The armor of God

Be Strong in the Lord – Ephesians 6:10-18

Paul introduces the final section of the letter to the Ephesians in verse 10 of chapter six. This passage is considered by many to be one of the most important in regards to our spiritual warfare with our enemy.
Paul introduces this section with the phrase “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” As Obrien points out this is a passive imperative.[1] That suggests that our “strengthening comes from an external source, which the following phrase indicates is the Lord Jesus.”[2] It is this strengthening that comes from Christ that is the key to everything that follows. Our enemy is powerful and can only be overcome by the power of the Lord all efforts of the flesh are therefore doomed to failure.
This is followed by another imperative this time in the middle voice with the intent that it be understood as an active. This imperative is that we put on the whole armor of God. It is here that many of the so called ‘deliverance ministries suggest that Paul intends a prayer of some sort. In this case it has the false idea that this passage can be used in some sort of magical sense. The problem with this view is this idea of putting on or clothing oneself is as noted to be understood as an active effort on the part of the Christian. The second problem is that this imperative is found in a number of other places and there they are not used in some formula fashion (Rom. 13:12, 14; 1 Cor. 15:53-54; Col. 3:10, 12; 1 Th. 5:8). The idea is that we would cloth ourselves in the armor of God, that we would surround ourselves with the armor of God.
The second half of verse 11 through verse twelve outlines the reason that we must rely upon the power of the Lord and have need of the armor. The following elements are identified in these two verses:
1. Who is our enemy? It is the devil and the rulers of darkness of this present world.
2. We need the armor because our enemy uses “wiles” to deceive and influence. The armor therefore prepares us for these efforts.
3. Our enemy is not flesh and blood so we need equipment that is centered not in flesh and blood but in the spiritual provision that the armor provides us.
Verse 13 then is a reiteration of the imperative to put on the armor in light of what he has told us of our enemy.
Rather than going through in detail all of the aspects of the armor consider how we might put on these aspects that the armor represents. Rather than being some sort of formula this passage highlights the importance of preaching and teaching of doctrine in an indirect way. It is only through a depth of teaching and learning that we will fully understand the significance of these elements. We have to understand the elements such as righteousness, salvation, faith, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God. Then and to some extent only then can we surround ourselves in our daily walk so as to be prepared for the battle that we always face. Can you imagine going into battle with any elements of your armor and weaponry without first completely understanding how they function and what their importance to the battle is? That is exactly how many today approach this passage. They do not take the time to research these subjects so that they are fully equipped for the battle.
Finally the fully equipped saint is then in verse 18 told to continually watch out for the care of him and the other saints. There is to be a perseverance that marks this aspect of our walk. It is far to easy for any of us to fail in this regard either by failing to be watchful of ourselves or being watchful of our fellow Christians.


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[1] Peter Thomas O'Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament commentary (Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 461.
[2] Ibid

There is much in a name!

Back to posting!

After a very long hiatus I felt compelled to post an email to someone I have in one of my Seminary classes at Maranatha Baptist Seminary.


In our pastoral epistles class you asked a question that I am not sure of it was directed at me in regards to my statement about investigative Judgment.

Having been raised in Seventh Day Adventism this is an issue that is very close to my heart. I even had to witness my own mom die in her sins because of their false doctrine. I would contend that if Christians new more about their false doctrines beyond the fact that they gather on Saturday they would not be so quick to call them Christians.

No doctrine is worse than the one that is the basis of their name. In case you didn’t know here is a little historical background:

• 1. William Miller twice predicted the second coming of Christ despite the clear teaching of Scripture that we are not to set dates for His return.


• 2. This was later called “The Great Disappointment” in which a group of believers was supposed to have been crushed by the failure of the prophecies. This included Ellen G. White and her husband who would later start Adventism.


• 3. Ellen G. White claimed that instead of being a disappointment God had given her a vision of the start (advent) of the seventh prophetic day. So she falsely claimed that Miller had been right about the date not what the date meant. She claimed that Christ started a new day in heaven in which His ministry had changed. Now He was no longer seated next to the Father. Instead He was supposed to have risen and started a new ministry within the heavenly temple called investigative judgment.


• 4. Investigative judgment is not referring to the judgment seat of Christ. It is this idea that only those who follow the Old Testament law and do not worship on Sunday will have been judged by their works to be worthy of entrance into heaven.
  

Adventism cannot be divorced from their roots by which they obtained the name. This idea of a seventh day and the works religion it established goes against the gospel that men are saved by grace through faith. If man can still be saved by His works then what does that say of the death of Christ that made it possible for us to be saved.

I do think they all are preaching another gospel and the warning that Paul gave in Gal. 1:8-9 does apply to them as a false gospel.

What has confused many Christians who are more sympathetic to Adventism is the fact that starting in the 1930’s Adventism began to rephrase their language so as to try to appear to be evangelical. Yet at their core not a one of them despite their change in language will abandon the name and the investigative judgment that is the basis of the name. This was a further aided by New Evangelicals Walter Martin and Donald Barnhouse who advocated that they were evangelicals. Many Christians (including some fundamentalists) as a result stopped looking at the specifics of their doctrines including investigative judgment.

