Sermons on Romans 13:13-14

Romans 13:13-14 Interpretation:

Embracing Genuine Surrender: Trusting God's Transformative Grace (Become New) offers a unique interpretation of Romans 13:13-14 by focusing on the psychological and spiritual process of surrender, using the metaphor of "putting the will in neutral" as described by philosopher Eleonore Stump. The sermon distinguishes between grudging compliance and genuine surrender, arguing that the passage is not about God bullying us into submission but about voluntarily ceasing resistance to God's grace. The analogy of a stubborn mule being prodded by goads (referencing Paul's conversion) is used to illustrate the futility of resisting God's will, and the story of Augustine's conversion is presented as an example of moving from resistance to openness, where grace enables the actual transformation. This approach frames "clothing oneself with Christ" as an act of opening oneself to grace rather than a mere act of willpower.

Embracing Grace: Overcoming the Divided Self (Become New) interprets Romans 13:13-14 through the lens of Augustine's concept of the "divided will," drawing on Augustine's Confessions. The sermon uses the metaphor of the "house divided" to describe the internal conflict between desiring to do good and being unable to will it, connecting this to Paul's exhortation to "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ." The passage is seen as a call to receive grace that unifies the will, rather than simply a moralistic command to avoid sin. The analogy of being "drunk on reputation" versus the beggar's fleeting happiness is used to highlight the emptiness of self-indulgence compared to the fulfillment found in Christ.

Augustine: The Journey of Faith and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) interprets Romans 13:13-14 primarily through the narrative of Augustine's conversion, emphasizing the passage as a catalyst for moral transformation. The sermon highlights the distinction between intellectual, moral, and sacramental conversion in Augustine's life, suggesting that the passage is not just about external behavior but about a deep, grace-enabled change of heart and will. The interpretation is enriched by Augustine's own reflection that true conversion is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit, not by human effort alone.

Augustine of Hippo: Journey from Indulgence to Faith (David Guzik) offers a vivid, narrative-driven interpretation of Romans 13:13-14 by recounting Augustine’s conversion experience. The sermon uniquely frames the passage as a direct, providential answer to Augustine’s inner turmoil over his inability to break free from sexual addiction and a life of indulgence. The analogy of “take up and read” (tolle lege) is presented as a divine intervention, with Romans 13:13-14 functioning as a spiritual mirror that exposes Augustine’s sin and simultaneously offers the remedy: to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” The sermon highlights the immediacy and transformative power of the text, suggesting that the passage is not merely a moral exhortation but a supernatural call to a new identity, as if the act of “putting on Christ” is akin to donning a new self, leaving the old behind. This is further illustrated by Augustine’s later encounter with his former lover, where he declares, “It’s not me,” signifying the radical change wrought by obedience to the passage. The sermon does not delve into Greek or Hebrew, but it does emphasize the performative, almost sacramental, nature of the command to “clothe yourselves with Christ.”

Understanding Biblical Interpretation: Literal vs. Spiritualistic Approaches (Ligonier Ministries) provides a distinctive interpretive angle by using Augustine’s conversion as a case study in the “plain sense” or literal interpretation of Scripture. The sermon argues that the power of Romans 13:13-14 in Augustine’s life was not due to mystical or allegorical reading, but because the passage’s plain meaning—its direct call to abandon carousing, immorality, and to “put on Christ”—spoke exactly to Augustine’s situation. The preacher insists that the text’s transformative effect was rooted in its intended, straightforward sense, not in any hidden or esoteric meaning, thus reinforcing the value of sober, grammatical-historical interpretation.

Calvin's Vision: Piety in the Christian Life (Ligonier Ministries) interprets Romans 13:13-14 as a foundational text for the Christian life, especially in the context of piety and sanctification. The sermon draws on Calvin’s reading, emphasizing that the passage is not just a list of prohibitions but a call to a new mode of existence—“putting on Christ” as the essence of Christian piety. The metaphor of “clothing oneself with Christ” is unpacked as both a positional and practical reality: believers are to live out their union with Christ by actively rejecting the desires of the flesh and embodying Christ’s righteousness. The sermon also notes the passage’s role in Augustine’s conversion, but it extends the application to the ongoing process of sanctification, self-denial, and cross-bearing, making the text a paradigm for lifelong transformation.

