49-52 The Armor of God--Part 2

Ephesians 6:15-16

NY Times article “What every person should know about war”

Of the past 3,400 years, humans have been entirely at peace for 268 of them, or just 8 percent of recorded history. In the 20th century alone, at least 108 million people had been killed in wars of that century. There’s always a hope for peace. There’s always the desire for mankind to be free of war…though an unknown source “only the dead have seen the end of war.”

With the hope of peace (even momentary), the absence of conflict—governments strive to make terms of peace with other nations. There is a war, however that continues incessantly, until you die—spiritual war. It is war that every believer is engaged in, enlisted to serve our commander in chief—LJC.

Every Xn is called to arms, called to engage in the battle that we are in (merely b/c we have professed allegiance to Christ which infuriates the enemy). In Eph 6:10 Paul calls us to be alert to the battle, knowing the source of strength is not in yourself but in Christ who displays that power mightily (demonstrated in life, miracles, temptations, death and resurrection). You then must be alert to God’s provision for you in this battle (His armor—complete, effective). Of course, in any war, it is essential to know your enemy. God’s revelation has given us extensive instruction regarding the various schemes of Satan with which he attacks the people of the Lord. We are not ignorant of those schemes—so we engage in spiritual conflict with knowledge of our enemy.

The provision God has made is in His armor. So the instruction “put on the full armor” “take up the full armor” that we would be able to resist in the evil day (the times when Satan attacks). There are 6 pieces of armor that Paul elaborates on (seeing the armor of the soldier he is chained to as the illustration of what God provides). You recall from last time that my assertion is the armor really is the picture of all that Christ is to the believer. JC is the armor of God.

Romans 13:12 NASB95

The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:14 NASB95

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

The benefits, protection of each component part of the armor are sourced in LJC.

1) The Belt of Truth

2) The Breastplate of Righteousness

3) Feet Shod With Gospel

Grant Osborne “Roman military footwear was an incredible invention that gave troops a huge advantage over opposing armies. These boots were made of a supple leather and strapped up the leg. On the soles were metal studs that afforded stability for long marches and gripped, guaranteeing a firm foothold in battle. The Roman army marched twice as fast as other armies, and its enemies were often surprised at the speed with which the soldiers arrived, ready for battle.”

“shod” is a terms that means to tie/bind up (referring to the tying of laces). “Paul says shod the feet “IN” preparation...” This term denotes readiness:

Titus 3:1 (NASB95) (readiness for good works)

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,

1 Peter 3:15 (NASB95) (readiness to witness)

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Matthew 24:44 (NASB95) (readiness for Lord’s return)

“For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

There are many who think Paul is expressing the readiness, at any moment, to take the gospel of peace to those who need to hear it. They see an allusion to

Isaiah 52:7 NASB95

How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Paul uses that in Romans 10:13-15

Romans 10:13–15 NASB95

for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

It has been pointed out that in the ancient world, the communication system (quite unlike today) required messengers to deliver messages personally—on foot.

Sproul--

The Purpose of God: Ephesians Chapter 10: Christian Warfare (6:10–24)

In the ancient world it was customary, in some places, that if the messenger brought bad news, he was punished with death. If it was bad news, then, he would be burdened by the news that he was carrying, and fearful of what treatment he might expect. As each city posted lookouts to watch the approaching runners, it became almost a science whereby the lookout could determine whether the messenger was bringing good news or bad news, just by his feet. If the messenger was bringing good news of victory, his feet would be flying and he would be kicking up a lot of dust. There would be an exuberance and an enthusiasm in his gait, as he approached the walls of the city. Hence the phrase, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Certainly that is the great joy that belongs to every believer to participate in the work of sharing the gospel which brings about the regeneration of the sinner. But more likely what Paul has in mind is the readiness that the gospel of peace gives you, the Xn, in the midst of spiritual war.

The “gospel of peace” is the good news that those who have put their faith in LJC are at peace with God (Rom 5:1). It is good news that the sinner, fully deserving the just, eternal wrath of God has a propitiation in the substitutionary atonement of LJC.

In Rom 5:5-10 the sinner is helpless, enemies of God and recipients of His wrath. Not so with the believer.

B/c of Christ you stand in the condition of being at peace with God (eirene) “that which is bound together.” Not only is there peace with God but peace with other believers (Eph 2:14-18). This is crucial when it comes to spiritual battle. We know the enemy brings conflict and division. To have the gospel (which is peace)—gives the Xn the distinctive victory over the power of the evil one. If you are convinced that you cannot lose and go into battle knowing that great truth of being at peace with God and one another—there is not a weapon of Satan that can disrupt the Xn life—especially being armed with feet ready with gospel of peace.

4) The Shield of Faith

The belt, the breastplate and shoes were always worn by the soldier. The shield, helmet and sword were objects that were laid aside until the moment of battle. To emphasize the constant nature of the war the believer is in Paul begins vs 16 “in addition to all...” Don’t lay aside the next pieces of armor—b/c you are under relentless attack. You must take them up b/c this is the day of war. The next piece was for the protection of the soldier’s entire body—the shield.

