come back till Peter died, because the Lord said that he would be martyred to death. He could be martyred and not die. A martyr is someone who suffers or dies for what they believe in. Peter suffered and died for what he believed.
After that, What was left Well But a lot was still left. The technology wasn't here. to bring about this global entity. That Antichrist could rule over. But it's here now.
Israel's back in her land. The world is one place. COVID demonstrated that. There was no place on earth. Where a mask wasn't for sale.
the same day. Unprecedented.
Well, since the days of Shinar when the people huddled in one place and God had to chase them out of there. Unprecedented.
Well, we've got other unprecedented things. The debauchery of society. What we just saw with the Olympics, the 2024 Olympics, that sort of wickedness is unprecedented. There's always been lewdness, but this is on levels because the scientists are now involved. All of these different kinds of drugs and surgeries that they're just handing out like chiclets, and people are gobbling them up, and it's not so much the outside appearance.
is the hatred for Christianity. Remember when the two witnesses that come in the time of the great tribulation are slain, The world will have parties over it. They will exchange gifts. Their hatred will be so intense for righteousness. that they will be celebrating the removal Of the only righteous left on earth, well, the two witnesses and the 144,000 Jews, and the converts who will be beheaded.
At this age, we look at that and we say, Really, are they really going to chop their heads off? Aren't we more civilized than that? Come on. When in history Did men dress up like women to teach toddlers how to do the same thing? We're getting all sorts of signs that the end is drawing nearer than ever before.
So when Paul said, and do this knowing the time. That now it is high time to awake out of sleep.
Well, Paul, we've got more. fulfillments More readiness for Christ to return according to prophecy than ever before in history. For now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. Our rescue from the curse of Eden. Tied to the rapture.
And the return of Christ, two separate events, in case you. Just to refresh your course for your End time theology. It's better to say n times than s catalogical. It's easier to spell n times than it is to spell eschatological. And when you say eschatological, I think you're just showing off.
See, I've got Baker's Bible Dictionary. Just say end times. And Anyway, But if you say eschatology or eschatological, That's fine. And here's a brief overview of it. Christ returns For his people.
That's the rapture. He comes for his people. I believe in the rapture because the Bible tells it. Calls it like it is. It does it straight out.
And it also does it in types. Um there are quite a few different types. of the rapture. When the three, here's one from Daniel: when the three servants are in the fiery furnace. Where's Daniel?
While the Jews are going through the furnace of the tribulation period, where is Daniel?
Well, the three men that go through the fiery furnace are not destroyed by the fire. as the 144,000 will not be destroyed.
So we have these as types. They're sort of coming attractions of what God has put into prophecy.
So Christ first comes for his church. That's the rapture. The church is taken out. The church age ends. She's no longer useful.
So many churches are becoming apostate that in time you won't be able to find. It would be very difficult to find a church that actually preaches expositorily, goes verse by verse, or takes a chapter or a part of scripture and opens it up according to other scripture. Then there is the return of Christ with his church seven years later. As we read in Revelation 19. And so Paul says, For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Our rescue.
Well, it's coming again in two phases: the rapture of the church and then the second coming of Christ with the church that he raptured and all the other saints before. uh the raptured church. And the first century Christians They saw so much fulfilled in Messiah, in Christ. That it seemed like what's left to be fulfilled. Not much.
But we, of course, come along, we look at the book of Revelation that was not yet written at the time Paul writes the Roman letter. Revelation is probably some 25 years away before John writes that. And they didn't have the information that we have. In that sense, we have more. And as I mentioned, Christ wasn't coming back until Peter was martyred.
And so it's important to remember. How these things were slowly handed to us by the Lord to the first century apostles. And we have them all put together. Peter wrote, But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers.
And by that, Peter is indicating we expect Christ to come back. He already said in that letter he won't be here for that. He will suffer martyrdom. But he's teaching the church what they're supposed to do in the face of persecution.
Now, verse 13 continues: The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.
Well, this evil age, the night is far spent. Ephesians 6:2. I think the revised standard version words it this present darkness. I like that. It's more poetic, but it is the evil age.
The day is at hand. That day is the return of Christ. 1 John chapter 2. Three. Everyone who has this hope purifies himself just as he is pure.
Yeah, when we have this excitement about Christ's return, we sort of up our game. We uh We work harder at being obedient and being useful at the things that Christ wants from us. Don't be discouraged. If you say, I've been trying, Pastor, I've been trying for 30 years. to get my act together in this area.
Yeah, and what?
Well, I'm not successful.
Well, there's a lot of things to say about that. Where sin abounded, grace did much more. We have an advocate with the Father. We depend on that advocacy. It's blood red.
It's for me. And that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from a lot of sins.
Okay. from all sins. But there are some Christians that want it to just be limited to the ones that they really Um Don't mind. Be careful of that. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness.
Ditch what offends God. Evil is harmful. It is an energy pressing on us. I work for the company I used to sell these, talk about evil pressing all the time. Uh I work for a company was a sole sauce original manufacturer.
