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.