For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood
[contending only with physical opponents],
but against the despotisms, against the powers,
against [the master spirits who are]
the world rulers of this present darkness,
against the spirit forces of wickedness
in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
Therefore put on God's complete armor...
Ephesians 6:12-13 Amp
The belt of truth... the first piece of armor... is followed by the second... the breastplate of righteousness...
Stand therefore... having put on
the breastplate of righteousness...
Ephesians 6:14 ESV
breastplate... it covers our heart... and other vital organs... the core of our being...
The breastplate covered the major organs much as a bullet-proof vest does today.
---The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Ephesiansrighteousness... translated from the Greek... dikaiosune... meaning... in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be... the condition acceptable to God...
The only way... our condition is acceptable to God... is in Jesus... His Son...
Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29 ESV
Yet... Louw-Nida... defines dikaiosune... as the act of doing what God requires...
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
Increasing the strength of the breastplate... requires exercising righteousness... doing what's right...
Jesus... He summed up all the law... and the requirements of the prophets... into two commands...
" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ..."
Matthew 22:34-38
How do we love God...?
And this is love:
that we walk in obedience to his commands.
As you have heard from the beginning,
his command is that you walk in love.
2 John 1:6
Obedience... doing what God says is right... is love... and the only thing He commands us to do... is to love... Him... and others...
But we are not to love as the world loves... we are to love as God loves us... through Christ...
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you,
in order to bring praise to God.
Romans 15:7
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us
and gave himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Protect your heart... by discovering... experiencing... how Jesus loves you...
His amazing grace... and unfailing love... will transform your life... as you come under... into... His definition of love...
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices in the truth.
It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
Maintain... strengthen... the breastplate of righteousness... by doing what God requires... do what's right...
So whoever knows the right thing to do
and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 4:17 ESV
In my relationship with Christ... I've noticed... the deeper it goes... the narrower... the road gets...
The more He reveals... the more I know... the more sin I see in my life...
Here is where... when we know the right thing to do... because He has revealed His Way... moving us closer to His character... it seems the opportunity for sin... increases... and... the wages of sin is death...
Sin... failing to do... what you know is right... brings death...
Sin hardens our heart... deafens our ears... to the Holy Spirit's conviction... to His call... that we are to obey...
Sin... sets us up... for the enemy... to gain strongholds... in our lives...
Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey --- whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Romans 6:16
We were created to obey...
The enemy... he lies... tells us we are independent... but to go... what looks like our own way... is simply sin... and enslaves us to him...
The truth is... in Christ... you are a slave to righteousness...
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Romans 6:17-18
Exercise your right... to be right... in Christ Jesus...
When you have sinned... turn to Him... confess... repent...
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
Bullet-proof your heart...
Obey... His Way...
The Way of... active righteousness...
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ReplyDeleteI am preparing to teach a Sunday School lesson for next Sunday which contains the scripture, Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7. I came across the following statement in Bible Studies for Life, “We are never to run from Satan. We are never to turn our backs on him. No armor in Ephesians 6 is for the back. We resist by standing strong in the power of Jesus. We refuse to give in. And, when we stand strong, Satan will flee from us.” This reminded me that I needed to thank you for your blog. I want to let you know that God definitely speaks to me through your beautiful comments.
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