-The Armor Of God vs. The Wiles Of The Devil
Armor is anything that serves as a safeguard or protection. Christians have three sets of armor: “the armor of light” to protect us from the flesh which lusts against the Spirit (Rom. 13:12-14); “the armor of righteousness” to protect us from the world’s distractions from God and His grace (2 Cor. 6:7); and “the armor of God” to protect us from the wiles (half truths) of the Devil seeking to lead us astray (Eph. 6:11). The Devil is our great adversary, not because he has any power over us, but because he is relentless in hurling the fiery darts of self-condemnation and doubt concerning God’s Word. In this article, we’ll concern ourselves with the whole armor of God in which we may confront the mastermind of deceit and pride.
Our Adversary
The Devil is a keen opponent. Long has he been at work honing his skill at appearing righteous and good so that he may devour those who fall into his wiles. Look at his early success with Eve in the Garden of Eden. One simple phrase, “Yea, hath God said ... ?” (Gen. 3:1 KJV), brought our world into its current ruin. Jesus said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (Jn. 8:44). In his temptation of the Lord, he used the Scripture, but not the whole of it, for he left out the context for the reason not to do the very thing he was tempting Jesus to do! What craft, to use a Scripture to teach the very opposite of its meaning! (Mt. 4:1-11). The whole armor of God is necessary for this adversary, not our armor or strength.
Armor In Context
The armor of God is offered to us at the end of Ephesians. Let’s first look at the context of the book. Ephesians carries us to the heights of Christian position. We don’t read of “being dead to sin” nor “dead to the law” nor “crucified to the world.” But we do read of being “created in Christ Jesus” and “quickened together with Christ” and “raised up together to sit in heavenly places” (Eph. 2:5-10). We are “the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph 1:23). We are to be those through whom He works out His mind and will throughout eternity. Ephesians shows the sanctuary opened to us, as we have already been “blessed … with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). And Paul goes on to list those blessings: we are chosen, holy, blameless, adopted, accepted, redeemed, gathered, sealed, and inherited (Eph. 1:4-14). These are God’s purposes for the body of Christ. Our participation in God’s purposes is to have faith in the Lord Jesus, love for the saints, and the hope of His calling (Eph. 1:15,18). For He has made us alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). New life should exhibit grace and faith, for it is by grace we are saved through faith, not by our own doing or work (Eph. 2:8). Our response to this salvation is now good works, which He has set before us to accomplish in faith, hope, and love (Eph. 2:10).
God’s people together are known as “the Church” in the New Testament. His people are portrayed not only as His body, but also as a building, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). Thus, the Church is really a spiritual palace, for it is a habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph. 2:22), a place for all peoples, Jew and Gentile alike (Eph. 3:6). For of Him the whole family in heaven and earth is named (Eph. 3:15) to the intent that the principalities and powers in heavenly places can see the manifold wisdom of God in bringing this family of God into existence (Eph. 3:10). We are waiting for the manifestation of this household when we all come into this unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph. 4:13).
Until then, we need to walk worthy of this calling (Eph 4:1). We are given grace to do so (Eph. 4:7), and we are given evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, so that we all will not only walk, but also work to the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12). To be successful at this walk and work, we need to put off the old man (Eph. 4:22) – our former associations with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – and put on the new man, which is God’s creation. We were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord; we should walk as children of light, doing what is right and true and holy (Eph. 5:8).
Our present responsibilities, then, are listed in Eph. 5:18-6:10. We are not to be drunk, but to be filled with the Spirit, submitting ourselves one to another, first at home, then in the church. Children are to honor their fathers and mothers, and fathers should not provoke their children. We are to be obedient servants (employees). And finally, we are to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
With all this preparation and practice, the armor is put on (Eph. 6:10). Since it is God’s armor and not ours, we don’t use it for our glory. It should be used with the same knowledge of the fullness that Ephesians presents: the knowledge of the fullness of Christ, and the knowledge of the fullness of the love of Christ. The one fills up the other; the love of Christ is the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19) and the Church is the fullness of Him (Eph. 1:22-23). So as we put on this armor in love and for His glory, the love of Christ is fulfilling (Eph. 3:19), sustaining (Rom. 8:35) and compelling (2 Cor. 5:14) us.
The greatest thing there is, is the love of Christ. And we display this love to the world. The love of Christ is our motivation to gain this knowledge, that the truth of the Word of God is the armor of God. The armor and the love of Christ show the principalities and powers two things: the wisdom of God (Eph. 3:10) and the truth of God (Eph. 6:11). It is the armor of God that withstands the half-truths or the wiles of the devil.
Whole Armor vs. Half Truths
Here are some uses of this armor in the fight against half truth:
Our loins must be girded with truth, because the devil would say, “Except you live perfectly you are not saved,” when in truth we are accepted in the beloved, fulfilling God’s purposes.
We must wear the breastplate of righteousness, because the devil would say, “Go ahead and sin; you’re saved, so sin will make God more gracious,” when in truth we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which is our participation in God’s purposes.
Our feet should be shod with the preparation of the gospel, because the devil would say, “No one is getting saved anyway, so don’t bother to preach the gospel,” when in truth the house of God is being built up into a glorious palace for Him by the preaching of the gospel.
We must take up the shield of faith, because the devil would say, “You need to improve yourself before God accepts you, because the new man is no different than the old,” when in truth the old man, full of deceit, needs to be put off, and the new man, full of true holiness, needs to be put on.
We must put on the helmet of salvation, because the devil would say, “Do your own thing, do what feels good, you deserve something better,” when in truth our present responsibilities are to carry out the will of the Lord.
We must take up the sword of the Spirit, because the devil would say, “Did God really say you can’t eat meat, or drink wine, or have pleasure with your spouse?” when Christ said, “I am come that they might have life, and … have it more abundantly.” In truth, knowing and using the word of God correctly is putting on the whole armor of God. What God has meant for our good, the Devil would twist and pervert, causing denunciation or excess. We would denounce the moderation of others to elevate ourselves, or forget moderation so that what God intended for good becomes sin by excess. We can eat meat, but not if it offends a brother; we can drink wine, but not to drunkenness. We can enjoy our spouse, but not someone else’s. Whatever we do, if we do it in the love of Christ and according to His Word, we will be able to stand against the wiles (half-truths) of the Devil.
So the armor of God is really a summary of what Ephesians is all about: God’s purposes, and our participation in those purposes in building a palace for Himself, the putting off of the old man, and our continuance in our present responsibilities. This knowledge from God is the whole armor of God, so let us put it on in all sincerity and truth.
By Tom Steere
With permission to publish by: Sam Hadley, Grace & Truth, 210 Chestnut St., Danville, IL., USA. Website: www.gtpress.org
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