Who We Are in Christ: Christian Soldiers Part 2
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13 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.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
What am I supposed to do?
What am I supposed to do?
What is God calling me to do?
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
2 thes 2
13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Standing means keeping the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
Standing for Jesus means living publicly for Christ.
Standing for Jesus means living publicly for Christ.
This means living for Jesus when all eyes are on you.
Jesus talks about being ashamed.
38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
How to Study the Bible Where Do We Stand?
In April 1521, Martin Luther appeared before his ecclesiastical accusers at the Diet of Worms. They had given him the ultimatum to repudiate his unwavering faith in the sufficiency and perspicuity of the Scriptures. Luther is said to have responded, ‘Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God.… God help me! Here I stand.’2
How to Study the Bible Where Do We Stand?
In April 1521, Martin Luther appeared before his ecclesiastical accusers at the Diet of Worms. They had given him the ultimatum to repudiate his unwavering faith in the sufficiency and perspicuity of the Scriptures. Luther is said to have responded, ‘Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God.… God help me! Here I stand.’2
In April 1521, Martin Luther appeared before his ecclesiastical accusers at the Diet of Worms. They had given him the ultimatum to repudiate his unwavering faith in the sufficiency of the Scriptures. Luther is said to have responded,
Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Word of God.… Here I stand.
Luther under incalculable presser to capitulate stood publically for Christ.
“If I fail to spend time in devotions each morning, the devil seems to get the victory during the day.” Martin Luther
Standing for Jesus means living privately for Christ.
Standing for Jesus means living privately for Christ.
To put it another way standing for Jesus means living for Christ.
I know what I am supposed! I am supposed to stand!
James
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
How can I do what I supposed to do?
How can I do what I supposed to do?
13 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.
to do now tell me how I am supposed to do that.
What is the armor of God?
The armor of God is faith in the gospel.
The armor of God is faith in the gospel.
The armor of God is not something you pray on but someone you trust in.
The armor of God is not something you pray on but someone you trust in.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
This is a description of Messiah in the Old Testament.
It is who Jesus is and what he has done for you.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
Isa
17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
isa 59
Richard Coekin’s commentary on Ephesians
Contrary to what we might expect, when we look carefully at these pieces of armor in , we soon realize that truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the word of God are not virtuous actions that we are to start doing!
Paul is not urging us to be good. Rather, they are all ways of describing the impact of the gospel. The full armor of God, which our champion and commander, Jesus, wore into battle with Satan, is simply faith in the gospel, which the devil wants us to abandon.
Contrary to what we might expect, when we look carefully at these pieces of armor in , we soon realize that truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the word of God are not virtuous actions that we are to start doing! Paul is not urging us to be good. Rather, they are all ways of describing the impact of the gospel. The full armor of God, which our champion and commander, Jesus, wore into battle with Satan, is simply faith in the gospel, which the devil wants us to abandon.
We don’t fight hoping to win.
We don’t fight hoping to win.
We fight knowing Christ has won.
We fight knowing Christ has won.
This is not a battle for victory! This is a battle from victory!
The declaration from the cross is a
It is his resources. It is his victory. It is what Jesus has done!
It is his resources. It is his victory. It is what Jesus has done!
We stand in what we have been given.
Living for Jesus
A mighty fortress is our God!
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,