The Pressures from Without

MEMORY VERSE: “The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” —I John 2:17

EPHESIANS 6:10-20

IN HIS struggle against the world, the flesh, and the Devil, the Scriptures represent the Christian as a soldier, and in our lesson the various parts of a Roman soldier’s armor are mentioned as illustrative of the provision which the Lord has made to safeguard his people in their struggle to do his will. The proper use of this armor makes us strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

“Put on the whole armor of God,” Paul wrote, “that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.” “We wrestle not against flesh and blood,” Paul wrote. This does not mean that we do not fight against sin in our flesh, but rather, that our battle is not against other humans, “but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness [margin, or, wicked spirits] in high [margin, or, heavenly] places.” Here the reference is not only to Satan, but to his cohorts as well, the fallen angels and all the dupes he uses to deceive the Lord’s people and to thwart their efforts to do his will.

Paul speaks of needing the armor of God in the “evil day.” As long as Satan is the prince of this world, every “day” is evil. This is particularly so at the present time. The forces of unbelief are rampant throughout the earth, and Satan is making every possible effort to overthrow the faith of the Lord’s people in the great truths of his Word.

“Have your loins girt about with truth.” A girdle is used in the Scriptures as a symbol of service, and the girdle which secures the Christian’s armor to himself is the truth. If we have learned the great truth of the Gospel and wish to maintain our appreciation of it, it will be essential to serve it to others, to make known the glad tidings of the kingdom.

“The breastplate of righteousness” protects the heart. It would represent those truths of the Bible pertaining to our justification before the Lord, and the need of keeping our hearts with all diligence, for out of them are the issues of life.—Prov. 4:23

Our feet are to be “shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.” This suggests that our walk in life is to be consistent with the truth, and that it will be such as to promote peace, and to lead men and women to peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are also to wear “the shield of faith.” It is by the proper use of this “shield,” Paul explains, that we are able to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” This shield represents our faith in God and in his plan of salvation.

The “helmet of salvation” could well represent our knowledge of the truth. We need to know the doctrines of the divine plan in order to be protected by them. We also need to know that all things are working together for our good, else we could easily become discouraged and fall by the wayside.—Rom. 8:28

“The sword of the Spirit,” Paul explains, “is the Word of God.” The “sword” is to be used mainly against the motions of sin in our own flesh, and to cut down all suggestions from the Adversary which would lead us in a way contrary to the divine will.

Our memory verse is revealing, in that it indicates that the “world” is coming to an end. It is not the earth that comes to an end, but Satan’s selfish social order, corrupted as it is with lust and sin. This is the world which Jesus overcame, and this is the world which we are to strive against. It is not a satisfactory world, and when it passes away it will be replaced by God’s new world of tomorrow, a world in which there will be peace, and joy, and health, and life for all who obey its laws.

QUESTIONS

In what sense is a Christian a “soldier”?

Who and what are his enemies?

What provision has the Lord made for Christian soldiers?

Name and explain the significance of the Christian’s armor?

What is the world referred to in the Bible which comes to an end?

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