Finding True Fulfillment: Augustine's Journey to God (Desiring God) interprets Romans 13:13-14 as the pivotal moment of Augustine’s conversion, emphasizing that the passage is not merely a call to moral reform but a summons to a radical reordering of love and desire. The sermon uniquely frames Augustine’s experience as a “battle of desires,” where the command to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” is not about external behavior modification but about finding a superior satisfaction in Christ that displaces the allure of sin. The preacher draws on Augustine’s own language, noting that “we become like what we love,” and that the transformation Paul describes is fundamentally about the heart’s orientation—moving from loving created things to loving the Creator. The analogy of “becoming dirt” by loving “dirty things” is used to illustrate how our loves shape our very being, and the sermon highlights Augustine’s realization that Christ is the true satisfaction he had been seeking in vain elsewhere. This interpretation stands out for its focus on the affective and existential dimensions of the passage, rather than just its ethical imperatives.

Augustine: From Lust to Divine Transformation (Desiring God) offers a distinctive interpretation by exploring the philosophical and psychological journey that led Augustine to Romans 13:13-14. The sermon highlights Augustine’s use of Platonic imagery—such as having his “back to the light” and being drawn to the “things which it illumined”—to describe his lostness and the futility of seeking fulfillment in earthly pleasures. The preacher notes Augustine’s concept of “sober intoxication,” a paradoxical phrase that captures the experience of being filled with the joy of God in a way that surpasses the intoxication of sin. The sermon interprets “putting on Christ” as entering into a new mode of enjoyment, where the beauty and satisfaction of God eclipse all lesser loves. This approach is notable for its integration of philosophical categories (Platonism, the love of wisdom) and its focus on the transformation of desire as the heart of Paul’s exhortation.

Romans 13:13-14 Theological Themes:

Embracing Genuine Surrender: Trusting God's Transformative Grace (Become New) introduces the theme that surrendering to God is not a matter of willpower or fear-based compliance, but a voluntary relinquishing of resistance to grace. The sermon explores the idea that the human will has a "neutral gear," allowing a person to stop resisting even when they cannot yet fully embrace God's will, and that this posture of openness is the context in which grace operates to bring about transformation. This is a nuanced expansion of the theological concept of prevenient grace and the role of human agency in sanctification.

Embracing Grace: Overcoming the Divided Self (Become New) presents the theme of the "divided will" and the necessity of grace to overcome habitual sin and internal conflict. The sermon draws on Augustine's insight that the will can be so gripped by desire (habit, attachment, addiction) that only divine grace can break its power, and that Romans 13:13-14 is an invitation to receive this grace rather than to strive for moral improvement by sheer effort. The sermon also introduces the idea of "counting the cost" of not following Jesus, reframing the passage as a call to consider the consequences of remaining in dividedness.

Augustine: The Journey of Faith and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) adds the theme of multiple stages of conversion—intellectual, moral, and sacramental—arguing that Romans 13:13-14 is not just a call to moral reformation but to a holistic transformation that includes the mind, will, and incorporation into the church. The sermon also explores Augustine's development from a Platonic to a more biblical understanding of evil, emphasizing the depth of human sinfulness and the absolute necessity of grace for salvation and transformation.

Augustine of Hippo: Journey from Indulgence to Faith (David Guzik) introduces the theme of conversion as a supernatural event catalyzed by the direct encounter with Scripture, specifically Romans 13:13-14. The sermon presents the idea that the passage is not merely instructive but effectual, capable of breaking the chains of habitual sin and inaugurating a new spiritual identity. It also explores the tension between intellectual assent and moral transformation, showing that Augustine’s conversion required not just agreement with Christian doctrine but a decisive break with the flesh, enacted through the passage’s command.

Understanding Biblical Interpretation: Literal vs. Spiritualistic Approaches (Ligonier Ministries) brings a fresh theological angle by critiquing “lucky dipping” and mystical approaches to Scripture, using Augustine’s experience with Romans 13:13-14 to argue that true spiritual transformation comes through the plain, intended meaning of the text. The sermon contends that the Holy Spirit works through the ordinary sense of Scripture, not through superstitious or magical readings, and that the power of Romans 13:13-14 lies in its direct, unambiguous call to repentance and new life.