2 types of shields were commonly used by Roman soldiers in NT times. The 1st was the clipeus—a round shield (2 1/2 ft in diameter) and was strapped to the soldier’s arm with leather straps. The 2nd shield was the thureos (thura--”door”). It was oblong (2 1/2 ft x 4 ft) designed to cover the entire soldier. The Roman historian Polybius described this shield as 2 wood planks glued together covered with canvas and then calf skin. There was metal on top and bottom edges to protect the wood when it hit the ground and on the front there was an iron boss causing most stones and heavy arrows to glance off it.

It was common for soldiers to stand together, forming a frontline in battle to defend against the enemy’s archers. The soldier’s shield could also be treated so that when pitch-dipped flaming arrows struck they would be extinguished by the shield.

This shield for the believer is faith. Faith for the Xn is dynamic (always active). Rom 1:17

Romans 1:17 (NASB95) (Hab 2:4)

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Objectively, the Xn’s faith (established on the body of Xn doctrine, the unity of faith—Eph 4:13) is what shields us from Satan’s lies and destructive deceptions that are carried out by false teachers. Since Satan is a liar and the father of lies (Jn 8:44) he wants nothing more than to corrupt the church’s common belief—which has been handed down once for all to the saints (Jude 3).

There is also a subjective aspect to faith (external vs internal)—it is found in your active trust and dependency upon Christ that begins with regeneration and continues thruout life. It is faith which brings salvation and then the on-going blessing of totally trusting God for provision and help.

There’s an excellent example of this type of faith in OT. I was reading about Enoch.

Genesis 5:21–24 NASB95

Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Hebrews 11:5–6 NASB95

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Enoch walked with God—he was pleasing to God b/c he was a man of faith.

In 18th C John Whitefield preached a sermon in which he described some of the implications of walking with God.

Peace—no longer at enmity with God. Sinners by nature are not at peace. When Adam & Eve sinned they heard God walking in the Garden and they hid from Him instead of walking with Him b/c they were no longer at peace. It is that peace which can only be afforded by LJC.

Romans 5:1

Implies Reconciliation—to walk with God must be reconciled. Reconciliation essentially means agreement.

Amos 3:3 "Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?

Enoch walked with God b/c He agreed with God.

Fellowship with God. The man who walks with God surrenders his will to God

Romans 8:8-9 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Advancement—conforming to the divine image.

Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

The longer a man walks with God the more clearly he will bear the image of Christ—sanctification. Now, Enoch was pre-Christian but as he walked with God he enjoyed the privilege of intimacy with God b/c he lived by faith. Which meant he lived in recognition that “God is...” Enoch understood that God exists, that He is Creator, that He is true to His self-revelation, and that He is a personal God. He also believed that God is responsive to His people— “He is a rewarder...” God rewards the “faithful”; He rewards those who seek Him not those who seek rewards.

Martin Bucer (contemporary to Martin Luther and influenced reformation in Germany) wrote:

“That the Lord rewards his people for their good works is not on the grounds of their righteousness, but purely from his free grace and for the sake of his dear Son (Rom. 11:6), in whom he chose us for eternal life before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), and created us for good works (Eph. 2:10) which through him he effects in us (Jn. 15:5) and rewards so generously (Rom. 8:10-14, 26-30). Consequently when God rewards our good works he is rewarding his works and gifts in us, rather than our own works. Moreover, while the faith we exercise and the good works we perform proceed from our own free will nevertheless it is he who produces this good will and action in us, impelling us by his Holy Spirit (Phil. 2:13); thus all the good that God does to us and the eternal life that he gives us still remain the results of his grace alone, so that no one should boast of himself, but only of the Lord (Phil. 2:13; Rom. 6:23).”

It is this God-pleasing faith that protects us against what Paul calls “that flaming arrows of the evil one.” What are these flaming arrows?

Selfishness

doubt

fear

disappointment

lies

blasphemous thoughts

hateful thoughts toward others

burning desires for sin

every other conceivable sin

There are other imageries associated with what Satan loves to do toward believers:

1 Peter 5:8 NASB95

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Luke 22:31 NASB95

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;

God’ provision against these arrows is taking up shield of faith—putting your total trust in God alone.

Proverbs 30:5–6 NASB95

Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

Now, living by faith not only protects us against the evil one, but there is the positive gain that comes with God-pleasing faith: rewards.

Genesis 15:1 NASB95

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”

Psalm 58:11 NASB95

And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on earth!”

Matthew 5:12 NASB95

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1 Corinthians 3:8 NASB95

Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Revelation 22:12 NASB95

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

While the fulness of what rewards will be is uncertain:

1 Corinthians 2:9 NASB95

but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

The rewards that do come from living by faith are gracious and glorious. The righteous shall live by faith—that faith will shield you in the spiritual war against God’s enemy and it is that which pleases God.

Application—what can you do?

Practically, the Bible tells us what pleases God & Christ:

· Exalting JC (Mat 3:17; Col 1:15-19)

· Proclaiming the message of the cross (1 Cor 1:18-2:5)

· Asking for wisdom (Col 1:9-14; Jam 1:5-8)

· Keeping ourselves from sexual sin (1 Th 4:1-8)

· Giving to others in time of need Phil 4:10-20; Heb 13:16

· Submitting to authority (Rom 8:7-8; Col 3:20)

· Praising God for everything (Ps 69:30-31; Heb 13:15-16)