And none of the salesmen sold any of the product, not one time. And it was the product's fault. We sold screen doors for submarines. Evil presses on us like a submarine in the sea is being pressed on by the ocean. Evil is pushing on us.
It is a force, and we know these things, but the world does not. How are they going to understand? If they fill in the blanks on this test, they're going to get it wrong. We are here to help them get the right answers. Let us put on the armor of light to counteract the evil pressure that is upon us.
Watching Cites the enemy. praying fights the enemy. That's not original. I'm not telling you where I got it. No, I don't know where I got it.
But it's not original. I keep little notes. That's not original. Don't plagiarize. Mm-hmm.
Anyway, verse 13: Let us walk properly as in the day, not in a revelry and drunkenness, not in lawless lewdness. and lusts not in strife and envy Well, to walk in scripture is to travel through. And how we travel counts. Paul said, Finally, brethren, whatever things are true. Whatever things are noble.
Is does class still exist? Are there still people you can say, boy, that guy's a class act. He really has a, or she's a classy lady. Does it exist anymore? I don't get out much.
I just you know, around Christians and pretty much home. But you all out there with the world. Maybe you can help me with that. But that's what it means. Whatever things are noble.
High level, decent. Easy to be around. Because of the goodness that belongs to it. Whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report. Whatever things are of virtue.
If there is anything praiseworthy, Concentrate on these things. Meditate on these things. Not the transcendental meditation, but to concentrate. Put some effort of thought into these things. Consider them.
As in the day, he says here, let us walk properly, as in the day.
Well Um Not back in the day, that's a different expression. O house of Jacob, come let us walk in the light of Yahweh, Isaiah 2:5, not in revelry. Excessive fun and entertainment.
Somebody that's always got to have fun and and is eventually gonna stay shallow if you don't watch that. And drunkenness, substance abuse, not in lewdness and lusts, sinful passions. Listen, depravity lurks within our flesh of some sort. There's a brand for you. Don't give it the opportunity to pounce.
And if it has, don't give up. God does not love you less. He knows you're struggling. Called you when you were saved in Christ, he knew how you would be behaving 30 years later. He knew what struggles you couldn't get the upper hand on, and he's not given up on you.
When he died on the cross, he said, it's finished. I paid the price. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. That belief on the Lord Jesus Christ. Is not undone because I can't get certain victories.
If you've got that kind of salvation, you've got an eggshell salvation. If you stick around long enough, you're going to find out. It's better to perceive How thorough your salvation is, then to judge others who are struggling. And if you are struggling, don't you give up. If you give up.
Satan's going to take you out, and that's not necessary. God has enough love and patience and mercy for you. Not in strife and envy. All dissatisfied troublemakers are born out of that.
So we wake up. We stand up. We clean up. And we try to keep it that way. Verse 13, almost done.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ. And make no provision for the flesh to fulfil its lusts. Suit up put your body armour on, Ephesians six Notice that Paul doesn't tell us when to take He says, put on the armor of Christ. When does he say, take it off? You gotta sleep with that.
If you've ever slept with a rifle, it's like one of the most uncomfortable things that you could do. Could you imagine being in armor? Anyway. When the prodigal son came home. Barefoot.
with the stench of the pig pen and the world still on his body, His father commanded that they bring out the best robe, a ring, and sandals. His father loved him. It never stopped loving him. Never gave up on him. The Father commands that our garments be changed when we come to Christ.
Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is our uniform. And just because you struggle with this or that. Doesn't mean you don't get to wear the uniform. It is belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
that begins this process of sanctification. You will not be perfect until you are glorified. And that glorification does not come until you... Breathe your last and inhale no more. And make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.
That Greek word for provision. Is literally forethought, which getting your supplies. Oh, yeah, I better remember to pack this. I better, that's forethought, and that's the idea. Don't help your flesh by enabling it.
Don't give it the supplies it needs. Saul sparing agag. And then Agag, 500 years later, was a big problem for the Jews. He'd been a problem all along. Alan Redpath says: sonship with God.
God depends on faith. Friendship with God depends on obedience. That's a good quote. Why I'm quoting it. Wake up to love.
And life against darkness. This is the Christian mission. Obedience functions. as the only tangible expression of your faith. And should it fail?
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, 1 John 1:7. We have an advocate with the Father, 1 John 2, 1. Where sin abounded, grace did much more. Romans 5.20. And there's a plethora of other verses that are saying the same thing.
Because God in His foreknowledge said, You are born into the wrong body, into the wrong kingdom. You've got to fight your way out. And we'll do it together. Bye, okay. Thanks for joining us for today's teaching on Cross Reference Radio.
This is the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Virginia. We're currently going through the book of Romans. If you're in need of hearing this message again or want to listen to others like it, head over to crossreferenceradio.com. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast too, so you'll never miss another edition. Just go to your favorite podcast app to subscribe.
On our website, you'll be able to learn a little more about the ministry of Cross-Reference Radio, so make a note of it, crossreferenceradio.com. That's all we have time for today, but thanks so much for listening. Pastor Rick will be back next time in the book of Romans here on Cross-Reference Radio. Yeah.
