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And<\/span> <\/strong>do<\/em><\/strong><\/span> <\/span>this, knowing the time, that<\/span> now it is<\/em> <\/span>high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation <\/span>is<\/em><\/span> nearer than when we<\/span> first<\/em> <\/span>believed.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s time for all Christians to wake up and get busy for God.<\/p>\n The word \u201cknowing<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word eid\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which refers to perception and is translated as either \u201cto know\u201d or \u201cto see (to understand a truth).\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTime<\/span>\u201d appears twice in this verse, but from two different Greek words. The first occurrence of \u201ctime<\/span>\u201d is from kairos<\/em><\/span>. There really is no English equivalent to this word which refers to \u201ca period of opportunity\u201d or \u201ca season.\u201d The second occurrence of \u201ctime<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word h\u014dra<\/em><\/span>, which refers to \u201can hour\u201d as a specific period or point in time.<\/p>\n The word \u201cawake<\/span>\u201d is from egeir\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto rise up from sleep.\u201d And the word translated \u201csleep<\/span>\u201d is a form of hupnos<\/em><\/span> or hypnos<\/em><\/span>, which literally refers to \u201csleep\u201d but is used here figuratively referring to \u201cspiritual stupor or dullness.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNearer<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word enguteron<\/em><\/span>, which is the comparative of engus<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cnear in position or time.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul started off this chapter talking about the necessity of our submission to those who are in authority over us. This, he says, includes the payment of taxes to the taxing authorities and giving honor, paying the proper respect, to all authorities. He then segued into his next point of paying the debt of love to our fellow humans. One of the reasons for us loving our neighbors is the fact that it is what the second table of the Law is all about. It is how God expects us to behave toward others.<\/p>\n Another reason for us to treat those in authority over us with respect and for us to show true love to those around us is the fact that it is high time for us to be doing these things. As a Christian we have the obligation to be a witness to the unsaved by being Christ-like. We need to show forth the qualities that make us different from the rest of the world. When we were unsaved, we were walking around in the same hypnotized stupor as the rest of the world. Now that we have been illuminated by the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, it is time for us to wake up from this sleepiness.<\/p>\n We have the Holy Spirit living in us, who will teach us all things with a spiritual discernment that the unsaved are incapable of. It\u2019s as if we have been injected with a powerful form is spiritual caffeine, and it is now time for us to wake-up and get to work out of gratitude for what He has done.<\/p>\n At the end of this verse Paul refers to our salvation being nearer than when we first believed. Most Christians think of salvation as occurring at the point in time when we first believed God\u2019s message and accepted the blood of Christ as payment for our sins. In God\u2019s record book we are already saved, but the consummation of that salvation will not occur until the return of Christ, when he raptures His church.<\/p>\n The return of Christ could literally be any day now. Time is running out and we need to be busy for Him who bought us. In other words, what Paul is saying is:<\/p>\n Wake up, Christian!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Signature1.gif\" "\\"Will\\"")
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