“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
The Church of Christ
(A Study in Ephesians)
Lesson 24 - Be Strong In The Lord:
Finally: Paul has concluded the portion of his letter explaining the good works that we should ‘ walk in '; that God has prepared beforehand ( Chapter 2:10 ), with a lesson in submission. We are to yield to the order that God has created in Christ and His kingdom and to one another. This came as specific instruction to members of the body of Christ (His bride); to husbands, wives, children, parents, servants, and masters. He is now, in his final words, addressing them all as his brethren, and that the instructions he is about to deliver will apply to them all, as well as to other disciples of Christ.
Consider that in all the instructions of how they were to walk (live their lives and consequently how we live ours); there was a constant reminder of their previous walk in sin and their new walk ‘In' Christ. Their previous walk was that which they lived according to their own resources and wisdom.
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
With this in mind, pay close attention to the instruction Paul is about to give and the source of power and wisdom we are to rely on!
Text:
Ephesians 6:10-12 “ Finally , my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might . 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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.
Note: We must remember that Paul is in Rome , under house arrest ( Acts 28:30-31 ), and is surrounded and in contact constantly with the praetorian guard ( Philippians 1:13 ), and has this view of a physical warrior. This is a visual point of reference in considering this lesson from Paul and we will elaborate additionally as we continue.
Be Strong in the Lord: First and foremost, Paul commands these and all Christians to be strong in the Lord. Consider that regardless of how strong you are personally, there are enemies out there that cannot be overcome without help.
Consider a Roman soldier of the time! He may have been a strong and brave individual in his own right, however, when facing an equally strong and courageous opponent, his only advantage was in the superior equipment and training provided him by this superior army. The fact is that the Roman army would face many other armies that would be utterly destroyed; not because the Roman soldier was individually superior, but because he had the best equipment available, the best training offered, and the best support network in the world.
This is the concept Paul is illustrating to Christians. We must be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. This would include the best training in the word of God, the best equipment in all things that pertain to life and godliness, and the best support network in Christ Jesus who intercedes for us (as only Someone Who knows our every weakness can!).
Paul would refer to all these things as the whole armor of God. He would also denote that only by putting on this armor of God as a whole (not just a part we may agree with or that are the most agreeable to wear), could we stand against the enemy pitted against us.
The Kind of Fight: Paul would denote that the kind of warfare Christians are to fight was very similar to that of a wrestling match (wrestling contest were a popular form of athletic competition in those days). In that kind of a bout the winner was required to not only throw his opponent but to hold him down with his hand on his neck as a symbol of submission and control.
So not only must a Christian win a point against the opponent, but he must also continue his victory until his opponent acknowledges his defeat.
Not Against Flesh and Blood: Paul continues to define the type of fight we are engaged in by denoting that the fight is not temporal or physical, but spiritual. Paul would explain this better in another letter to Christians in Corinth , note:
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
The Enemy: Just as our army has a Supreme Commander, the army of the enemy has a supreme commander as well. Satan has always been the antagonist of all who call on the name of God. His tools are lies, deceit, and trickery. He is the father of all such behavior and a few more even worse, note the words of Jesus to the Jews of his day who behaved with the characteristics of Satan:
John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
He is the prince of this world and the things of this world are his weapons; this is described by the Apostle John in his letter to Christians, note:
1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
The Apostle Peter would also describe Satan as a formidable enemy; one that was so dangerous that he roams about looking for his next victim, note:
1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”
The fact that he has the power through cunning trickery, to enslave those who do not develop a love for the truth; with cunningly devised fables, or through lies that have a form of godliness, should give us a sobering concept of his power ( II Thessalonians 2:9-10 ; II Timothy 2:26 ; 3:5 ).
His Army: Paul has already described the army of Satan in our study of this letter to the Ephesians, note:
Ephesians 2:2 “in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,”
In describing how we who were once dead in our trespasses and sins, Paul also would denote all those who are still in that condition and fulfilling the works of Satan in disobedience to God.
In addition, Paul would include in our text; principalities (rulers with seniority) and powers (rulers with effective influence). The source of these rulers is denoted by the phrase “ the darkness of this age ”, which is a figure for the doctrines of error taught and supported by these influential sources.
When we consider the commander of these sources, we also must consent that at least originally; he was of a heavenly origin. So, when in combat with Satan and his followers, we combat the influences of these spiritual beings as well as all who disobey God in this life.
The fact is that our adversary is everything that is evil (not of God), regardless of its origin!
Note:
Although our enemy is to be taken very seriously and is never to be underestimated in all things that we consider in our fight, we must never forget that our Commander in Chief is far above the enemies that we face, and He is the Head of the greatest kingdom known, which is God's eternal plan in Him, note:
Ephesians 1:20-23 “which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
In addition, all those who fight with the strength that is in the Lord, put on His strength. Can one be defeated, if he fights with the power of God and the armor provided by our Lord and Savior?
Romans 8:31-39
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In our next lesson, we will look closely at the whole armor of God and the importance of every piece and function of every piece.
Next: “ Take Up The Whole Armor of God ”