I no longer use terms like cult to describe them, I just use the terminology that they are among those who are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ and they preach another gospel.

Just wanted to express in more detail, since this is not possible in the way we have for the virtual classes.

The Doctrine of Salvation -- Soteriology

The Doctrine of Soteriology

The doctrine of soteriology is the doctrine of salvation. It involves the means by which God has intervened in the affairs of man to save him from the just punishment for our sins.

The Doctrine of Election

Election is the “that eternal act of God whereby He, in His sovereign good pleasure, and on account of no foreseen merit in them, chooses a certain number of men to be the recipients of special grace and of eternal salvation.”[1]

Essential truths embraced or contained in election:[2]
1. God has by Election chosen some to salvation, but not all (Rom.16:13; 2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; 1Pet. 1:2; Rom. 9:23).
2. Election was accomplished in eternity past (Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9; Acts 15:18; 2 Thess. 2:13-14).
3. Election does not rest merely on foreknowledge, it is also based on foreordination (Rom. 8:29; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rom. 11:5-6; 2 Thess. 2:13; Eph. 1:4; Rom. 9:10-13).
4. Divine election is immutable (2 Tim. 2:18-19; Rom 8:30).
5. Election is a part of and is related to Christ’s mediation (Jn. 3:16; Rev. 13:8; Rom. 11:34).

The Extent of the Atonement

There is disagreement among Christians on the extent of the atonement. There are scripture passages that point to a limited atonement (Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9-10; John 17:9). Yet the passages on the unlimited nature of the atonement (not salvation) are definitive (Heb. 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:6-10; 4:10; Tit. 2:11; 1 John 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:9).

Justification

“Justification may be defined as that judicial act of God by which, on account of Christ, to whom the sinner is united by faith, He declares that sinner to be no longer exposed to the penalty of the law but restored to divine favor.”[3]

Elements and grounds of Justification:
1. The remission of punishment (Mic. 7:18, Ps. 130:4).
2. The restoration to favor (2 Cor. 5:18; John 1:12; Rom 8:15; Gal. 4-5; Eph. 1:5; 1 Jn. 3:2).
3. It is not by works (Acts 13:19; Rom. 3:20-25; 5:1-9; Gal. 2:16; 3:13 1 Pet. 2:24).

The Place of Grace, Faith, and Works

1. Man is saved by grace alone (Rom. 4:4; Eph 2:8-9; 2 Thess. 2:16; Tit 2:11; 3:7; 1 Pet. 5:10)
2. Faith is the means by which man responds to the call of God and is saved (Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Pet. 1:9).
3. Works have no place preceding salvation. Works are a sign of a vibrant faith and lack of works cannot be said to be evidence of a spurious faith (Eph. 2-10James 2:14-26; Heb. 10:24; Tit. 2:14; 3:8-14)

Security of the Believer

Reasons why believers are forever secure in Christ:
1. There is security is because it is based on the promises of God (Rom. 8:31-39).
2. God’s presence assumes that we are secure, since He is Holy (John 10:27-30).
3. Because of God’s power and role in the believer’s salvation is secure (1 Peter 1:3-5).
4. A grammatical understanding of the aorist tense point to security (Acts 16:31; Rom 4:3).


[1] Berkhof, L. Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1941), Pg. 114.
[2] Chafer, Lewis Sperry Systematic Theology (Dallas TX: Dallas Seminary Press) Vol. III Pg. 172-175
[3] Pardington, George P. Outline Studies in Christian Doctrine (Harrisburg: Christian Publications 1926) Pg 316-317

The Doctrine of Sin

I had to recently do a Summary of various doctrines for my Systematic Theology class. They were to be limited to one page. So I thought it apt that I should post them here.

The Doctrine of Hamartiology

This doctrine deals with the origins of sin in man, as well as the effect sin has had upon mankind. Therefore this doctrine is the theology of sin.

The Definition of Sin

Sin is: [1]
1. Sin is the transgression of the law of God (Rom. 3:23; 4:15; 5:14; Gal.3:19).
2. Sin is a failure to reach or conform to God’s standard (Rom. 3:23; 14:23).
3. Sin is wrongful acts toward God and man (Rom. 1:18; Exod. 20:1-17);
4. Sin is a principle or the natural nature of man today (Rom. 7:14-15; Gal. 3:22; John 9:41; 15:24; 19:11).
5. Sin is rebellion against God (1 John 3:4; Titus 2:14; Matt. 24:12)

The Origin of Sin

The origin of sin was first found in Satan when he through pride saw himself equal with God (Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28; 1 Tim. 3:6). Then in the Garden Satan deceived Eve to disobey God and to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3). Yet while Eve was deceived Adam willingly chose to sin just as Satan had done before (Gen. 3:6)

