Chapter 6, verses 10-24 (cont’d)
Ephesians 6:10-24
“Stand therefore, having girt about your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and shod your feet with the preparation of the glad tidings of peace; besides all these having taken the shield of faith with which ye will be able to quench all the inflamed (or burning) darts of the wicked one. Have (or receive) also the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word; praying at all seasons, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching unto this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; and for me in order that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the glad tidings, for which I am an ambassador bound with a chain, that I may be bold in it as I ought to speak.” Verses 14-20 (JND).
Prepared for the approach of our watchful and powerful enemy, Satan, the Christian will be, if he is always clad in all of the armor of which we read in these verses. The items are not many, only seven in all, but every one must be constantly in place and practically in use, if Satan is to be rendered powerless at every one of his attacks.
Of first importance, it is easily seen as we look over this passage, is the “standing,” as a vigilant soldier on the alert against a cunning enemy; together with this is the necessary “having girt about your loins with truth.” Note, that it is “having girt”; something done by applying the truth of God to our souls in God’s presence; there can be no waiting until after Satan has really appeared. The loins, you will see, are viewed here as the seat of strength; what is meant then is the power of God’s truth realized in keeping the soul; thus the believer cleaves to the Lord with full purpose of heart, self being searched and judged by the truth. How can this be, do you ask? It comes, young Christian, from diligence in the prayerful reading of the Word of God. Mark this. Just as we must have food for our bodies, so must there be the provision of spiritual food, food of the right sort, for the soul. Don’t neglect it.
The second piece of armor for the Christian in view of the present evil day is “the breastplate of righteousness,” which must be constantly in place, just as our “loins” are to be always “girded.” The breastplate of righteousness is not the same as the righteousness of God which is spoken of in Romans 3:21-22 as upon all that believe; as also 2 Corinthians 5:21; that was a need before God. This “breastplate of righteousness” we need in order to meet Satan’s attacks; and to what does it refer in the Christian’s ability to meet him? Undoubtedly it means a conscience clear of anything with which to reproach itself. We must not allow a bad conscience, but go at once to God when, through sin, communion has been broken. See 1 John 1:9. We need practical righteousness as our breastplate.
We quote again from one now with the Lord: “We go forward boldly when we have a good conscience. But it is when we are walking with God, for the love of God, for the love of righteousness itself, that we have this breastplate on, and thus we are fearless when called to go forward and face the enemy. We gain a good conscience before God by the blood of the Lamb. By walking with God we maintain it before men, and for communion with God, in order to have strength and spiritual understanding, and to have them increasingly.”
The third item in this armor or panoply of God, is “having shod your feet with the preparation of the glad tidings of peace.” Another writer offers this brief comment: “This, again, is evidently a matter of practical power and enjoyment, the effect of maintaining a good conscience, as the latter can only be where all is held and guarded by the truth. Then the soul goes on in peace. ‘The fruit of righteousness,’ as another apostle says, ‘is sown in peace of them that make peace.’ Where there is laxity, the conscience gets bad, and the result is trouble, and making trouble; where truth governs, the conscience is kept bright, and, happy ourselves, we shed happiness around us.”
To be continued, D. V.