The Purpose of the Armor of God
Eph. 6:11:13-14
A strange but necessary starting point: We live in an “activist” age (I hate that word!). New converts (recruits) who don’t know squat about their Jesus, are told they need to get busy and do stuff. The “church” is all about “activity.” Therefore, most “armor” studies have an “activist” interpretation. We need to re-establish Paul’s and Scriptures context!
Stand #2476 “Histemi, as a verb, usually means to cause to stand, to set”. Translated as stand 116x, establish 5x, stand still 4x. Thayer–“To stand ready, be prepared (Eph 6:14), figuratively, of one who vanquishes his adversaries and holds the ground, (Eph 6:13), also of one who in the midst of the fight holds his position against the foe (Eph 6:11)
Withstand #436 “Anthistamee, to set against, to cause to stand, to oppose, to resist, withstand (an enemy)
In our context, our “putting on” of this armor is that we might STAND!!! This is Paul’s final exhortation to the brethren after his whole “Father’s Family” letter. He is equating “being strong in the Lord” (vs 10) with the standing in this armor. This is crucial because of his words in 4:1-6. We are to endeavor to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” which is defined by the “Ones” that follow–one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all.
SATAN’S TACTIC, HIS M.O. IS TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
Gen 3:1-19 The initial human division. The “one flesh” of 2:24 became “the woman you gave me” did it!
But division, strife, falling away began before human history
Jude 5a, 6a “I will therefore put you in remembrance.....the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.......”
Consider: I Tim 1:18-20 (Timothy’s warfare and Hymenaeus and the putting away of faith.)
Demas: The Demas of Col 4:14 & Philemon 24 became the Demas of II Tim 4:10, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” (I John 2:15)
Hebrews 3:12 “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God.”
No man is saved BY his perseverance, but no man is saved APART from his perseverance.
This is speaking of the good soil of the Parable of the Sower/Soils! (Matt 13:1-15; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-10). Perseverance is the foundational fruit of the Gospel seed planted in the good soil. Perseverance is another word for stand.
Our Lord’s words: Matt 10:22 “And you shall be hated by all for my name’s sake; but he that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Repeated in Matt. 24:13)
The theme and emphasis of Scripture:
I Cor 15:57-58 “But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, by beloved brethren, be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord....
Col 1:21-23 (23) “yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable in His sight: if you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel......”
Heb 3:14 “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.”
Heb 4:11 “Let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example (Israel’s) of disobedience.”
Heb 10:35-36 “Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”
Standing in the prayer of Asa: II Chron 14:8-12 “Lord, it is nothing for you to help, whether with many or with those who have no power.”
Standing with Jehoshaphat: II Chron 20 esp verses 6, 9, 13, 17 “Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, Who is with you.”
The Standing emphasis of the New Testament:
Stand In the Gospel: I Cor 15:1 “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand.”
Stand in Grace: Rom 5:1-2 (justified by faith through the Lord Jesus Christ) “through Whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand....” I Pet 5:12 “...exhorting and testifying that it is the true grace of God IN WHICH YOU STAND.”
Stand in Faith: I Cor 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” II Cor 1:24; Rom 11:20 “Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith.”
Stand in the Lord: Phil 4:1 (after exhorting us to look to our heavenly citizenship)...”so stand fast in the Lord.” I Thess 3:8 “for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.”
Stand fast in one spirit: Phil 4:27 Paul is looking for a “gospel worthy conduct” that when he hears reports of them, “that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
Stand fast in liberty: Gal 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free......”
Stand perfect and complete: Col 4:12 (Epaphras’ fervent prayer for his brethren) “that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”
Stand fast in the traditions (doctrine or teaching) of the apostle: II Thess 2:13-17 “...stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”
It is that “word/epistle” that we will be looking at in coming days, that we may be able to stand, to withstand in this evil day. We are going to find that we can only stand and be strong, “in the Lord and the power of His Might. And we shall see that His Power and His Might is our Jesus!
