Romans 13:11-14 - Put on Messiah Yeshua

Paul now concluded his thoughts on the believers' behavior.

Romans 13:11-14 (KJV)
¹¹ And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
¹³ Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
¹⁴ But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

In verse 11 Paul reminded his readers that their ultimate salvation was nearer than when they first believed. This conclusion may imply that the first century believers thought that Yeshua's return was imminent. After all He did teach the following:

Matthew 24:42 (KJV)
⁴² Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

However, in close examination of Matthew 24 it is evident that many things had to take place before Yeshua returned.

Matthew 24:29-30 (KJV)
²⁹ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
³⁰ And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

So, although Yeshua was going to return at an unknown time, there were specific things that the believers were told to watch for. In light of this, Paul considered his day to be the beginning of the last days. The writer of Hebrews agreed.

Hebrews 1:2 (KJV)
² Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Paul therefore instructed his readers that since they knew Yeshua was coming, it was time for them to awake from sleep and to seriously watch for Him. The night was far spent and the day was at hand (salvation) (verse 12). Paul told the believers to spend their watching time by casting off the works of darkness (sin) and put on the armor of light. They were to walk in honesty and not be engaged in rioting, drunkenness, sexual immorality, strife, or envying (verse 13). They were to put on Messiah Yeshua and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (verse 14).

How do believers put on Messiah Yeshua? As believers come to faith in Yeshua they are clothed in His righteousness. After that they are expected to live holy lives in accordance with the Scripture's teachings. By living in this way, in obedience to God, believers put on Messiah Yeshua. And as the end approaches believers should feel an increased desire to be righteous for when He does appear. That is the only way in which believers will truly be ready!