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The one reason here urged for spiritual activity and rejoicing is the near approach of the day of complete redemption to the believer. Under the image of "night," the apostle represents the state of partial enlightenment and sanctification, and consequent fear and conflict with evil. But "the night is far spent, the day is at hand." "Now," Paul exclaims, in a transport of joy, "is our salvation nearer than when we believed" — nearer as to time and space — nearer as it respects completion and reward. Both time and the Spirit's work have brought the great consummation nearer. And surely such a fact may well fill us with rejoicing, and spur us on to redoubled efforts to make our calling and election sure.

I. SALVATION IS NIGH.

1. Actually nigh. "The night is far spent." Life here is short at best — death is nigh, heaven but a little way off.

2. Relatively nigh.

(1)  "Nearer than when we believed."

(2)  Nearer at the close of each year, each day. Every moment rolls on the gladsome time!

3. Nearer as to the preparation for it. " Salvation" is a life, a work, a growth, a consummation, a progress from first principles to complete and glorious development and crowning. The Christian is put to school at conversion, and year by year he grows in grace and love and holiness, till his graduation day. His path is as "the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

II. WHAT FOLLOWS?

1. "The night is far spent."

(1)  The night of spiritual conflict.

(2)  The night of mystery — seeing things as through a glass darkly — will soon see as we are seen, and know as we are known.

(3)  The night of sin and suffering. The day that is coming will bring absolute deliverance from evil in every form.

2. "The day is at hand." Not only will the darkness be gone for ever, but the day of perfect and eternal sunlight will have come. Not only will there be a deliverance, but a crowning. The salvation will be a salvation from death to life; from sin to holiness; from shame to glory, Divine and everlasting.

3. And this salvation is nearer the Christian's grasp to-day than when he first believed. Revolving suns bring it continually nearer. Great promises have already been realised; great victories won; many a rough place passed over and many a weary footstep measured off; many a Sabbath day's journey made: and already the "delectable hills" are in sight; angels are bending over the battlements of heaven to welcome the approaching pilgrim; and soon the conflict will cease, and glory immortal — so long contemplated by faith and longed for — will be a blessed realisation. So near to heaven! So soon to be done with earth and sin and evil and conflict! So soon to stand with the ransomed on the heights of glory and shout, "Thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

(Homiletic Monthly.)

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KJV: 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.

WEB: Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.