QT 24 Apr 2020, Eph 6:17-18, The helmet and the sword protect our mind

Ephesians 6:17–18 (ESV) — 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

NOTE: We've discussed four pieces of the armor. The last two items, we are told to 'take.' The Greek word for "take" is dechomai and means to physically take with the hand or take hold of. In this case, this is not something we work up to or develop like the belt or breastplate or shoes. If we are in Christ, we have salvation, we can't do better than what God has done for us already.

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul writes:

1 Thessalonians 5:8 (ESV) — But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

In 5:8, the helmet is the hope of salvation, which is a very secure hope. It is not a "wish," but an assurance of what is already accomplished.

The location is important as well. The helmet covers the head, the mind. This is the place where the enemy wants to attack us. He wants us to doubt, to question, and to lose our hope. But we must protect our mind. I think that is why one verb is used, 'take,' to refer to two items, the helmet and the sword, because they go together. The word of God in combination with the assurance of our salvation protects our minds from the enemy and allows us to pray. Our shield, our faith and trust in God protects the entire body.

I wonder if the helmet and the sword were really meant to go together in the passage. And that the next few verses then describe the battle, which is prayer. We battle our enemy in prayer. We protect our mind through truth and the knowledge that our salvation has already been secured by Jesus Christ. We certainly need to work on truth, our righteousness (character), and our mission, but God's truth and God's salvation is already provided and only needs to be taken up.

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the insight on the armor of God. May I work on the first four pieces, and may I secure the last two items firmly, the helmet and the sword. I need to rely upon your word and your salvation as I battle the enemy in prayer.

QT 23 Apr 2020, Eph 6:16, The shield of faith -- Believing God is in charge and cares for me

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV) — 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

NOTE: The first three pieces all use 'effort' verbs; fasten, having put on, and having shod. And I do think the first three are built through effort and obedience. Now we switch to "take up" and also two "takes." The phrase in all circumstances is not an easy set of words to translate. "Circumstances" is not there, just "in" and "all," and together they are translated quite often into this idea of everything or every situation, but it could also be, "to all this" (NIV) or "to all of these" (NLT) or "above all" (KJV), which is a very different thought. But I am not convinced that the key is found here.

The Greek word analabontes, translated "take up" means to lift up and carry; take/bring along; take aboard. Constable translated it as receive or accept, but I could not find any Greek resource that suggested the idea of receive. We don't receive faith, we must exercise faith.

The Roman shield was a very long oblong device. It protected most of his body and in conjunction with others could protect the whole unit. It was wood with an outer leather covering for fireproofing.

Extinguish, which is the Greek word sbesai, means to stop burning. The enemy uses flaming darts. These weapons are designed to burn. 2 Cor 11:29 translates sbesai as indignant as a result of attacks, fears, and the pressures of all the churches.

2 Corinthians 11:28–29 (ESV) — 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

It is a shield of faith (the Greek word pistis) and is translated in Strongs as a conviction of the truth, …, in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things.

The shield of faith is trusting God that he is in control, he is in charge, and he cares about me, despite all the evidence to the contrary that worries us. Circumstances may argue against it. Answers or lack of answers to prayer may argue against it. What we want versus what God is doing may argue against it. But we believe that he exists (is in charge, is powerful) and that he rewards those who seek him (he cares).

PRAYER:  God, it is hard to trust when life does not work the way we want it to work. We are quite selfish. Help us to see life from your perspective and not from ours. Help us to see the opportunities you are given us to make an impact for real good, not our material good. Help us to learn to really trust and have faith in you.

QT 22 Apr 2020, Eph 6:14-15, Shoes: We need to be prepared to go anywhere and to give an answer

Ephesians 6:14–15 (ESV) — 14 Stand therefore, …, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

NOTE: As a veteran, and former commander, readiness is a crucial military concept. We measure it constantly, we classify it, we track it, and we fix it when it falls too low (sometimes by firing the commander). The first thing Paul starts with is shoes for your feet. Shoes give you the ability to move into many different areas. Without shoes, some areas cannot be entered. Also, shoes protect you from many unseen foes and diseases of many kinds. Roman shoes (sandals) had nails imbedded in the leather for traction, which probably help in battle. Now we bring in "readiness," the Greek word hetoimasia, which means the condition of being prepared. This is what it meant in the military. And finally, the gospel of peace is the good news of peace (a state of well-being and concord). This peace is only attained in a relationship with Jesus Christ. A good cross reference is in Peter's letter:

1 Peter 3:15 (RSV) — 15 but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence;

So pulling this all together, the shoes are the ability to take the gospel into the world. We need to be ready. We need to study. We need to be bold and not shrink back when someone questions us. We don't need to know every answer, in fact a simple answer such as,

"I don't know about that (optional: and I will research it), all I know is that when I asked Jesus to be my savior, my life radically changed from the inside out. I have a peace that I never experienced before. I see my life, certainly not perfect, but changing as I grow in this new found relationship with Jesus Christ."

The above is a great answer, providing it is true for you. But, I would add that if someone asks me a question I cannot answer, I try to make sure that is last time that question is asked and I don't have an answer. That is the point of 1 Pet 3:15 "… always being prepared."

PRAYER: Father, I pray I would stand my ground. I pray I would move into areas and relationships that may be uncomfortable. And I pray I would continually get better at answering questions.

