The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

—Romans 13:11b-14 (TNIV)

Here Paul continues to explicate how faith is made manifest in works. He has no “proof” that the night of the human condition is nearly over. Yet it is patently obvious that Paul believes it is because Paul had an intense relationship with the Living Christ. For Paul, Jesus’ death and resurrection were singular events that marked the beginning of the age to come.

Accordingly, Paul urges us to behave in ways that are pleasing to God and reminds us that it is Christ in us, the hope of glory, who is responsible for our transformation. We have to do the work and make the effort, but we believe that Christ will use these efforts to work in us (see the post below titled, An Unbreakable Law). In other words, Paul is telling us to act in ways that indicate we really believe we are saved by the blood of Christ.

Some things God cannot give to a person until the person has prepared and proved his spirit by persistent prayer. Such praying cleans the house, cleanses the windows, hangs the curtains, sets the table, opens the door, until God says, “Lo! The house is ready. Now may the guest come in.”

—Harry Emerson Fosdick, The Meaning of Prayer

Here we see faith manifesting itself in works in the form of persistent prayer. Why continue to pray if you don’t think God is capable or willing to deliver? It just doesn’t make sense.

Complete serenity of mind is a gift of God; but this serenity is not given without our intense effort. You will achieve nothing by your own efforts alone; yet God will not give you anything, unless you work with all your strength. This is an unbreakable law.

—The Art of Prayer

Here is another example of faith manifesting itself in works. Do you see the faith behind the sentiment? The writer believes that God does work in our lives but that we have to do our part. Faith manifesting itself in action.

Easiness of desire is a great enemy to success of a good [person’s] prayer. It must be an intent, zealous, busy, operative prayer. For consider what a huge indecency it is that a [person] should speak to God for a thing that he values not. Our prayers upbraid our spirits when we beg tamely for those things for which we ought to die.

—Jeremy Taylor, Anglican Divine and Theologian

The psalmist cries out, “Who will give me wings? then I will fly away and find rest.” He was either hoping for death or longing for solitude. This does happen, my friends. A desire for solitude does often arise in the mind of a servant of God from no other cause than a host of troubles and difficulties. You may be trying to correct a misguided person for whom you are responsible and find that all human effort and vigilance seems wasted. If you cannot correct them, all you can do is try to endure them. If such a burdensome person is one of your own, where will you got to get away?

—Commentary on Psalm 54.8

I am not saying that substitution is the one and only meaning of the cross, for the cross speaks also of victory over evil, the revelation of love and glory through suffering. But if you are talking of atonement, the means by which we sinners can be reconciled to the God of holy love, why then, yes, I don’t think we can escape the truth of the divine substitution.

—Essentials, 165.

We must not worry if we find that things which we expect to turn out for our good are unexpectedly evil in the present life, because we know that in the end everything works together for those who love God.

—Theodore of Mopsuestia, Pauline Commentary from the Greek Church

Paul shows [in his explication of the Spirit in Romans 8] that God pays less attention to the words we use in prayer than he does to what is in our heart and mind.

—Origen, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans.

The Holy Spirit importunes the divine ears on our behalf “with sighs too deep for words,” thereby discharging his duties as advocate and rendering his services in our defense. He has been given to dwell in our bodies and to bring about our sanctification.

—Novatian, The Trinity 29.16