Calvin's Vision: Piety in the Christian Life (Ligonier Ministries) develops the theme of “putting on Christ” as the heart of Christian piety, linking Romans 13:13-14 to the doctrines of union with Christ, sanctification, and adoption. The sermon uniquely emphasizes that the passage is not just about avoiding vice but about manifesting a harmony between God’s righteousness and the believer’s obedience. It also introduces the idea that Christian freedom is not license but the Spirit-wrought desire to do what one ought, and that the motivation for living out Romans 13:13-14 is rooted in God’s holiness and the benefits of salvation, not mere duty.

Finding True Fulfillment: Augustine's Journey to God (Desiring God) introduces the theme that the root problem addressed by Romans 13:13-14 is not simply bad behavior but “disordered love”—that is, loving created things more than the Creator. The sermon develops the idea that the Christian life is not about using God as a means to an end (such as moral improvement or earning heaven), but about enjoying God for His own sake. This is a significant theological shift from Pelagian self-help to Augustinian grace, where the transformation of desire is both the means and the end of sanctification. The preacher also stresses that true obedience flows from delight in God, not from mere willpower or external conformity.

Augustine: From Lust to Divine Transformation (Desiring God) adds a new facet by emphasizing the existential and psychological struggle involved in conversion. The sermon explores how Augustine’s journey was not a sudden event but a protracted battle with lust and the search for wisdom, culminating in the realization that only the enjoyment of God could satisfy his deepest longings. The preacher draws out the theme that the Christian’s battle is not simply against external temptations but against the internal weight of misplaced desire, and that “putting on Christ” means embracing a new source of joy that reorders all other loves.

Romans 13:13-14 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Augustine: The Journey of Faith and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) provides detailed historical context about Augustine's life, including his background as a rhetorician, his exposure to Ambrose's sophisticated preaching in Milan, and the cultural and philosophical milieu of late antiquity. The sermon explains the significance of Augustine's conversion experience in a walled garden, the influence of monastic ideals (reading Athanasius' Life of Anthony), and the broader context of debates about grace, free will, and the nature of evil in the early church. It also discusses the impact of Augustine's thought on later Christian theology, especially in relation to Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism, and the development of doctrines of grace and authority in the Western church.

Augustine of Hippo: Journey from Indulgence to Faith (David Guzik) provides detailed historical context about Augustine’s world, noting the prevalence of sexual immorality among the upper classes in late Roman North Africa and the cultural acceptability of concubinage. The sermon situates Augustine’s struggle within the broader context of the church’s transition from persecution to institutional power, highlighting how the moral laxity of the era made the call of Romans 13:13-14 especially radical. It also references the influence of Manichaeism and Neoplatonism on Augustine’s thinking, showing how the passage cut through competing philosophies with a clear, moral imperative.

Calvin's Vision: Piety in the Christian Life (Ligonier Ministries) offers historical insight into the Roman concept of piety (pietas), explaining how early Christians were accused of impiety and atheism for refusing to honor Caesar and the Roman gods. The sermon traces the development of the idea of piety from classical literature to its Christian redefinition as reverence and love for God, and it notes that the Greek term for piety (eusebeia) is often translated as “godliness” in the New Testament, providing a linguistic and cultural bridge to the Pauline context of Romans 13.

Finding True Fulfillment: Augustine's Journey to God (Desiring God) provides historical context by describing the cultural environment of late Roman North Africa, where Augustine lived—a “provincial Backwater of the Roman Empire.” The sermon explains the popularity of gladiatorial games as analogous to modern obsessions with pornography and violent entertainment, highlighting the pervasive culture of sensuality and violence that shaped Augustine’s early life. This context illuminates the force of Paul’s exhortation in Romans 13:13-14, as both Augustine and his contemporaries were surrounded by temptations to “carousing and drunkenness, sexual immorality and debauchery.” The preacher also situates Augustine’s conversion within the broader theological controversy with Pelagius, explaining how Pelagianism’s emphasis on moral self-sufficiency contrasted with Augustine’s doctrine of grace and the necessity of divine transformation.

Romans 13:13-14 Cross-References in the Bible:

Embracing Genuine Surrender: Trusting God's Transformative Grace (Become New) references Paul's conversion in Acts, specifically the phrase "Why do you kick against the goads?" (Acts 26:14), to illustrate the futility of resisting God's will and to connect the theme of surrender in Romans 13:13-14 to Paul's own experience of being overcome by grace. The sermon also alludes to other biblical exhortations to generosity, humility, and servanthood, though not by direct citation, to show the breadth of God's will that believers are called to embrace.