The Effect Sin

The effect of the fall:
1. That while Adam was created in the image of God we now are begotten in the image of our father. Therefore the sin nature is passed from parent to children. (Gen. 5:3; Ps. 51:5).
2. The guilt of sin is placed upon all persons who remain apart from Christ. This is the doctrine of the imputation of sin in which we were all seminally present in Adam at the fall of man (Rom. 5:12-21; Heb. 7:9-10).
3. All have committed acts of sins themselves (Rom. 3:23) and as a result we are all sinners by nature and by conduct.
4. Man is spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13) and also awaits his physical death.
5. Man does not know God (Gal. 4:8); he has no gratitude towards God (Rom. 1:21); he has no desire for God (Rom. 3:11); he has no love for God (1 Jn. 4:10); he has no faith in God (Jn. 3:18); he has no fear of God (Rom. 3:18); he does not worship God (Rom. 1:21-25); he resists the truth (2 Tim. 3:8); he receives not the things of God (1 Cor. 2:14); he rejects the truth of God (2 Thess. 2:12); he disobeys God’s gospel (2 Thess. 1:8); he is an enemy of God (Rom. 5:10); his intellect is blinded (2 Cor. 4:4); and he is reprobate in actions and in thoughts (Rom. 1:28).

As a result of the nature of sin and the affect upon man we are unable to live a life of righteousness and therefore justly deserve eternal judgment by a Holy God. Thus one must conclude that it is only be the grace of God that salvation is even possible.

[1] This list is taken from the Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns pg. 310.

How Do We Equip the Saints

On another forum a question was raised as to what are some practical ways for teachers to test the effectiveness of their teaching responsibilties as presented in Eph 4:11-16.

Here is the response I posted:

First of all this is an excellent question. It allows an opportunity to exegete a portion of Scripture as well as the practical application of the Scripture.

King James has “perfecting of the saints” rather than “equipping of the saints.” I think both offer different facets of the dynamic involved. It is a training or teaching that leads to maturity in the saints. While the standard to which we strive in verse 13 is never ending, we all as pastors and teachers, with discernment know how affective we are at producing mature Christians. That discernment is also the mark of a teacher in Hebrews 5:14, where the contrast is between someone who is skillful in the use of the Word of God, and someone who is not.

Now back to Ephesians. I think there are some very practical signs of maturity right in the text of Ephesians. Up to verse 16 I think Paul was laying the doctrinal foundation, and then starting in verse 17 he is outlining the practical application of the doctrine. This is found in the tiny phrase “this I say therefore”, or “So this I say.” It connects what will be presented with what came before.

Without writing a long exegesis the next paragraph outlines the contrast of walking by the power of the old man, and walking by the power of the new man. Paul equates the walking in the old man in three ways. The first one is they walk in the vanity, or futility of their own minds. The Greek word that is translated “vanity”, or “futility” literally means “depravity.” This makes it easier to see how it is linked back to the old man. The second sign that a person is walking by the old man is that they will be past feeling or callous towards sin. The third aspect of living by the old man is that they will be given over to their own desires. If our desires are run-amok we will in the end fall into sin.

Contrast this with the result of putting on the new man in verses 24-32. It is a practical list that a pastor or teacher with discernment can see being produced in the believers that have come under his care. If there is a lack of these things, then with discernment we teach them to become skillful in the Word of God, and how to put on the new man. Each person may have unique needs when looking at the list in verses 24-32.

The teaching and preaching of the pulpit are the best ways to teach people to become skillful in the Word of God. Yet it is not enough in my view. As each person has different strengths and weaknesses there is no way to tailor pulpit ministry that covers all of the details. That perhaps can only be handled by the one on one, or small group teaching that is generally called discipleship ministry. In 2 Tim 2:2 Paul tells Timothy to teach faithful men who in turn can teach other faithful men.

One last thought is that the pastor or teacher must do all of this in a spirit of gentleness, patience, and meekness. (2 Tim 2: 24-25) I must always remind myself of this one since I am the first to stand up against false doctrine and sin. I guess that sometimes I go into something looking for a fight. I have at times done the same thing.

Our Position in Christ Jesus

It is the hope of this Web site that in some small way believers can be shown all that they have as a result of having placed their faith in the finished work of Christ. As we rest upon all of the aspects of His work on our behalf we can walk in newness of life. One of the keys is to understand that we died with Christ. This concept is mentioned in some manner in many of the Apostle Paul’s letters. This post will offer a number of them without going into details as to their exegesis.

First in Romans:
Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

Romans 6:11 “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

In 2 Corinthians:
2 Cor 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

In Galatians:
Gal 2:20 “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.”

In Ephesians:
Eph 2:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

These are just a few of the passages that will be explored in future posts. Also there will be an examination of how we are to walk in Christ. We are not to depend upon either the works of the flesh or by placing ourselves back in bondage to the Law of Moses. We are to walk by the power of the new man and the Holy Spirit living in us. What a gracious gift this truly is! To have God Himself living in this pot of clay!

Resting that I might walk, and stand for Him!

Ken Banks