And that, knowing the time. — And that there is all the more urgent motive for you to do — this law of love it is the more incumbent on you to practise — because you know what a critical moment it is in which you are living. The word for “time” is different from that used in the next clause, and means a definite and critical season.
Awake out of sleep. — A striking metaphor. The true, the genuine Christian life is like the state of a man whose eyes are open and whose faculties are all alert and vigorous. All besides, whatever it be, the state of heathenism or of imperfect and lukewarm Christianity, is like the torpor of sleep.
Our salvation. — That blissful participation in His kingdom which the Messiah at His Second Coming should inaugurate for His people. (Comp. Romans 8:19; Romans 8:23, “the manifestation of the sons of God,” “the redemption of the body;” Luke 21:28, “your redemption draweth nigh.”)
When we believed. — When we first became Christians. Every hour brings the expected end nearer.