Embracing Grace: Overcoming the Divided Self (Become New) references Paul's struggle in Romans 7 ("Why do I do what I do not want to do?") as a parallel to Augustine's divided will, using it to frame Romans 13:13-14 as a resolution to the problem of internal conflict through grace. The sermon also draws a parallel between Jesus' struggle in Gethsemane ("not my will, but yours be done") and the call to surrender in Romans 13:14, suggesting that even Jesus experienced the agony of divided will and overcame it through submission to the Father.

Augustine: The Journey of Faith and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) references Romans 13:13-14 as the specific passage that catalyzed Augustine's conversion, and also alludes to Romans 7 in discussing the divided will and the struggle with sin. The sermon further references biblical language about being "made for God" and "resting in Him," connecting Augustine's famous line ("our hearts are restless until they rest in You") to the broader biblical narrative of creation, fall, and redemption.

Calvin's Vision: Piety in the Christian Life (Ligonier Ministries) references several passages to expand on Romans 13:13-14. It draws a parallel to 1 Timothy 1:3-5, where Paul emphasizes that the goal of instruction is “love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith,” connecting this to the transformative intent of Romans 13:13-14. The sermon also references Romans 1:18-25, suggesting that Calvin’s own conversion was shaped by the themes of honoring and thanking God, which are foundational to the call to “put on Christ.” Additionally, Philippians 2:12-13 is cited to illustrate that God is at work in believers to will and to do what pleases Him, reinforcing the idea that the exhortation of Romans 13:13-14 is empowered by divine initiative. The sermon further alludes to the Psalms (e.g., “how I love your law, O Lord”) and the general Pauline theme of union with Christ as the basis for sanctification.

Finding True Fulfillment: Augustine's Journey to God (Desiring God) references Genesis 3 to support the idea that the fundamental human problem is “disordered love”—Adam and Eve sinned because they loved something else more than God. This cross-reference is used to show that Romans 13:13-14 is not just about avoiding bad actions but about the deeper issue of what or whom we love. The sermon also alludes to the broader Pauline theme of “putting on Christ” (cf. Galatians 3:27, Ephesians 4:24), interpreting it as a call to a new identity and a new set of desires rooted in union with Christ.

Romans 13:13-14 Christian References outside the Bible:

Embracing Genuine Surrender: Trusting God's Transformative Grace (Become New) explicitly references Eleonore Stump, a contemporary philosopher, and her analysis of the will's "neutral gear" in her book Wandering in Darkness, using her framework to interpret the process of surrender in Romans 13:13-14. The sermon also references Eugene Peterson's memoir The Pastor, using his childhood story as an analogy for false surrender, and briefly mentions Richard Niebuhr's work on Christ and culture. Augustine is discussed in detail as an example of the process of surrender, with his Confessions cited as a primary source.

Embracing Grace: Overcoming the Divided Self (Become New) draws extensively on Augustine's Confessions, quoting his reflections on the divided will and the experience of grace. The sermon also references the influence of Ambrose, bishop of Milan, as a spiritual mentor to Augustine, and mentions the role of spiritual friends and mentors (e.g., Neil Warren) in the process of transformation.

Augustine: The Journey of Faith and Transformation (Ligonier Ministries) provides a thorough account of Augustine's life and thought, referencing his major works (Confessions, On the Freedom of the Will, City of God), his debates with Pelagius and the semi-Pelagians, and his influence on later theologians such as Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin. The sermon also discusses Augustine's views on authority and the sacraments, quoting his famous lines about the authority of the church and the nature of the Lord's Supper.

Augustine of Hippo: Journey from Indulgence to Faith (David Guzik) explicitly references Augustine’s own writings, especially Confessions, to narrate his conversion and the impact of Romans 13:13-14. The sermon quotes Augustine’s description of his struggle with lust (“Give me chastity and continence, but not yet”) and his account of the transformative moment when he read the passage. It also references Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan, as a key figure in Augustine’s journey, and briefly mentions the influence of Cicero and Neoplatonist philosophers. The sermon further discusses Augustine’s later theological contributions, such as the doctrine of original sin and the analogy of faith, situating his experience with Romans 13:13-14 within his broader legacy.

