Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 13:11

"And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we [first] believed." — Romans 13:11 (ASV)

Paul sounds a call for alertness. The era between the Christ’s first and second coming is critical, because the promise of his return hovers over believers. They must not be lulled to sleep by indulgence in pleasure or be influenced by the specious word of those who suggest that the Lord delays his coming or may not return at all. Paul does not know how near the day of the Lord’s appearing is, but he is content to advance the reminder that “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” To be sure, salvation is already both an achieved fact for the believer (Ephesians 2:8) and a continuing fact (1 Corinthians 15:2; 1 Peter 1:5), but it has also its future and final phase (cf. Php 3:20; 1 Peter 1:9). Only at the return of the Savior will our salvation be complete. Believers are not like a child looking for a clock to strike the hour because something is due to happen then. They are content to know that with every passing moment the end is that much closer to realization.