In Romans 13:13b, we are instructed not to take part in three pairs of vices. Each of these sins have been common in the human experience since the Fall of mankind, each have a way of gripping us and holding on to us (leading to less resistance to committing them in the future), and each must be guarded against in our lives.
The first pairing is that of “carousing and drunkenness.” “Carousing,” in the Greek, refers to parties and revelry to excess. It could accurately be translated as “orgies.” While orgies were more common in first century Rome, they are not entirely unheard of today. More in line with our context would be the debauchery common in nightclubs, college parties, etc. where drinking, sexual openness, and one night stands are casually sought. “Drunkenness,” of course, is the sin of becoming impaired/intoxicated/under the influence of alcohol. Drunkenness is an easy sin to fall into as it is highly addictive and, like all other sin, promises much greater satisfaction than it can possibly deliver. Many people, in modern times, will often point to Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana, as well as Jesus and His disciples drinking wine at the Last Supper, as justification for drinking alcohol. While this is true, the reality is that there wasn’t as much access to clean drinking water (or other alternatives) as we have today, and the potency of alcoholic beverages is far stronger today than it would have been in the first century (alcohol today requires far less drinks to get a buzz). The Scripture warns against drunkenness as a sin and the consumption of alcohol in general as a gateway to sin (see Proverb 23:29-35).
The second pairing is “sexual promiscuity and sensuality.” Today, we live in a culture that worships the false god of sex. Sex has been disconnected from the covenant of marriage and from the reality that sex produces children. Our culture worships at the altar of free, meaningless sex and the sacrament of the sex religion is abortion – the blood-sacrifice mutilation of a child for the erasing of sexual consequences. “Sexual promiscuity” can also be translated as “sexual immorality” and has to do with sexual activity outside of the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman for a lifetime. “Sensuality” can be translated as “debauchery” and has to do with unbridled lust and excess. It’s easy to see, in our time, how sexual promiscuity can lead to sensuality, and vice versa. Sin begets sin. Many a person has become so incredibly overwhelmed with lust and pornography that they dive into promiscuity the moment they have the opportunity. And likewise many a person, once engaging in sex outside of biblical marriage, opens the door to all kinds of excess – like a dam breaking and unleashing the torrential waters of excessive sexual sin. In our sex-crazed society where more and more perversions are not only accepted, but celebrated, believers in Christ must take great care to avoid the lure of sexual sin and live according to the guidance the Lord has given us.
One important word: God is our Creator. We are made in His image, but since the Fall of mankind into sin that image has been (and is being) corrupted. When a person repents of sin and believes on Christ, Who died, was buried, and rose from the dead, that person is saved – made a new creation who is able to once again reflect the image of God to the glory of God. God didn’t arbitrarily make rules for us to follow because He wanted to make our lives more difficult or less enjoyable. God’s Law outlines a way of life that is best for us. God knows us better than we know ourselves, He knows our purpose and how He has made us, and therefore no greater fulfillment can be found than to glorify God and obey His commands – enjoying the wonderful gifts He has given us. Sex is only enjoyable because it was made, by God, to be enjoyable. To abuse God’s gift by engaging in sex outside of biblical marriage (God’s plan and design for sex), is to choose emptiness as well as spiritual, physical, and ultimately eternal death.
Finally, the third pair of vices we are to avoid is “strife and jealousy.” “Strife” could be translated as “quarreling,” “dissension,” or “fighting.” “Jealousy” could be translated as “envy/envying.” The New American Commentary notes that “unfortunately, the church is considerably more tolerant toward such sins. Quarreling and jealousy, while not especially polite, are more acceptable than sexual immorality. This is not to make a case for immorality but to remind ourselves that Paul placed them together as deeds of darkness.” As the NAC points out, while these sins may be more socially acceptable, they are nonetheless dangerous as they cling to the heart of the perpetrator (making each subsequent violation easier and easier) and they breed division and broken relationships.
As followers of Jesus, it is crucial that we cut sin out of our lives with the help and grace of the Holy Spirit. The wages of sin is death – as Christians, sin creates distance between us and God – and sin, once committed, becomes more difficult to avoid. We have been called to wake up and get dressed! What are we to put on once we have woken up and set aside the deeds of darkness? We’ll answer that question by examining Romans 13:14 in our next and final part. God bless!
Chase Thompson 