Defenders of Faith: Athanasius, Chrysostom, and Augustine (David Guzik) and "Key Figures Shaping Christianity in the Roman Empire" (David Guzik) both reference Augustine’s Confessions and his conversion story, including the “take up and read” episode with Romans 13:13-14, but do not add new insights beyond what is already covered in the first sermon.

Calvin's Vision: Piety in the Christian Life (Ligonier Ministries) references John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, particularly Book 3, chapters 6-10, as the theological framework for interpreting Romans 13:13-14. The sermon cites Calvin’s definition of piety, his emphasis on self-denial and cross-bearing, and his teaching on the motivation for Christian living. It also mentions Ford Lewis Battles, a Calvin scholar, who speculates on the biblical passage that may have influenced Calvin’s conversion, drawing a parallel to Augustine’s experience with Romans 13:13-14.

Finding True Fulfillment: Augustine's Journey to God (Desiring God) explicitly references Augustine’s Confessions, quoting his famous line, “our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you,” and drawing extensively on Augustine’s own narrative of conversion. The sermon also discusses Pelagius and his teachings, contrasting them with Augustine’s theology of grace. Pelagius is described as a British monk who taught that humans could achieve moral perfection through their own efforts, while Augustine is portrayed as the champion of grace and the enjoyment of God. The preacher references Augustine’s critique of Pelagianism, emphasizing that the Christian life is about being “rewarded with [God]” rather than earning heaven through moral effort.

Romans 13:13-14 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Embracing Genuine Surrender: Trusting God's Transformative Grace (Become New) uses a detailed story from Eugene Peterson's memoir The Pastor, recounting Peterson's childhood experience of being bullied by Garrison Johns. The story is used as an extended metaphor for false surrender, where Peterson forces his bully to "convert" under duress, illustrating the difference between coerced compliance and genuine surrender. The analogy is unpacked to show how many people view surrender to God as a forced, fear-based act, rather than a voluntary, grace-enabled choice. The sermon also references Bill W.'s (founder of Alcoholics Anonymous) experience of surrender in a hospital room as an example of letting go of resistance and opening oneself to grace.

Embracing Grace: Overcoming the Divided Self (Become New) uses the example of Augustine's encounter with a drunken beggar on his way to address the Roman Emperor, highlighting the irony that the beggar's fleeting happiness surpasses Augustine's own despite his worldly success. This story is used to illustrate the emptiness of pursuing reputation and self-indulgence, and to contrast it with the fulfillment found in surrendering to Christ. The sermon also references a personal anecdote about snoring and marital conflict, using it as a metaphor for habitual patterns that require grace to overcome.

Augustine of Hippo: Journey from Indulgence to Faith (David Guzik) uses the story of Augustine’s encounter with his former lover as a powerful secular illustration of the transformation described in Romans 13:13-14. When Augustine’s ex-mistress calls out, “It’s me,” he replies, “But it’s not me,” dramatizing the idea of having “put on Christ” and left the old self behind. The sermon also references the cultural norms of Roman North Africa, where concubinage and sexual indulgence were common among the elite, providing a real-world backdrop for the passage’s call to moral renewal. Additionally, the sermon mentions the influence of Cicero’s Hortensius and the intellectual climate of late antiquity, situating Augustine’s struggle within the broader context of philosophical and rhetorical pursuits.

Key Figures Shaping Christianity in the Roman Empire (David Guzik) employs a “Star Wars” analogy to explain Manichaeism, likening its dualistic worldview to the “light side” and “dark side” of the Force, which helps modern listeners grasp the kind of spiritual conflict that Romans 13:13-14 addresses in Augustine’s life. The sermon also recounts the story of Augustine’s break with his mistress, using the phrase “I’m not me anymore” as a secular metaphor for the new identity found in Christ.

Finding True Fulfillment: Augustine's Journey to God (Desiring God) uses the example of gladiatorial games in ancient Rome as an analogy for modern obsessions with pornography and violent entertainment. The preacher recounts the story of Augustine’s friend Alipius, who was initially repulsed by the games but was eventually drawn in by the spectacle and became “inebriated by a bloodthirsty pleasure.” This story is used to illustrate the power of what we behold to shape our desires and character, drawing a parallel to how contemporary media can similarly ensnare and transform us. The analogy is detailed, describing the sensory experience of the games—the roar of the crowd, the sight of blood, the addictive nature of the spectacle—and connecting it to the way sinful pleasures can captivate and change us.