What It Means To Put On The Armor Of God

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,

having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

and having shod your feet with the preparation

of the gospel of peace; above all,

taking the shield of faith which you will be

able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

And take the helm at a salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Ephesians 6: 14 -- 17

            I would dare say that there are few Christians, who do not know these verses and have quoted them rather often, but too often they know about these verses and that they should be applied in the life and yet that is not the case.  One of the reasons that this could be the case is that they become all too familiar, something like this could happen to those words in Galatians were it speaks of the fruit of the Spirit.  Familiarity often just gives the knowledge without any real internalization so that a person actually has his character changed from the inside out.  This has been occurring in the church from the beginning so if we look at the early church and what the writers wrote whether it be the apostles of Jesus Christ, by the 12, or by other writers who wrote to churches in aid them in their struggle against such complacency, let us see how that might apply to us.  Paul wrote in the above verses that we should put on the whole armor of God and that simply means that there is not a part of us that is not God's, therefore, our character and our actions must be in accordance with God or we will not be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  Things haven't changed much, the church has gone through many.  A struggle and persecution some brought on by their own doctrines in theology and in practice, and others simply people becoming complacent we find this in the things as people who have become Deist, they believe in God they just don't believe in a God who reveals things to them, rather a God that sits far back and just watches things go.  You see people get complacent where they just simply want a placid life and do not want to be disturbed or have their feathers ruffled especially when it comes to religion.  Paul had to address that very thing for in place of pure religion and God, that pure worship that is owed to God, many Christians were replacing that with all kinds of practices that were not of God.

            It is always good to look back into the early writers in this writer wrote to the Corinthian church and to many others as well as did Iraeneus, and Polycarp, and Mathete and it would be good to look back and see what they wrote to give aid to those Christians who were struggling in their Christianity and see how that might apply in our struggle with our Christianity.  Clement of Rome (30 A.D. – 100 A.D.) save the bandwidth of the Paul at Philippi (57 A.D.) when the churches, particularly the Western churches, were going to great trials of faith.  These godly witnesses who wrote to the church who were struggling live in times where heroism was displayed, not of words, not just writers, but soldiers, not just talkers, but sufferers.  It is interesting to note that we need to be grateful for them for what they wrote comes down to us as we see the response of converted nations to the testimony of Jesus, they are the primary evidences of the Canon and the credibility of the New Testament.  At first those early Christians were faithful in their thing and in their virtue even being established, that sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Jesus Christ.  Not unlike what happens to Christians even today when they first come to Jesus Christ and are converted to him they are full of faith and action until time goes by and then they become placid, even at times apathetic, and some fall off into the deep darkness of heresy.  Clement could write about their faith and their obedience, that obedience even to those who were in the overseers and pastors, the prospectors among them when they gave them their due honor as leaders they talked young men to be sober and to be serious of blind, they instructed why do all things with a blameless and pure conscience, loving their husbands as duty-bound, and that they should manage their household affairs becomingly, in every respect be marked by discretion.  This can only occur if a person puts on the whole armor of God for if that is not happening they cannot stand girded with truth, they will not have the breastplate of righteousness, and they will not take the gospel to whomever and where ever they go because they will not even prepare to do so even though this is a gospel of peace, unlike that Islamic heresy that is infecting the world today.  Faith is a word and it is in some small way practiced and that smallest practiced leaves them short when it comes to any form of persecution, or rejection by friends and family due to their faith and often due to this lack of faith they cannot stand against the fiery darts of the wicked one.  Paul tells the Ephesians, and that which was written was for all people in all ages, that there is a necessity to put on the helmut of salvation, that is by studying and praying you will be able to stand and you will be able to pick up the sword of the Spirit for that sword is the Word of God.  We are to be fully persuaded of the truth of God's promises and threatening, and the way to stand against the threatenings and hold fast to the promises of God and this is by changing from the inside out and that will require authentic Christian faith.  Paul adds this important note: "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints --" (Ephesians 6: 18).

            Brothers and sisters cheer yourself up, strengthen your feeble knees, lift up your thinking hearts, and do not delay unless Satan will come and destroy your face, your wit is a end all that you will be left with is for people to see that you were nothing more than a hypocrite.  Rest in the fact of God's grace and that is sufficient to not be one who neglects to answer God's call to be his ambassador and let us consider these things and continue our prayer with patience.

When Mordecai learned all that had happened,

            he tore his clothes and put on a sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city.

            He cried out with a loud and bitter cry.

                        Esther 4: 1

God gives strength: God is your help!

