“However placed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its needs” (Rom. 13:14, CSB).
Placing on Christ
To a big diploma, the entire biblical counseling motion started with the idea of pushing aside and placing on, discovered on this verse in Romans in addition to passages in Ephesians and Colossians. A lot has been written in regards to the Ephesians and Colossians texts, however I wish to focus slightly nearer on this textual content in Romans as a result of right here, Paul shouldn’t be calling us to take away dangerous habits and placed on good habits—he’s telling us to placed on Christ. What does that imply? Since context is the one approach to make sure we get an accurate interpretation, we should take a look at what Paul wrote earlier than and after verse 14 to see the place this sentence is in his argument.
Love One One other
You really want to return to verse 8 to seek out the theme of this passage. Paul spends the primary a part of chapter 13 telling the Roman Christians to respect the federal government and pay their taxes. The main target shifts in verse 8, the place he says we shouldn’t owe something to anybody besides love. He summarizes this thought in verse 10: “Love does no flawed to a neighbor. Love, due to this fact, is the achievement of the regulation.”
A change in path is available in verse 11, however the theme stays the identical. He’s telling the Romans that the time is drawing brief for them to satisfy the regulation by loving one another, so right here’s methods to do it. First, “…discard the deeds of darkness and placed on the armor of sunshine” (12). Second, “…stroll with decency, as within the daytime” (13). Then he describes what that appears like by negation. So, when he will get to verse 14, he summarizes his educating. The Hallquist paraphrase can be one thing like, “So right here’s what I’m saying. In case you’re going to like others, you must be coated over with Jesus.”
The Jesus Topcoat
Many believers appear to favor Jesus Below Armour. It’s not that Jesus shouldn’t be current with them. It’s that He isn’t seen to others. I’ve encountered quite a lot of individuals who, when requested about their religion, say one thing like, “I consider in Jesus. My religion is only a very private factor to me.” If you “placed on the Lord Jesus Christ,” He goes on the skin. Christ is the very first thing others discover about you. You don’t need to put on a Jesus t-shirt, a giant silver cross, and carry a large Bible. However the Christlikeness of your phrases and actions ought to be essentially the most noticeable factor about you within the eyes of others.
Troopers don’t put on civilian garments. Their uniform is what separates them from non-military individuals. And when they’re in uniform, they perceive they’re representing one thing better than themselves—not simply their department of service however their very nation. We who identify the identify of Christ ought to gladly adorn the uniform of the Kingdom of Heaven, which, above all issues, is Christ’s love (Col. 3:14).
Make No Provision
Now for the ultimate phrase—“make no provision for the flesh to gratify its needs.” I advised a buddy of mine that this principally means you shouldn’t hold junk meals in your pantry. Although I used to be meaning to be humorous, it’s actually a fairly good analogy. If cookies are within the jar, I’ll eat them. If ice cream is within the freezer, I’ll get a scoop or two. If potato chips are within the pantry, they received’t final lengthy. I do know myself nicely sufficient to know this stuff shouldn’t be out there for the weak moments when my style buds attempt to take management.
Let’s break down Paul’s phrases. First, make no provision. All of us expertise fleshly needs for issues which are at most sinful or ungodly, and no less than not helpful. If I make no provision, I don’t have issues mendacity round that may tempt me to want. James offers us the development. “However every individual is tempted when he’s drawn away and enticed by his personal evil want. Then after want has conceived, it offers delivery to sin, and when sin is absolutely grown, it offers delivery to demise” (James 1:14-15). One of the best ways to cease the development is to not get it began. Within the phrases of the nice theologian Barney Fife, “You gotta nip it within the bud!”
Second, for the flesh. Provision for the flesh by no means results in the revenue of the spirit. After we acknowledge it’s our flesh crying out, we must always reply with, “Crucify him!” What receives nourishment will develop robust. The extra you nourish the flesh, the extra you may be tempted. The extra you’re tempted, the extra you’ll sin. Feed the spirit (Spirit) in you, not the flesh.
Third, to gratify its needs. The flesh by no means needs what the spirit requires. It’s the antithesis of that which is enjoyable to God. We had been made to gratify the needs of no matter guidelines us. It’s incongruent to call the identify of Christ to put on the uniform of Heaven and to gratify the needs of a rival king.
Now that I’ve summarized the textual content, let me summarize my ideas. You’ve all seen the Capital One commercials that conclude with the query, “What’s in your pockets?” So, let me ask you (and me), what’s in your pantry? Are you ravenous the flesh and feeding the spirit? If that’s the case, you’re placing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Subsequently, those that see you will note much less and fewer of you and increasingly of Jesus. Could He enhance as we lower.
Questions for Reflection
- Is it my deep want for others to see extra of Jesus in me day-after-day?
- Am I extra snug in Jesus Below Armour or in a Jesus topcoat?
- Do I generally inventory my pantry with flesh meals quite than spirit meals? What can I do to nip that within the bud?
