PUT ON CHRIST

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment , are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbour; there-fore love is the fulfilment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 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 armour of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. BUT PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, TO FULFIL ITS LUSTS. (Romans 13:8-14). Paul emphasizes a high standard of moral conduct, particularly in view of the nearness of the Lord's return, when our salvation will be consummated. The way to moral excellence is twofold: We must put on the Lord Jesus Christ, submit to His lordship, accept His moral stan-dards, live in constant fellowship with Him, and depend upon His strength. Also, we are to make no provision for the flesh, doing nothing to foster its sensual desires and appetites (Read Galatians 5:16-25). Many Christians live defeated lives by yielding to the flesh, which seemingly has a will of its own. Recognizing the challenge the flesh poses to the Christian lifestyle, the apostle Paul instructed the believer to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts" (verse 14). In Romans 12, Paul teaches that the Christian lifestyle is possible when Christians present both mind and body to Christ; when Christians recognize that the Christian life is sacrificial; and when Christians recognize that the Christian lifestyle is holy - not worldly - but God-conscious and God-centered. Nothing less is acceptable to God. The Christian's lifestyle is his "reasonable service" to the Lord. [New Spirit Filled Life Bible, NKJV, Thomas Nelson Inc. USA, 2002].