The Book of Ephesians Pt. 54 Armed with Truth & Righteousness.

Paul is preparing us like a general prepares an army for war. There are training exercises to be completed, armor for each soldier and weapons appropriate for the type of battle that is expected. A supply of munitions is needed, in addition to food, proper clothing and a sound strategic plan. 

Paul taught us that this battle is spiritual in nature. He has also told us that we have all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. Our minds must be renewed by the power of the gospel and the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God. 

All of the sound doctrinal truth that Paul gave us in Ephesians 1 through 3, provide the spiritual munitions and nourishment that we need to fight in this war. Apostolic truth also gives us a perfect strategic plan for the soldiers in Christ's army to follow. 

God's will for us? Put on His Armor!

Ephesians 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Paul already communicated to us that we are being equipped to stand against the wiles of the devil. The word stand is not the idea that we are aggressively taking the fight to Satan. Rather, it is that as he attacks us, we stand firm, immovable and do not yield any ground to his attacks. This means that we soak up the Word of God and fill our mind with His truth. 

Satan will attack our flesh first because that is our Achilles heel. Our spirit is often willing to serve God but we still carry with us a sin nature. Our old man and our flesh battle against the spirit and new man in Christ (Galatians 5:17). 

Satan will seek to tempt us so we sin like King David did with Bathsheba. He will target the way we think because what we think about is what we will follow or do. Finally, he will attack our faith in an effort to fill us with a sense of hopelessness and helplessness. 

He will try to lead us to become a worldly Christian caught up in the pleasure's and riches of life. He will attempt to make us into a lukewarm believer who is self satisfied and failing to serve Christ. He will seek to cause us to backslide away from Christ. 

In this text, Paul uses the connecting word "wherefore" to reach back to what he previously taught us as if saying, "Because these things are true, here is what we must do." 

The phrase "take unto you" is an imperative to take up, pick up, raise up and use the armor of God. We must take up and "put on" the whole armor of God. The word "armor" means armor that is full and complete. God has created and provided this armor for us and our duty is to pick it up and put it on each day.

The words "ye may be able" mean to have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or resources provided to us by another. It is having a state of mind that is focused and determined to live for Christ and stand for Him. 

We can choose to be empowered by Christ to "withstand" all the evil that will come our way in spiritual warfare. The word "withstand" means to set yourself in array in order to oppose and resist the evil. 

What is the "evil day?" It is the day of Satan’s special assaults in life and at the dying hour (Revelation 3:10). We must always have our armor on, to be ready against the evil day which may come at any moment, because spiritual warfare is always going on around us. 

The phrase "evil day" refers to a time full of peril to the Christian faith and it can shake our steadfastness. It is a time that causes pain and trouble for believers. 

The words "having done all, to stand" means that when our life is over, and we finished all the wrestling and resisting while standing our ground for the Lord, we stand victorious in Christ Jesus. It is the idea that we accomplished all that Christ commanded us to do as a good soldier in His army. 

Girded with Truth and Righteousness

Ephesians 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

We are commanded to "stand" four times in Ephesians 6:11-14. Paul stresses that we can only stand when we are in Christ, submitting to His Word, His Spirit and seeking His strength. Again we are commanded to take our stand for Christ by putting on the whole armor of God. 

Our loins are to be protected by truth. In girding himself for the field, the first thing the soldier does is to fasten round his waist the military belt. With this he binds in his undergarments, that there may be nothing loose or trailing about him, and braces up his limbs for action. 

In that culture people wore long, flowing robes. A soldier attempting to fight without a belt tightly binding his robes would not have the freedom of movement necessary for fighting and wrestling with our enemy.  

Truth and Light go together to surround the believer.

Luke 12:35-37  Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36) And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37) Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 

The words "girt about" refer to a belt that goes around the robes, encircling them and keeping them out of the way so that the Christian solider is ready for action. 

This teaching of Jesus Christ helps us understand what it means to have our loins girded with truth. The idea of having your lights burning brightly is a direct connection to the word of God as a lamp to our feet and a light for our path. The entrance of the word of God into the heart of man brings light and understanding. 

