Put On Christ

April 18th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Romans 13:13-14 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

Jesus is “the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (John 1:9), for he is God who “is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Therefore, sin and righteousness are as mismatched and contrary to each other as darkness and light. Christians, if genuine, are to be characterized by God’s light as the “light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). If any professed Christian claims to know Christ, yet walks in darkness, they are liars who do not practice the truth (1 John 1:5). Only those who walk in the light of God are able to have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses them from sin (vv. 6-7).

Those who walk in the light are clearly distinguished from those who walk in darkness. The latter participate in “carousing and drunkenness.” Carousing (aka, orgies) comes from a Greek term used for celebrations to the wine god Bacchus—parties filled with immoral behavior and rioting. Of course drunkenness normally went side-by-side with this term which is most often used of intentional and routine intoxication (cf. Gal. 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3).

Also indicative of those who walk in darkness are those who engage in “sexual promiscuity and sensuality.” The former term (Gr. koite) literally refers to a bed or bedroom. It came to be used, however, for illicit and immoral sex much like “sleeping together” does today. The latter term, “sensuality” (Gr. aselgeia) refers to shameless excess with no restraint. It almost always refers to the most vulgar and offensive kinds of sexual behaviors. Barclay calls this term “one of the ugliest words in the Greek language” due to the sexual heinousness it describes.

Two final characteristics of those who walk in darkness are “strife and jealousy.” The former refers to quarreling between two or more parties. It depicts a selfish spirit that demands its own way regardless of the harm it causes itself or others. Birthed by an insatiable desire to prevail at all costs, it divides people. Likewise, the latter term, “jealousy,” though it can have a positive context as “zealous” for what is good, in this context it concerns envy. Of course quarrelling is usually based upon jealousy, and the two go hand-in-hand just like the others.

Sadly, many today who profess to be Christians not only take part in drunken brawls and festivals, they justify their lewd sexual behaviors with their misunderstood freedom in Christ. And how often is there a jealous quarrel in the church today—from competition within the music ministry to the teaching ministry to the ministry of leadership? So, in order to avoid such sins, Paul first commands that the Lord Jesus Christ be “put on.” Calvin said, “To put on Christ, means here to be on every side fortified by the power of his Spirit, and be thereby prepared to discharge all the duties of holiness; for thus is the image of God renewed in us, which is the only true ornament of the soul.” Second, Paul says to “make no provision for the flesh.” This means that at no time can Christians allow their flesh the freedom to rule over the indwelling Spirit.

Food For Thought
St. Augustine, in his Confessions, tells of his conversion to Christianity in AD 386. It was a time in his life when he was deeply convicted by a desire to break from his old way of living in sexual sin. He says that as he sat weeping in the garden of a friend in Milan (North Africa), he suddenly heard a child singing, “Take up and read! Take up and read!” He picked up a scroll lying near him, and his eyes fell on Romans 13:13-14, “Not in carousing and drunkenness… make no provision for the flesh.” His heart was immediately flooded with God’s light, and his darkness vanished. He later became the most important theologian the Church has ever known.