Walk Honestly Romans 13:13

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “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 armor of light”, and in chapter thirteen and verse thirteen of Romans, Paul told the believers, “let us walk honestly” where we read:

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness,

not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

The verse begins, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day;” Paul began with the words, “let us walk” which means “allow and permit Paul, his companions and his believing readers make their way, progress and due use of opportunities” “honestly” or “in a seemly manner and decently”, “as in the day” which refers to “like they are by and with the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdom ”. Paul directed his believing readers to “make their way” in a “decent” manner as though it is the “last day of this present age”.

The verse continues, “not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” Paul added the words, “not in rioting” which means “not in reveling or in a nocturnal and riotous procession of half drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity as they sing and play before houses of male and female friends” “and drunkenness” or “and intoxication”, “not in chambering” which refers to “a place for lying down, resting, sleeping in a bed or couch such as in adultery and cohabitation whether lawful or unlawful” “and wantonness” or “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness and insolence”, “not in strife” which means “not in contention, wrangling, debate or variance” “and envying” or “excitement of mind, ardor, fervor of spirit, envy or contentious rivalry and jealousy ”. Paul exhorted his believing readers not to be involved in “reveling, intoxication, cohabitation, unbridled lust, wrangling and contentious rivalry”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see his instruction to live in an “honest” manner as though “the day of the Lord” is present. His believing readers were not to be involved in sinful practices such as “rioting, drunkenness, chambering, wantonness, strife and envying”. Jesus Christ came to save people from these sins, and when they receive Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they turn from these activities and desire to live “honestly” and “decently”. “The day of the Lord” is at hand, and all those who receive Jesus should “walk” and live “honestly” and in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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