Richard L. Crumb

Putting On The Whole Armor Of God

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters

according to the flesh, with fear and trembling,

in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with my service,

as menpleasers, but as the bondservants of Christ,

doing the will of God from the heart,

knowing that what ever good anyone does,

he will receive the same from the Lord,

whether he is a slave or free.  And you, masters,

do the same things to them, giving up threatening,

knowing that your own Master also is in heaven,

and there is no partiality with Him.

Ephesians 6: 5 -- 9

            That just about does it, wives, husbands, children, and even bondservants, all have been addressed with a final word being said that it doesn't matter whether you are a slave or a free person will receive what they do from the Lord.  You may not think of yourself as a bondservant, but, if you owe any money, if you work for anybody, even if you own your own business, in some sense or another you are a slave to those who have your mortgage, your debt, and you have the ability to hire and fire, and even those who are too prayed at your business all make you a servant.  You see as a bondservant you have become a person by means of that bond to become a surety for another, or you are the one who is to serve the bondsman.  As a caveat I must make mention in regards to the word "slave" to remove any misunderstanding in regards to what it meant in times past to be a slave.  Yes there was that horrible and incredulous actions against those who were in slavery, similar to that which is often spoke about in regards to the slaves of the 1600 to be mid-1800s, but there was another form of slave that was a bondservant for that person was not treated horribly and that bondservant remained as such because he wanted to serve his master.  There was a time whereby you may have been in bondage, a bondage that was contrary to the will of God and you have been instructed to remove yourself from such bondage for there was another who came to pay the price to free you and you are now His bondservant and you are not to return back to the former master: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5: 1).  No matter your situation in this life you are a bondservant of Christ, therefore as a bondservant you are to be found doing the will of God from the heart.

            It is from the heart, the seat of a motion, that which also has the ability to control the will that must be carefully treated and that treatment is to put on the whole armor of God so that you will stand strong in the Lord and in the power of his might: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6: 10 -- 11).  Our battle is first against our own fallen nature that the wiles of Satan wishes to continue to destroy and the only solution is to put on the whole armor of God, not just part of the armor, rather the whole armor of God.  Ignatius (30 A.D. –107A.D.) living at the time of the John and also was a student of Polycarp wrote to the Ephesians: “I have become acquainted with your name, much-beloved in God, which ye have acquired by the habit of righteousness, according to the faith and love in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Being the followers of God, and stirring up yourselves by the blood of God, ye have perfectly accomplished the work which was beseeming to you. I have become acquainted with your greatly-desired name in God, which ye have acquired by the habit of righteousness, according to the faith and love in Christ Jesus our Saviour. Being the followers of the love of God towards man, and stirring up yourselves by the blood of Christ, you have perfectly accomplished the work which was beseeming to you.”  (Italics mine).  If Ignatius was to see you would he be able to say the same thing?

            Paul reminds us of this fact: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up a whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:12 -- 13).  I warned you as Ignatius warned the Ephesians that they are to beware of false teachers.  Ignatius wrote to the Ephesians: “For some are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practise things unworthy of God, whom ye must flee as ye would wild beasts. For they are ravening dogs, who bite secretly, against whom ye must be on your guard, inasmuch as they are men who can scarcely be cured. There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first possible and then impossible,— even Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Italics mine).  It was true in the early days of the Church that the church would be bombarded by, those even calling themselves Christian, false teaching and we are today facing the very same thing: Will you stand firm and put on the whole armor of God so not to be captured by the wiles of the devil?  That is more than an rhetorical question, it is a question that only you can answer, can you answer as what Ignatius found in the Ephesian church?  Ignatius wrote: “Ye have given no heed to false teachers. Nevertheless, I have heard of some who have passed on from this to you, having false doctrine, whom ye did not suffer to sow among you, but stopped your ears, that ye might not receive those things which were sown by them, as being stones of the temple of the Father, prepared for the building of God the Father, and drawn up on high by the instrument of Jesus Christ, which is the cross, making use of the Holy Spirit as a rope, while your faith was the means by which you ascended, and your love the way which led up to God. Ye, therefore, as well as all your fellow-travellers, are God-bearers, temple-bearers, Christ-bearers, bearers of holiness, adorned in all respects with the commandments of Jesus Christ, in whom also I exult that I have been thought worthy, by means of this Epistle, to converse and rejoice with you, because with respect to your Christian life ye love nothing but God only” (italics mine).

            God is with you, and you have the power to stand firm and he has given us a fair warning and instruction by inspiring such men as Paul to write that warning so we can stand firm.  Furthermore you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

You who dwell in the gardens,

            the companions listen

for your voice -- let me hear it!