QT 21 Apr 2020, Eph 6:14, Breastplate of righteousness' strength is dependent on my moral integrity

Ephesians 6:14 (ESV) — Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

NOTE: The breastplate has a front and a back, it also dips down and covers the thigh. The name comes from the primary area of protection, the breast. It protects the lungs, the heart, and the gut -- all vital areas where wounds will kill a person. The term breastplate was a Roman description, so I think we have to be careful of drawing too much inference from the Roman name. On the other hand, the term is used in other places:

1 Thessalonians 5:7–8 (ESV) — 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Isaiah 59:15–18 (ESV) —

15 Truth is lacking,

and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him

that there was no justice.

16 He saw that there was no man,

and wondered that there was no one to intercede;

then his own arm brought him salvation,

and his righteousness upheld him.

17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,

and a helmet of salvation on his head;

he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,

and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.

18 According to their deeds, so will he repay,

wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;

to the coastlands he will render repayment.

In the first passage, it is in contrast to those who sleep at night and get drunk at night. As believers, we belong to the day. The idea of activity versus non-activity. So putting on a breastplate carries the idea of going to work or battle, i.e., doing something with your life.

In the second passage, God puts on "righteousness" as a breastplate as he goes forth to execute judgment upon the earth. This probably would have been the common understanding of the term for a Jew. Additionally the metaphor of a helmet of salvation suggests Paul knew this passage well.

So why righteousness?  In 1 Thessalonians, the name for the breastplate is different. Rather than righteousness, Paul uses faith and love. That suggests a relationship, especially since Paul also discusses the helmet in the same terms as Isaiah did and as Paul did later to the Ephesians. The new question is what is the relationship of faith and love, to righteousness, and why these choices for the primary armor?

Let me quote the Lexham Theological Workbook on the word "righteousness:"

δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē). n. fem. righteousness, justice. The quality of conforming to a standard or norm, normally carrying an ethical overtone.

This noun is related to the adjective δίκαιος (dikaios, “righteous”) and is the usual Septuagint translation of the Hebrew צֶדֶק (ṣedeq, “righteousness”) and צְדָקָה (ṣĕdāqâ, “righteousness”). The basic use of dikaiosynē in the NT is to describe character and actions characterized by moral integrity as measured by God’s revealed will. The NT uses the term in four primary ways: (1) as an attribute of God, highlighting his justice and faithfulness; this is often referred to with the phrase “righteousness (dikaiosynē) of God” …; (2) as a standard of justice to which persons are held accountable …; (3) to describe morally upright or virtuous behavior and character …; and (4) especially in the letters of Paul, a status of acceptability before God on the basis of faith, the gift resulting from justification …. (Anderson, G. P. (2014). Righteousness. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.)

In my mind, the use of the word righteousness points back to the quality (moral integrity) of my witness. Just as my truth or integrity holds all the pieces together, my armor is my witness. My protection from the enemy is the degree to which my life is characterized as a follower of Jesus Christ. If I am not APPLYING the word of God and seeing CHANGE in my life, I will have no armor against the enemies attacks.

But what about faith and love? Actually Jesus summed up the entire law into one commandment with two corollaries, which are actually faith (love God with ally your heart, soul, and mind) and love (love your neighbor as yourself). So the quality of the armor is the degree to which I "live" as a believer. I am NOT saved by works. But the strength of my armor is dependent upon works. I will fail and be destroyed by the enemy if I do not walk with God in integrity.

PRAYER: Father, I have never really thought about the armor of God as a reflection of my walk with you. So far I have seen that the belt and breastplate are pieces I have to get. They don't fall on me because I am child of God through Jesus. I need put on the pieces and strengthen them through obedience to the word of God.

QT 20 Apr 2020, Eph 6:14, The belt of truth is a belt of integrity with our witness

Ephesians 6:14a (ESV) — Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, …

NOTE: This week I plan to walk through the armor of God. I am getting too far ahead of my bible study (https://rationalstudy.Blogspot.Com ) to continue in 1 Timothy and I need to let the bible study catch up to the QT.

NOTE: Two observations, one is that the belt of truth is the first item and that it follows the primary verb "stand." To stand against the enemy (the context of the chapter) requires equipping ourselves with armor. The first item is the belt of truth. The belt holds things together, particularly the breastplate and the scabbard. Also, when action is required, the tunic, if long, can be pulled up and tucked into the belt giving freedom of action ("gird you loins"). Constable had a very interesting thought that the reference to truth is our character of truth and not the truth of scripture. The sword specifically identifies itself as the word of God, so a belt of truth would double the item, truth. If it is our character, the honesty of our witness is what holds all the armor together. If our walk with God is characterized by lies, we will not stand against the enemy's attack. We need to have a walk that is characterize by truthfulness, honesty, and integrity -- without these, we really can't be involved in the battle. Nothing holds together if our walk with God is a lie. People can see it. Godliness cannot be faked for long. A relationship with God is not real just because you perform
repetitive actions. It has to be real and honest.

PRAYER: Father, we can't fake being a soldier. To some degree, many do fake being a Christian. They attend church. They say the right things. They do good deeds. But they lack the inner presence of a relationship with God. Their lives are externally "different" but a true Christian is changed from the inside out. Help us to see the lie within us. Help us to truly turn to you and to stop "playing" church. I pray we can experience the real transforming power of God within our lives.