Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness . . . Ephesians 6:14, ESV
This is where we come to realize that we are not frequent wearers of armor! How many of us put on our breastplates before we left home today? The breastplate was a multi-layered piece of armor protecting the Roman soldier’s torso and vital organs. The soldier would certainly not stand long in battle without his breastplate. The Christian’s breastplate is every bit as vital. It is a breastplate of righteousness. Without righteousness, the saint can stand against neither the weapons of the enemy nor the just judgment of a holy God. That is why we need to consider carefully this call to put on the multi-layered breastplate of righteousness. Our breastplate of righteousness must first consist of the righteousness of Christ. Our own righteousness will not do—it is “like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). We must “be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Philippians 3:9). To stand against spiritual enemies in an evil day, we must have perfect righteousness accounted to us. Christ is the only source of such, and it is ours by faith alone. Our breastplate of righteousness must also consist of growing conformity to the image of Christ in our own thoughts, words, and deeds. As we identify with Christ through faith we also come to reflect His image as our faith results in works of righteousness. As Paul commands, “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (5:9). I pray that you will put on the breastplate of righteousness today and that, wearing it, you will stand. Pastor Don Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth . . . Ephesians 6:13-14, ESV.
In verses 10-12 we observed that our battle is waged in the spiritual realm and our enemy in this “evil day” is the devil, “the prince of the power of the air” (2:2). To stand firm against him, we need the strength of God. How important is it that we fight in God’s strength? Tom Schreiner reminds us: Jesus Christ now reigns over all spiritual forces (Eph 1:20–23), and believers have been raised from the dead and now sit with Christ in the heavenlies (Eph 2:1–6). Paul, then, does not summon believers to secure the victory. The battle has already been won through the death and resurrection of Christ. Paul is no dualist, seeing the devil and Christ locked in a mortal and equal combat. The devil and his forces are already defeated in Christ. Believers are to put on God’s armor and clothe themselves with the Lord’s strength.[1] This strength is described by Paul as the armor of God. The first piece of this armor is “the belt of truth.” The Roman soldier, someone Paul was all too familiar with, used his belt to achieve several things. It was wide, protecting his core. It bound his tunic to keep it out of his way in battle. It held his sword. Likewise, the truth is central to the Christian’s strength for battle against his wicked foe. The Christian soldier finds the core of his strength in the truth of God’s Word. That Paul would start here is no surprise. The enemy is, after all, “the father of lies” (John 8:44). In earlier chapters, commands the church to speak the truth in love, live in integrity with one another, and live in the light, bearing the fruit of truth and righteousness. Truth, an accurate view of reality shaped by God’s Word, is not negotiable in the Christian life. Sadly, our culture has denigrated the meaning of the word ‘truth’. It has come to mean little more than “my opinion” and “my experience.” It is bolstered by the opinions of alleged experts: journalists, politicians, activists, bloggers, academics, celebrities, and/or scientists. As Christians, we cannot abide this view of truth. We must recognize that “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Proverbs 30:5). Fasten up the belt of truth. As you do, I pray that you find it a faithful friend in your battle. Pastor Don [1] Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Westmont: IVP Academic, 2006), 303. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12, ESV.
One theme running through our current cultural chaos is that of conflict. Every topic that grabs the public’s eye seems to demand immediate categorization so people can choose sides and engage in a war of words. Every conversation can become a declaration of war. Living in this argumentative free-for-all, Christians can lose sight of the real battle, the one described by Paul in Ephesians 6. Before we dive into a study of the particular components of the armor of God in this chapter, let us first consider why Paul says it is necessary. The armor of God is necessary because it is our source of divine strength for the real battle. We need the strength of our mighty God if we are to survive this fight. Therefore, we need to take advantage of the sources of strength that He has provided. You will find none of the instruments the world uses to fight its battles listed in the verses that follow. It does us no good to arm ourselves from a worldly armory. The armor of God is necessary because our enemy, the devil, is tactically adept. We cannot stand against his maneuvers in our own might. He will knock us down and defeat us if we try to go toe-to-toe with him on our own or seek strength anywhere but from God. The devil, “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44), “prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The armor of God is necessary because the battle is out of this world. This is not a “flesh and blood” battle. Early in Ephesians we learn of how God rescued us from servitude to “the prince of the power of the air” (2:2) and how God has “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (1:3) “and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (2:6). There, Christ is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion” (1:21). Thus, our battle, even as we live in the flesh, is spiritual. This makes sense because “the prince of the power of the air” is still “at work in the sons of disobedience” (2:2). As we look at the armor of God in the next few devotionals, let us remember where the battle is being waged. I pray that you will be encouraged as we consider just how well-armed we are for victory in Jesus! Pastor Don Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. Ephesians 6:5-9, ESV.
Reading a book that was written almost 2000 years ago, understanding what it says in its context, mining its timeless truth, and applying that truth to our context is not always easy. It is, however, what real Bible study entails. Few passages provide as good an example of the benefits of this approach as the one before us today. Paul applies the submission command of Ephesians 5:21 to the first-century “workplace.” He writes first to bondservants (also called slaves) and then to their masters. Slavery in Paul’s day was much different than the slavery of modern memory. Slavery was common across income brackets. Slaves could draw income and purchase property. They could even save up and buy their freedom. Many workers chose slavery because it provided economic security. The command to slaves is to obey their earthly masters as though they were obeying Christ. They are to do their best work, even if there is little to no reward because they trust that Christ will reward obedience to this command. The command to masters is to do good to their slaves in recognition that the earthly Christian master is a slave to Christ. In these verses, Paul addresses the situation that many, if not most, of his brothers and sisters in Christ found themselves in. As in earlier passages, he calls both the one in the submissive role and the one in charge to live in a way that reflects their new life in Christ. Through our submission in earthly relationships, we submit to, and thereby glorify, Christ. That is the timeless truth that you and I need to apply to our lives. Whatever our employment situation, we need to relate to others per existing authority structures. We need to be the best employees and/or the best bosses. We need to reflect our dependence on Christ for rewards and submit to His rule over us. I am praying for you today that you will, in whatever situation you find yourself in, reflect your new nature in Christ, and know the satisfaction and joy that brings. Pastor Don Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4, ESV.
God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel on their way to the Promised Land, first to those who left bondage in Egypt (Exodus 20) and then to the next generation, right before they entered the land (Deuteronomy 5). The forty years between those two proclamations were spent traveling the desert and watching the first generation die out as a consequence of their sinful distrust of God. Therefore, the Israelites who heard the retelling of the law in Deuteronomy understood the necessity of trusting the God who gave the law. His laws were for their good. Remarkably, the specific law Paul quotes in Ephesians 6 is the only law where God Himself turns that necessity into a promise: if the people will faithfully honor their parents, they will live long and happy lives in the Promised Land. Paul brings this command forward to the new covenant people, the church. Under the new covenant in Christ, God still desires that children obey their parents. Accordingly, parents need to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord and do so in a loving way that encourages them to obey. Just like we observed in the previous instructions for husbands and wives, God has a design for the parents and children that, if followed by both, will bring blessings to both. Again, the practice of submission, which is so odious to the fallen world, when it is applied in a Christian relationship where both parties act in accordance with their God-given roles, will be a source of joy! I am praying for you as you strive to live out God’s design in your relationships today—with a special prayer for moms and dads and their children! Pastor Don |
From Pastor DonWriting about the Bible and praying that it will be of some good for someone. Archives
June 2021
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