            Song of Solomon 8: 13

Learn to do good; seek justice

Richard L. Crumb

The Responsibility Of Children And Fathers

Children, obey your parents and the Lord,

       for this is right.         

                    "Honor your father and mother,"       

which is the first commandment with a promise:

"that it may be well with you and you may live

Long on the earth."

 (Deuteronomy 5:16)

And you, fathers, do not provoke

your children to wrath,

but to bring them up in the training

an admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6: 1 -- 4

            It was first discussed the role of a wife, and of the role of the father, and now we speak of the role of a child.  All three are conjoined into one for the benefit of another and when one of those joints that are bound together or disjointed then the family, and the individual will not be benefited.  Paul here in this part of his letter is giving directions in regards to the duties of each person in the family, and in this case the duties of a child.  The greatest duty for a child is to obey his or her parent(s).  Furthermore, the parent has a responsibility to guide a child in such a way as not to bring them to wrath.  The 1559 Stephanus Bible as it's a literal translation states: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is just.  Honor thy father and mother which is the first commandment with a  promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest long-lived on the earth.  And, fathers, do not provoke your children, but bring up them in [the] discipline and admonition of the Lord."  This seem redundant to quote both, but this is important if we are to fully understand the role of a mother and father, especially the father and the raising up of a child.  Let's examine this closely. Fathers, you must not shirk your duty and responsibility to both your wife and your children.  If you expect your child to be obedient to you, you first must be obedient to God, and then show your obedience to your wife.  If you expect your child and your wife to love you, you must first love them.  Obedience is the inward reference manifested in an outward expression.  If you expect your child to obey you, then you're outward act must be that you are obeying God.  Children must understand that their obedience to their parents is "just," that, this is justice, not just fairness, for it is justice. What does justice actually mean?  It is a quality of righteousness and of moral rightness, furthermore, is conformity to this principle, this moral principle that determines their conduct.  But how can a child come to understand justice?  Children look up to their parents and if they cannot look up to their parents then they will look up to another person who they believe is guiding them properly.  You may not know who that other person is and what they are saying to your child in their guidance.  Therefore, you must take the role of a father and raise up your children in the admonition of the Lord.

            Paul writes that a father is not to provoke their child, the Greeks understood this word to mean to be in rage, angry, to provoke someone so severely that they become wrathful.  How can this occur?  There are many ways in which this can incur into a person to bring them to this state of anger and this anger may not always be manifested outwardly but be held inwardly changing that person into something that in time may allow for an outburst harming themselves or others.  One way that I can think of that a father could anger their child is to not spend time with their child.  Another way for a father to anger their child is to spend time, even though they are at home, watching TV, or doing other things and leaving the child to themselves.  Another way is to be so liberal with your child that you allow them to go to any place a desire to go and you are not concerned with whom they go with and wonder why they might get in trouble.  Another way is to give children money that they have not earned and this teaches them that they don't really have to work to earn a living.  How then can a father avoid the various pitfalls and raising up a child?  I sing a song that has the title: "Family Bible" and it speaks of a father reading the Bible to their children after eating dinner.  It is this time where the father is reading the Bible to his family that brings in later life such wonderful and great memories.  Also when this song it speaks of the mother singing: "rock of ages is cleft for me."  Fathers you have been given the authority to be the leader of your family but you must not abuse that power for your children are a part of you and they are to be governed in tenderness and love.  This does not mean that you will not inspect what to expect, for a reasonable and good father would do so to protect their child.  Now if a child is in some sort of wrong doing you must read through that child but to do so in such a way as not to provoke that child to wrath.  This does not mean you will not use some sort of corporal punishment, but if this is a used then it must be used with great caution and prudently.  Teaching your child that there is a difference between that which is right in that which is wrong and that there are consequences for either will go a long way in that child's life and you are the one to make it happen.  Now children you must obey your parents: PERIOD!  Child this is your responsibility even though at times you may not like or understand, you still must be obedient.

            Fathers teach your children a religious education and instruct them to fear sinning.  Instruct them their whole duty towards the world and to resist the temptations of late.  Too often parents have an anxiety for their children so that they would become rich and accomplished and unfortunately do not care as much of what ever becomes of their souls and if this is not the case then they should not expect the blessings of God upon their children.  Is this important?  Only you can answer that question.

Harsh discipline is for him

            who forsakes of the way,

and he who hates correction

            will die.

                        Proverbs 15: 10

Parents teach and love your children

Richard L. Crumb