As Christians, we are at war, whether we like it or not. But the Church’s battle is spiritual, not material. This means, among other things, that God’s people no longer use the weapons of war to advance His agenda. The mighty Warrior of Scripture (Exodus 15:3), whom we serve as soldiers under command, expects us to take up spiritual arms in our spiritual fight against the spiritual principalities of evil. God grants no deferments. But even the most willing and eager soldier in Christ is helpless without God’s provision. That is Paul’s point in Ephesians 6:10-13 when he tells us not once but twice to "Put on" and "take up" the whole armor of God.
01 - The Armor Of God
Ephesians 6:10-13
August 20, 2023 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • Ephesians 6:10–13
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The Armor Of God
02 - The Belt of Truth
August 27, 2023 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • Ephesians 6:14–18
As soldiers under command fighting a war on two battlefronts—the battle outside of us (against Satan and the evil principalities in the heavenly realms) and the battle inside of us (against our fallen flesh, and our love for sin that baits and tempts us to fall from grace)—we must be buckled, girded, and belted with the belt of truth. And what is truth? God's written Word (John 17:17; Psalm 119:60) as personified in Jesus Christ (John 14:6) is truth. Therefore, to be girded with the belt of truth is to put-on Jesus Christ and be established in the truth of God’s Word.
03 - The Breastplate Of Righteousness
September 3, 2023 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • Ephesians 6:14–18
In our battle against sin (inside us)and Satan (outside us), Paul instructs his readers to put on the breastplate of righteousness as part of their spiritual armor. But what Paul meant by righteousness has some commentators at odds. Some suggest that Pau has in mind the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ that is credited to us through faith in Jesus Christ (and by which we are justified before God) whereas others believe he is referring to the imparted righteousness that comes from Jesus Christ in producing fruit as believers (and by which we are justified in the eyes of man). Perhaps the answer is that both types of righteousness, combined, make up suitable armor. Another way of saying it is that imputed righteousness (which has to do with our justification, spiritually) and imparted righteousness (which has to do with our sanctification, practically) is the breastplate that Christians are to wear at all times.
04 - The Shoes Of Readiness
September 10, 2023 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • Ephesians 6:14–18
Four times in four verses (vv. 11-14 NIV), Paul declares that the armor’s purpose—the value in putting it on piece by piece—lies in its ability to help us (1) to “stand against the devil’s schemes” (v. 11); (2) to “stand [our] ground” (v. 13a); to “stand” (v. 13b); and (4) to “stand firm” (v. 14). And of course, armor would be incomplete without the proper shoes by which we make our stand—which Paul identifies as “the readiness” or “preparation” of the gospel of peace” (v. 15). Clearly, he knew Christians needed to be on a solid foundation when facing opposition.