The Christ of Romans 13:8-14 is the one who is returning to fulfill our salvation even as we wait, living with one another in Christian love.
This Romans text is a rich call for vigilance in the last days (the key for inaugurating the Advent season). It is a Pauline mini catalogue of sin to contrast with the life of the sanctified that is marked by love of neighbor. He even includes an ontological reflection on the nature of time, that our salvation is nearer than it has ever been as each passing day brings us ever closer to the return of Christ. The final verse of the pericope is so punchy, though, so that it is where I will spend my time. You can get a lot of mileage out of putting on Christ.
“C’mon, are you putting me on?” It is a phrase that reaches back generations, but it is still current in modern English usage. When you “put someone on,” you are tricking them, deceiving them, pulling their leg. The etymology of the phrase is likely what we call in linguistics a back-formation derived from the idea of putting on a disguise. The verb Paul uses is about clothes. It is the same formation he uses in Galatians 3:27 (“As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”). No deception here, but overhear the possibility of talking vocation, the Christian as the secret agent executing the will of God, who uses His people as His masks. A word-study on the Greek verb endyō (put on) will yield satisfying results for the careful exegete!
Also, notice that evoking “putting on Christ” in baptism resonates with the “wake up” theme of eschatological urgency in Romans 13:11, which says, “The hour has come for you to wake up from sleep” (see also Ephesians 5:14). Waking up is not just about vigilance. It has its root in being woken up from the dead. It is all about new birth. And all newborn soldiers of the crucified bear on their brows the seal of Him who died, the name of Christ washed on you in your baptism. This is holy armor, an opportunity to also think of what the Lord equips the saints with in their sanctification (refer to Ephesians 6:11ff, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, and others).
Furthermore, think about Christ in His incarnation, that He put on flesh (taking on the form of a slave, Philippians 2:7, the Word became flesh, John 1:14). The Christ was wrapped in swaddling cloths at His birth (Luke 2:7). In His revealed eschatological glory, He is depicted as the rider on a white horse clothed in a robe dipped in blood, the Word of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity delivering the armies of His saints by His own sacrificial victory (Revelation 19:13).
It is a lot to think about in crafting a message. The aim of every sermon is to deliver the Christ the text would reveal. The Christ of Romans 13:8-14 is the one who is returning to fulfill our salvation even as we wait, living with one another in Christian love. He is the one whom, in our patient vigilance and active life together, we put on, giving no provision to the flesh and giving the flesh no quarter. No quarter, there is an interesting phrase too. It is what ships would put on their mast in the form of a black flag with a human skull and crossbones, the Jolly Roger, to indicate how no mercy or shelter would be given to the ship’s enemies. That is what Christians are to put on their mast when sailing against the flesh. It is the flag of death, the flag of a real, human image of death. We wave the flag of Jesus as our Jolly Roger, the death of Christ in the face of our enemy’s sin, death, the Devil, and our flesh. No quarter asked or given, only death to sin, dying in the death of Christ. See what you have to look forward to, sin? See what you have to look forward to, Devil? See what you can anticipate, flesh? For these things there is only mortification, for the Dread Pirate comes swiftly and surgically to blast you out of the water. Jolly Jesus? Roger that.
He is the one whom, in our patient vigilance and active life together, we put on, giving no provision to the flesh and giving the flesh no quarter.
OK, maybe the pirate image will get you stuck in the realm of the silly. Forgive the digression. Let us think about crafting the “put on” job.
Outline:
“C’mon, are you putting me on?” It is an old phrase, but it still rings today. When someone says it, they are asking, Are you for real? Are you trying to fool me? The phrase itself probably comes from the idea of “putting on” a disguise -- pretending to be something you are not. But Paul, in Romans 13, uses that very language with a twist. He says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” No disguise here, this is not deception. This is identity. This is vocation.
1. Putting On Christ
Paul uses that same word in Galatians 3:27: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” The Greek verb endyō means to clothe yourself. In baptism, you were dressed in Jesus, clothed with His righteousness, wrapped in His mercy. So, when Paul says put on Christ, he is really saying: Live in the reality of your baptism. Wake up to who you already are in Him.
2. Wake Up and Get Dressed
“The hour has come for you to wake from sleep,” Paul writes. This is not just about staying alert; it is resurrection language. You were dead, but God woke you up. Do not go back to bed. Do not go back to the grave. Stay awake, stay alert, stay alive in your new life! You are not sleepwalking through life anymore. You have been raised to walk in newness of life, a soldier of the crucified, sealed with His name on your brow. So, get dressed for the day. The armor of light is your uniform. You are on an undercover assignment. You are God’s secret agent. God works through His people as His masks in the world.
3. The Christ Who Puts On Flesh
This is not our doing. God does this in us, and He shows us He knows what He is doing in Christ. Christ Himself has shown us what it means to “put on.” He put on flesh, took on the form of a servant, born and wrapped in swaddling cloths. And the same Christ who once wore the garments of humility now rides forth clothed in a robe dipped in blood (His own), conquering by the cross (Revelation 19).
4. Living the Life We Have Put On
The Christ of Romans 13 is the Christ who is coming again; the dawn breaking through the world’s long night. Until He comes, we live as those who belong to the day: Loving one another, giving no quarter to the flesh, living in the armor of His light, and clothed in a righteousness (His righteousness!) that will never wear out.
No Disguise, Only Christ
So, when the world asks, “Are you putting me on?” you can answer, “Yes, I am putting on Christ.” Not as a mask to deceive, but as the garment of grace that reveals the truth: You are His, and He is coming soon.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on Romans 13:(8–10) 11–14.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you preaching Romans 13:(8–10) 11–14.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
