A popular biblical instruction is to put on the Full Armor of God. Many influential preachers assert that by fully embracing this spiritual protection, Christians can achieve a victorious life characterized by freedom from illness and material abundance.
This prevalent teaching often attributes the lack of such a victorious experience to incomplete reliance on the armor or a misplaced trust in own righteousness. It emphasizes that righteousness is a divine gift rather than a human accomplishment; human own righteousness.
In contrast, contemporary interpretations diverge. This contemporary proposes that speaking in tongues is essential to donning the Full Armor of God.
The imperative “put on” suggests a deliberate action, implying that the armor is not automatically granted upon salvation. This perspective challenges the view held by some well-known preachers that being born again equates to complete holiness and perfection in Christ.
To explore the truth of these teachings, I am interested in studying the Book of Ephesians, with a focus on the Full Armor of God.
NOT STARTING POINT
Most of the translations like NIV, NKJV, RSV, and NASB introduce the Full Armor of God with the word “FINALLY” in Ephesians 6 verse 10. One the reference as below:-
| Ephesians 6:10 NIV 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. |
That means the “Full Armor of God” is not the STARTING POINT. To be certain, the “Full Armor of God” is the FINISHING post.
The Bible was originally written without chapters and verses. To understand the entire Old and New Testaments, readers have to read the entire book to draw its meaning Hence, it is good to consider the entire book in drawing out its context. Likewise for the book of Ephesians.
However, I would like to keep all my thoughts and postings short. It is not quite possible to write the whole summary of the book of Ephesians in one short study. Nevertheless, I shall give a brief study of the book of Ephesians by considering the key verses below.
-Ephesians 4:22-28
-Ephesians 4:29-31
-Ephesians 5:1-5
-Ephesians 6:1-5
Before considering the above key supporting verses in the Book of Ephesians, I think Paul summarizes the entire Book of Ephesians beautifully in Romans 13:12-14.
The reference is below.
Romans 13:12-14 NIV
12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us PUT ASIDE the deeds of darkness and PUT ON the armor of light.
13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
14 Rather, CLOTHE yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
In a nutshell, believers must first put aside the deeds of darkness before putting on the full armor of God or embracing the light. It’s like needing to bathe before putting on clean clothes—you wouldn’t expect new clothes to cleanse you. With this in mind, I will examine the key verses from Ephesians chapters 4, 5, and 6.
Here are the verses:
Ephesians 4:22-28 (NIV)
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to PUT OFF your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to PUT ON the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must PUT OFF falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Ephesians 4:29-31 (NIV)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
30 And do not GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 GET RID of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians 5:1-5 (GNT)
1 Since you are God’s dear children, you must try to be like him.
2 Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.
3 Since you are God’s people, it is not right that any matters of SEXUAL IMMORALITY or INDECENCY or GREED should even be mentioned among you.
4 Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God.
5 You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy (for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 6:1-5 (NIV)
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—
3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
The Book of Ephesians outlines a clear path to spiritual maturity and readiness for warfare:
1) first, establishing a foundation of righteous living,
2) and then equipping oneself with the Full Armor of God.
Paul begins by establishing the importance of unity, humility, and renewal within the Christian community (Ephesians 4). This foundation is essential for a life characterized by love, light, and obedience (Ephesians 5). Only then does he introduce the concept of spiritual warfare and the protective gear necessary to withstand it (Ephesians 6).
This sequential approach underscores the idea that the Armor of God is not merely a defensive tactic but a complement to a life already surrendered to Christ. It’s a shield for those who are actively pursuing holiness and living in harmony with God’s will.
Essentially, Ephesians presents a holistic view of Christian life: from its inward transformation to its outward expression in the face of spiritual opposition.
NO CONTRADICTION
Undoubtedly, Romans 13:12-14 and Ephesians are in complete harmony. Both passages convey a consistent message.
The modern theology asserts that Christians are incapable of living holy lives independently. They often labeled those Christians who trying to live a Holy life as ‘self-effort’ or self-righteousness. The prevailing view is that only through the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit can believers abstain from sin.
However, this interpretation diverges from Scripture. The Bible explicitly instructs believers to ‘PUT OFF’ the deeds of darkness, such as sexual immorality and indecency. This implies a clear expectation and capacity for Christians to live pure lives. This is God’s direct command.
It’s worth noting that contemporary teachings frequently emphasize God’s complete forgiveness of past, present, and future sins. Based on this perspective, actions like sexual immorality, hatred, and lying are deemed forgiven. This logic inadvertently minimizes the gravity of sin, placing it below self-righteousness. Such a view contradicts biblical truth. If God’s forgiveness truly extends unconditionally to all sins, past, present, and future, the necessity for Paul’s extensive counsel in Ephesians 4 becomes questionable.
CONCLUSION
Given that Paul authored and promoted the concept of the Full Armor of God, one might assume he successfully wore it himself. However, did Paul and the early Christians enjoy prosperity, victory over sickness, and immunity from suffering, persecution, and imprisonment? The answer is no.
Contrary to popular belief, Paul and his contemporaries were not showered with wealth. Instead, they endured hardship, persecution, poverty, and scarcity. Notably, Paul was imprisoned while writing about the Full Armor of God (Ephesians 6:20). This suggests the armor did not shield him from adversity or guarantee material prosperity.
We understand that the persecution they faced—stoning, beatings, and imprisonment—originated from Satan and his demonic forces. If the Full Armor of God was a failsafe against such attacks, what purpose did it serve? What does this metaphorical armor truly protect against?
If the combination of the Full Armor of God and praying in tongues ensured victory and prosperity, modern preachers should confidently deploy these tools in war-torn regions like Ukraine and Israel. Their congregations could theoretically avoid harm, destruction, and suffering by simply equipping themselves with this spiritual armor. However, this is not the case.
I will delve deeper into this topic in Part 2 by examining Isaiah 59. One question I will address is whether Isaiah instructed the Israelites to pray in tongues and don the Full Armor of God.
My conclusion on this part One of the study shall be on the “Recap” of Part 2. Amenbible.
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