What kind of person are you?

This started with a thought experiment I used to prepare for a talk given to 6-12th graders at a recent youth event. Here’s a picture of me preaching that night. My primary text was Romans 13:11-14. My favorite verse in this paragraph is Romans 13:14,

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify it’s desires.

I asked myself, "What kind of students will I be talking to?" How might this apply to them? What I came up with was three types of people:

1. Saved, but at risk of spiritually falling asleep

2. Saved, but spiritually asleep

3. Not saved, spiritually dead

What kind of person are you? Which do you relate to the most? How can you help these people within your sphere of influence?

1. Saved, but in danger of spiritually falling asleep

In verse 11 Paul says to wake up because that salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. This isn't as much a reference to the imminent return of Jesus. Paul teaches about the return of Jesus. But Paul is referencing the certain but not yet salvation of the believer. The return of Jesus is certain. But that day is not yet here. So Paul says that if you are a Christian who has been made clean, then you need to stay awake. You still live in a broken world. You still have to deal with a broken body. You still have to battle with what Paul calls the flesh. This is what Paul says we are to make no provision for. In other words, we are to starve the flesh. In Romans 8, Paul tells the church to put to death the works of the flesh.

There’s not a single Christian that does not struggle on a daily basis to serve God with a pure heart. Why? Because we still live in a fallen world. We still wrestle with our flesh. If you're a follower of Jesus, he has already made your heart new. Yet we wait for the day when God will make all things new. On that day, when Jesus returns you will be granted a perfected soul and body. Your desires won’t be in conflict anymore. But until that day you need to wake up each morning and remember this – put on Jesus and make no provision for the flesh. If you're looking for ways to engage in the fight and stay awake, check out my friend Andy's blog, The Relentless Fight. Here's a post specifically on Romans 13:14, Make No Provision for the Flesh.

2. Saved, but spiritually asleep

So you accepted Jesus as the leader and savior of your life. But you’re not living like it. You’ve returned back to what Jesus freed you from. You’re freed from the power of sin, but you’ve believed some common lies:

1. Perhaps you’ve believed the lie that you’ve gone so far that God can’t possibly love you or bring you back. There is no distance too far, no sin too great that can separate you from the love of God in Jesus.

2. Perhaps you've believed the lie that God saved you from your past sins in Christ but it is up to you to clean up the rest of your sin from here on out. And, let's be honest, none of us can do a good job of that.

3. Perhaps you've believed the lie that your sin is no big deal. "Hey, I prayed a prayer." "I've walked the aisle." "I'm saved by grace so I can live however I want. God will just forgive me." Paul cautioned people from this flippant attitude toward sin. God didn’t forgive us and set us free from the punishment of sin so that we could keep on sinning. He also freed us from the power of sin.

I know these lies all too well. I was in the eighth grade when I answered a call from God to be a pastor. It was also in the eighth grade when I developed a regular habit of watching pornography. In the day, I claimed to put on Jesus, but in the night I was making provision for the flesh. I was living to please myself. I told myself all the lies you might be telling yourself regarding some of your sin patterns. "I’m not hurting anyone." "I’m not as bad as so-in-so." "Well, at least I’m not _____ [you fill in the blank]." Each binge led to overwhelming shame, which led to "strong" commitments that I’d never watch it again. That commitment would last a day or two. On some occasions, I’d go weeks without viewing it. But sooner or later I’d run back to my sin.

It seemed like each time was the last time. And before too long I realized that I’d spent the better part of six years living a double life, six years spiritually asleep. Sure I fought, my sin. Or at least I told myself I did. But I didn’t want to tell anyone. I wanted to get things right and then come to the light. I was more content with people thinking I had a good relationship with God than actually having a good relationship with him. If that sounds like you, then you're spiritually asleep. You need to hear Paul's plea to wake up! Put on Jesus and make no provision for the flesh. Remember the Gospel, the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus's death on the cross paid the penalty of sin past, present, and future. His death also defeated the power of sin in your life so that you don't run back to your old way of living.

3. Not saved, spiritually dead

Jesus is returning again to make all things new. Those who are in Christ will be made perfect in a new heaven and new earth to live in fellowship with God forever. There will be no more sin, no more struggle, no more tears, no more pain. All things will be set right. Those who don't know Christ will be separated from God for all of eternity. The gravity of the situation ought to motivate us to be more fervent in prayer and evangelism for this last type of person. By grace through faith, you turn from a life of unbelief to a life of belief in Jesus. And you do, the daily call is then to wake up! And then put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh.

Which story do you resonate with the most?

Are you the Christian who is walking with Jesus, but you’re in danger of falling asleep spiritually? Are you the Christian who has made peace with their sin? You're spiritually asleep. Or are you the not-yet-believer spiritually dead? It is time to wake up. Don’t fall asleep. Put on Christ through prayer, through reading your Bible, through walking with Christian friends, through serving in your church. Put on Christ and make no provision for the flesh because you are in a battle. And so am I.