"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:10 -11
Though little recognized by the majority of professing Christians, the Christian life is a battle against impossible odds. In v. 12 of this chapter the Holy Spirit informs us that "we wrestle… against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
The forces arrayed against the believer, aiming to destroy him, or at least to neutralize his testimony, are supernatural and cannot be contained, let alone overcome, by anything less than supernatural power. To that end we are admonished to avail ourselves of divine resources, "the whole armor of God," so that we can stand firm in our testimony for the Lord. It is this "armor" that we want to consider today.
The first item is labeled "truth" Truth, taken to its zenith, is Christ Himself. He said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life…" Thus Truth is personified in Christ.
The second element in our armor is "the breastplate of righteousness." The scripture declares that it is Christ Himself who is "made unto us righteousness… [I Cor 1:30]," and that God "hath made Him to be sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him [II Cor. 5:21]." Righteousness is personified in Christ.
Again, we are advised to have our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." In Ephesians 2:14 we read explicitly, with reference to Christ, that "He is our peace… " Peace, here, is personified in Christ.
The next charge is that we carry "the shield of faith." The faith we need to withstand the foe is surely not ours, but His Who died for us and rose again. When the apostle stated in another place his identification with Christ he declared, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me [Gal. 2;20, my italics]." The implication here is reinforced in Ephesians 2:8, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God… " The faith by which we are saved, and by which we may be defended against supernatural foes, is "the faith of the Son of God." It is faith personified.
Then the believer/warrior is counseled to have on "the helmet of salvation." This, too, is found in Christ. The Psalmist declared by divine inspiration, long before, "The Lord is my strength and my song, and is become my salvation [Ps. 118:14]." The prophet Isaiah said, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation [Isa. 12:2]." And the apostle Paul defined "the salvation which is in Christ Jesus [II Tim. 2:10]." Christ does not dispense salvation as a commodity; He is our salvation!
Finally, we are to take "the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God." The book is invaluable, but the dynamic is in the Living Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God [John 1:1-2]." The word is personified and lifted to its zenith in the person of the Son of God.
Now our point is this: if we are to be equipped for the battle, we do not need to look for pieces of armor here and there. We need rather to heed the apostle's admonition, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ [cf Rom. 13:14]." The "whole armor of God" is not a shopping list of items to be solicited from God and exported by Him. Rather, it is Christ Himself. Seen from this perspective, and we say it reverently, "the whole armor of God" is a one piece suit!
Christ is our strong defense. It is He, and He alone who can overcome the foe we face in our spiritual warfare. In Him we are furnished with protection for head and heart, hands (our work), feet (our walk) and more. Apart from Him, in any area of our lives, at any time and in any place, we are utterly defenseless and bound for defeat.
Yours for victory,
"Pastor" Frasier
Though little recognized by the majority of professing Christians, the Christian life is a battle against impossible odds. In v. 12 of this chapter the Holy Spirit informs us that "we wrestle… against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
The forces arrayed against the believer, aiming to destroy him, or at least to neutralize his testimony, are supernatural and cannot be contained, let alone overcome, by anything less than supernatural power. To that end we are admonished to avail ourselves of divine resources, "the whole armor of God," so that we can stand firm in our testimony for the Lord. It is this "armor" that we want to consider today.
The first item is labeled "truth" Truth, taken to its zenith, is Christ Himself. He said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life…" Thus Truth is personified in Christ.
The second element in our armor is "the breastplate of righteousness." The scripture declares that it is Christ Himself who is "made unto us righteousness… [I Cor 1:30]," and that God "hath made Him to be sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him [II Cor. 5:21]." Righteousness is personified in Christ.
Again, we are advised to have our "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." In Ephesians 2:14 we read explicitly, with reference to Christ, that "He is our peace… " Peace, here, is personified in Christ.
The next charge is that we carry "the shield of faith." The faith we need to withstand the foe is surely not ours, but His Who died for us and rose again. When the apostle stated in another place his identification with Christ he declared, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me [Gal. 2;20, my italics]." The implication here is reinforced in Ephesians 2:8, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God… " The faith by which we are saved, and by which we may be defended against supernatural foes, is "the faith of the Son of God." It is faith personified.
Then the believer/warrior is counseled to have on "the helmet of salvation." This, too, is found in Christ. The Psalmist declared by divine inspiration, long before, "The Lord is my strength and my song, and is become my salvation [Ps. 118:14]." The prophet Isaiah said, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation [Isa. 12:2]." And the apostle Paul defined "the salvation which is in Christ Jesus [II Tim. 2:10]." Christ does not dispense salvation as a commodity; He is our salvation!
Finally, we are to take "the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God." The book is invaluable, but the dynamic is in the Living Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God [John 1:1-2]." The word is personified and lifted to its zenith in the person of the Son of God.
Now our point is this: if we are to be equipped for the battle, we do not need to look for pieces of armor here and there. We need rather to heed the apostle's admonition, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ [cf Rom. 13:14]." The "whole armor of God" is not a shopping list of items to be solicited from God and exported by Him. Rather, it is Christ Himself. Seen from this perspective, and we say it reverently, "the whole armor of God" is a one piece suit!
Christ is our strong defense. It is He, and He alone who can overcome the foe we face in our spiritual warfare. In Him we are furnished with protection for head and heart, hands (our work), feet (our walk) and more. Apart from Him, in any area of our lives, at any time and in any place, we are utterly defenseless and bound for defeat.
Yours for victory,
"Pastor" Frasier
No comments:
Post a Comment