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.

'And this' -'This do' (Con) 'Be obedient to the government, reach out in love for your neighbor..this do, or, and bearing this in mind' (McGuiggan p. 389) 'And let us do this, viz., live in no debt but that of love.' (Alford p. 956)

'knowing the season' -'you know the crisis that we are in' (Mon); 'realizing the situation' (Wey); 'make no mistake about the age we live in' (Knox) 'The critical period, not time in general' (Robertson p. 409)

Some think that this refers to the "second coming". But Paul has already written that one cannot know that "season" (1 Thessalonians 5:1). This may refer to the coming trouble that Nero would bring on the Christian's in Rome. 'Paul recognized the critical nature of the times. He was under no illusions about the permanence of his present opportunity of preaching the gospel without let or hindrance, but he was determined to exploit it to the full while it lasted.' (F.F. Bruce p. 240)

'already it is time for you to awake out of sleep' -'it is time to wake up to reality' (Phi); 'it is time for you at once to awake' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 699)

'Awake out of sleep' is an exhortation to alertness in spirit. a throwing off of lethargy. The whole passage is. word picture. It contemplates. sleeper who is urged to awake because it is almost daybreak. The sleeper, now awake, is urged to dress as befits someone who is to face the day by throwing off his night attire.' (McGuiggan p. 389)

Paul exhorted Christians in other places to be alert. (Ephesians 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:6) 'Few Christians are ever as wide awake as they should be.' (Whiteside p. 263)

'for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed' -eternal salvation, since they already had the forgiveness of their sins. (Romans 8:23)

As every day passes by, we are that much closer to eternal life. Therefore, the foolishness of Christians becoming slack and careless in their service to God. We often forget this fact. It's just not another day, it's another day in which we are closer to our goal of eternal life. The passing of time shouldn't discourage the Christian, in fact, the faster that time seems to past, the more encouraged the Christian should get, 'I am just that much closer to an final relationship with God.'