Romans 13:14 (11-14) “...The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ....... But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
This will be our focus, getting dressed in Jesus, clothed in His Righteousness, being made able to withstand the onslaught of the evil one in these last days, becoming His “Glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Eph. 6:11:13-14
A strange but necessary starting point: We live in an “activist” age (I hate that word!). New converts (recruits) who don’t know squat about their Jesus, are told they need to get busy and do stuff. The “church” is all about “activity.” Therefore, most “armor” studies have an “activist” interpretation. We need to re-establish Paul’s and Scriptures context!
Stand #2476 “Histemi, as a verb, usually means to cause to stand, to set”. Translated as stand 116x, establish 5x, stand still 4x. Thayer–“To stand ready, be prepared (Eph 6:14), figuratively, of one who vanquishes his adversaries and holds the ground, (Eph 6:13), also of one who in the midst of the fight holds his position against the foe (Eph 6:11)
Withstand #436 “Anthistamee, to set against, to cause to stand, to oppose, to resist, withstand (an enemy)
In our context, our “putting on” of this armor is that we might STAND!!! This is Paul’s final exhortation to the brethren after his whole “Father’s Family” letter. He is equating “being strong in the Lord” (vs 10) with the standing in this armor. This is crucial because of his words in 4:1-6. We are to endeavor to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” which is defined by the “Ones” that follow–one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all.
SATAN’S TACTIC, HIS M.O. IS TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
Gen 3:1-19 The initial human division. The “one flesh” of 2:24 became “the woman you gave me” did it!
But division, strife, falling away began before human history
Jude 5a, 6a “I will therefore put you in remembrance.....the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.......”
Consider: I Tim 1:18-20 (Timothy’s warfare and Hymenaeus and the putting away of faith.)
Demas: The Demas of Col 4:14 & Philemon 24 became the Demas of II Tim 4:10, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” (I John 2:15)
Hebrews 3:12 “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God.”
No man is saved BY his perseverance, but no man is saved APART from his perseverance.
This is speaking of the good soil of the Parable of the Sower/Soils! (Matt 13:1-15; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-10). Perseverance is the foundational fruit of the Gospel seed planted in the good soil. Perseverance is another word for stand.
Our Lord’s words: Matt 10:22 “And you shall be hated by all for my name’s sake; but he that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Repeated in Matt. 24:13)
The theme and emphasis of Scripture:
I Cor 15:57-58 “But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, by beloved brethren, be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord....
Col 1:21-23 (23) “yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable in His sight: if you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel......”
Heb 3:14 “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.”
Heb 4:11 “Let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example (Israel’s) of disobedience.”
Heb 10:35-36 “Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”
Standing in the prayer of Asa: II Chron 14:8-12 “Lord, it is nothing for you to help, whether with many or with those who have no power.”
Standing with Jehoshaphat: II Chron 20 esp verses 6, 9, 13, 17 “Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, Who is with you.”
The Standing emphasis of the New Testament:
Stand In the Gospel: I Cor 15:1 “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand.”
Stand in Grace: Rom 5:1-2 (justified by faith through the Lord Jesus Christ) “through Whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand....” I Pet 5:12 “...exhorting and testifying that it is the true grace of God IN WHICH YOU STAND.”
Stand in Faith: I Cor 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” II Cor 1:24; Rom 11:20 “Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith.”
Stand in the Lord: Phil 4:1 (after exhorting us to look to our heavenly citizenship)...”so stand fast in the Lord.” I Thess 3:8 “for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.”
Stand fast in one spirit: Phil 4:27 Paul is looking for a “gospel worthy conduct” that when he hears reports of them, “that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
Stand fast in liberty: Gal 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free......”
Stand perfect and complete: Col 4:12 (Epaphras’ fervent prayer for his brethren) “that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”
Stand fast in the traditions (doctrine or teaching) of the apostle: II Thess 2:13-17 “...stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”
It is that “word/epistle” that we will be looking at in coming days, that we may be able to stand, to withstand in this evil day. We are going to find that we can only stand and be strong, “in the Lord and the power of His Might. And we shall see that His Power and His Might is our Jesus!
Romans 13:14 (11-14) “...The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ....... But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
This will be our focus, getting dressed in Jesus, clothed in His Righteousness, being made able to withstand the onslaught of the evil one in these last days, becoming His “Glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.”