We are considering at the present time, as most of you will recall, the words found in Paul's

Epistle to the Romans in Chapter 13, reading from verse 11 to the end of the chapter, namely

to verse 14, verses 11 to 14 in the 13th chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, and that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

The night is far spent. The day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour

of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering

and wantonness, not in strife and envy, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts

there are.

We are dealing here with what I've been explaining is the last great argument used by the

apostle to encourage these Roman Christians and us and all other Christians to live the Christian life.

That's what he's concerned about. He started with this great appeal at the beginning of the

12th chapter, and having given a number of detailed instructions, he is now giving us a great

argument, a great reason for fulfilling. He's already given us one, which is that

love is the fulfilling of the law. But here is another argument, and this is what we may call

the eschatological argument. Don't be worried about the word. It means the doctrine of the

last things, the final development, the ultimate end.

And this is an argument which he is now using in order to reinforce this appeal,

and that, he says, over and above, what I've been saying in addition to,

you can translate it if you like in those various ways.

Well, now, this is a most important matter.

I've been reminding you that this particular argument is one, obviously, that applies and

appeals only to Christian people.

The world has got its moralists, its ethical teachers, and its moral and ethical systems.

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