In Christ's teaching He tells us that those who girded their loins and have their light burning are those who are watching, waiting and willing to do the bidding of their master. So should believers be girded about with eternal truth, letting our lights shine and showing a watchfulness and willingness of spirit to serve Christ our Master.  

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

Jehovah Himself (Jesus Christ is Jehovah in the flesh) is our light and salvation. He alone is our source of strength for the spiritual battles we face. 

Light and Truth from the Word of God. 

Psalm 43:3  O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. 

Light and truth that we gird ourselves with always leads us in right paths and turns our heart so that we are ready to worship God. 

Psalm 119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

Light from the scriptures show us where our feet are stepping so we do not trip or fall. It provides illumination so we can see ahead and can find our destination safely. 

Psalm 119:30  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. 

We must choose the truth of God's word, to read it, hear it and heed it. 

John 3:21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. 

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6) He also declared that "I am the light of the world."(John 8:12). Those of us who obey the Word of God will come to the light to show that our deeds demonstrate God at work in and through us. Light and truth go together and the idea of being girded with a belt of truth means that light from Christ will also be with us. 

The belt of truth girding our armor to our body is a picture of truth & light in God's word that shapes our words. It is the idea that we are putting on the truth of God's word as that binding agent that holds our salvation, faith, hope, love, joy and service for Christ together. 

The breastplate of righteousness.

Ephesians 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

The word "breastplate" refers to the part of our body from the neck to the navel, where the ribs end. In fact the Greek word translated "breastplate" is a biological term "thorax." It is made from plates of tempered steel that are shaped to the contours of the warriors body with riveted seams for extra strength. The loins are located below the area protected by the breastplate. 

The Expositors Bible says this about the breastplate of righteousness.  "It is the state of one who is right with God and with God’s law. It is the righteousness both of standing and of character, of imputation and of impartation, which begins with justification and continues in the new, obedient life of the believer." 

"These are never separate, in the true doctrine of grace. "The righteousness that is of God by faith" is the soul’s main defense against the shafts of Satan. It wards off deadly blows, both from this side and from that. Does the enemy bring up against me my old sins? I can say: "It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth?" 

"Am I tempted to presume on my forgiveness, and to fall into transgression once more? From this breastplate the arrow of temptation falls pointless, as it resounds: "He that doeth righteousness is righteous. He that is born of God doth not commit sin." 

"The completeness of pardon for past offence and the integrity of character that belong to the justified life, are woven together in an impenetrable mail."

Thus, you can see that a substantial portion of the soldier's body is protected with truth and righteousness.  The breastplate reminds us that as Christ's works are righteous, so should the believers works be a testimony to His righteousness. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

The first piece of the armor of God is a military type belt of truth binding our outer and inner garments together. It is a picture of taking God at His word, believing what He says and obeying what He commands. His truth filters all that we take in from the world, so that we can sift out the errors. His truth becomes our worldview and it shapes us so what we think about, speak about and do is to bring honor and glory to God.  

The second piece of armor is more substantial. It is a breastplate which protects a large portion of a soldiers body. It protects our vital organs and in similar manner, the righteousness of God that we are given when we are "in Christ", is that which justifies us for eternal life. 

Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 

The fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in us is grounded in God's goodness, God's righteousness and God's truth. It is designed to help us prove what is acceptable to God and what is not acceptable to Him. It would be right to say that the fullest, perfect expression of the goodness, righteousness and truth of God is in the Words, Works and Person of Jesus Christ. 

Righteousness in the armor of God is joined with truth, yielding righteousness in our works and truth in our words (1 John 3:7). Christ’s truth and righteousness worked into us by the Spirit is the breastplate and belt girding our loins and torso.

We know we need to stand for Christ and with Christ. We know that we cannot fight a spiritual battle in the energies of our flesh.

We also know that God will provide strength for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. We also know that God provides the weapons and protections that we need for spiritual warfare against a great and hateful enemy. 

May each of us put on this wonderful armor from God. May we seek His strength in all our endeavors. May we be committed soldiers in the army of our Lord Jesus Christ and may we be strong in the Lord, standing fast, refusing to yield up any ground to the relentless enemy. 

Our light must shine and the gospel truth must be shared. Truth and righteousness from Jesus Christ is a major portion of our armament. 

May Jesus Christ be praised in how we choose to live.

Bob