A) INTRODUCTION
Under the influence of modern teaching, I used to agree with them that Jesus died poor so that believers could live a wealthy, rich life. It is a divine exchange, so to speak.
Modern teaching is saying that should the believers put on the Armor of God fully, they should live a prosperous, lack-not, healthy life, and away from the spiritual attack of the principalities of the dark forces.
Separately, based on Colossians 1:13-16, the modern teaching is saying Jesus’ death on the cross has already:-
–Delivered believers from the power of darkness, and
–Disarmed the principalities of law against the believers.
Furthermore, modern teaching is saying when believers speak/pray in Tongues, is the key to clothe the full Armor of God automatically, and effortlessly.
B) QUESTIONS
If that is the case, why should believers be required to put on the Full Armor of God (to resist the spiritual dark forces), since they have already been delivered from the power of principalities of dark forces and the law that accuses them?
For sure, the first century Christians never lived wealthily, healthily, and suffered-not lives. Being closer to Jesus, they were supposed to possess great earthly wealth and lack not lives, if what modern teaching is true.
Bear in mind that Paul was in prison when he wrote the Book of Ephesians. The Full Armor of God did not protect him from imprisonment, great prosecution, and much-unwanted adversity and suffering.
Furthermore, does that mean all believers shall own their private jets and also have their private runway, just like one of the preachers has?
C) UNION WITH CHRIST
This is part 3 of my study on the Full Armor of God. Parts 1 and 2 can be found at:
Full Armor of God Part 1
Full Armor of God Part 2
Without further ado, I shall go straight to His word. The Bible often tells believers to “Union with Christ”. Sometimes it says “Abide in Me” or “Remain in Me”. Exactly, in the open verse on Full Armor of God, Paul calls believers to be “Union” with the Lord. See below.
| GNT- Verse 10 | AMPC- Verse 10 | NKJV- Verse 10 |
| Finally, build up your strength in UNION with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. | In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your UNION with Him]; DRAW YOUR STRENGTH from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. | Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. |
The word of the Lord in Ephesians 6:10 is saying “Union in Him” and to DRAW STRENGTH from Him.
It means it is one thing to accept Jesus as Lord and another thing to be “Union or Abide” in Him.
Christians do not automatically or constantly “Abide/Union and draw strength from Him. It takes great effort and constant practice to “Abide/ Union in Him.”
D) BELT OF TRUTH
Next, I shall examine individual pieces of the Armor of God.
The First piece is the truth. The Bible warns believers that there are many false teachers and prophets in the end times.
Some of the bible verses on false teachers and prophets can be found on:-
Matthew 7:15
Matthew 24:11
Matthew 24:24
Mark 13:22
Luke 6:26
1 John 4:1
1 Timothy 1:2-4
2 Peter 2:1-3 etc
One of my earlier studies was on the topic of “The Truth Will Set You Free – Part 1”. Briefly, it is one thing to believe in Jesus, but it is another thing to act/ live on it, (to) set free from bondage. The context as shown:-
| John 8:31-32 AMPC 30 As He said these things, many believed in Him [trusted, relied on, and adhered to Him]. 31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. |
Hence, the belt of truth is NOT just “Put on” by SELF-DECLARING that believers are having the truth. It is about living, and acting on the requirement of His word.
By the way, Satan also knows His truth. But Satan chose to disobey, defiant on His word. Satan didn’t live in His word
E) BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Secondly, I shall look at “Breastplate of Righteousness” from three different translations in verse 14 below:
| Verse 14 AMP | Verse 14 GNT | Verse 14 CEB |
| 14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the BREASTPLATE OF INTEGRITY and of MORAL RECTITUDE and right standing with God, | 14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, | 14 So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, JUSTICE as your breastplate, |
If I take the word “Righteousness” as “Right Standing with God”, and all believers are ALREADY having “Right standing with Him”, as suggested by the modern teaching, why should believers (still) need to “Put on” what they (already) have it?
Worse still, have to call things into existence by proclamation or declaration of what already have. How contradicting is modern teaching?
The word “BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”, should be as AMPC suggests, the Breastplate of:-
-integrity and moral rectitude and right standing with God
-justice
It is not about “Clothes on His/ Jesus’ Righteousness” by declaration. It is the righteousness of individuals. That means it is about believers’ integrity and moral rectitude.
Believers have to Put off deeds of darkness according to Ephesians chapters 4 to 6 and constantly “PUTTING ON” a series of their moral integrity.
The Bible also reminds believers to seek He first in Matthew 6:33 which reads:-
| Matthew 6:33 AMPC 33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (HIS WAY OF DOING AND BEING RIGHT), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. |
In short, it is about believers’ Right Doing, and right standing with Him as what the AMPC Bible translated in both Ephesians 6:14 and Matthew 6:33.
F) PURPOSE OF ARMOR OF GOD
The next verse, in verse 15 tells Christians, the purpose of “Putting on” the Full Armor of Christ.
The purpose of putting on the Full Armor of God is to “SPREAD/ ANNOUNCE” the gospel. In short, it is about being the “Soldier in evangelizing and interceding for the Lord.” Rather, it is not for living a prosperous, lack-not, wealthy and healthy life,
It is not for SELF-DECLARING that “they are having the peace with them.” Truly, it is about spreading His gospel. Action is needed, not by DECLARATION of peace alone.
The context shows:
| Verse 15 AMP | Verse 15 GNT | Verse 15 CEB |
| 15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. | 15 and as your shoes the readiness to ANNOUNCE the Good News of peace. | 15 and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to SPREAD the good news of peace. |
It is the same what Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15 are saying “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Should I jump to verses 18,19, and 20, Paul is telling believers to intercede for others, and covering him in prayer that FREEDOM of utterance may be given him for SHARING THE GOSPEL.
Hence, the purpose of the Full Armor of God is primarily about sharing the Faith. Unavoidably, as believers are sharing the gospel, they shall be under attack from the dark forces.
G) FAITH
Next, modern teaching likes to say “It is not your Faith. It is about His faith.”
If believers are to depend on their faith, it shall achieve nothing. Shall believers depend on Jesus’ faith, whatever they do, they shall fail not, they said.
On the other hand, they are teaching from Bible examples that say “YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU.”
Biblically, to my understanding it is when believers keep putting their faith in Him/ Jesus that is of paramount importance in life. Some of the examples of “Your faith has saved/ healed you” can be found on:
-Luke 7:50
-Luke 18:42
-Luke 8:48
-Mark 5:34
-Mark 10:52
-Matthew 9:22 etc
Indeed, Paul is the classical example of putting his faith in the Lord even as he was in prison and great suffering,
Paul even exhorted believers to “Rejoice”. Just imagine a person shouting for “Rejoice” as he was in prison. Paul did not question his calling, purpose, and saving faith as he went through great suffering.
He is even glad to be an ambassador in the chain. This is the kind of faith. Indeed, his faith quenches all the flaming missiles of the wicked. In short, he never loses faith in Him amid great suffering.
The word of the Lord is saying “Carry the shield of faith so that YOU can extinguish…” The word never says “So that the Lord can extinguish…” It is “YOUR (or YOU)” faith. IT IS NOT ABOUT JESUS’ FAITH. It is about believers’ faith (in Him).
| Verse 16 AMP | Verse 16 GNT | Verse 16 CEB |
| 16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. | 16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. | 16 Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. |
| Verse 17 AMP | Verse 17 GNT | Verse 17 CEB |
| 17 And TAKE the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. | 17 And ACCEPT salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. | 17 TAKE the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. |
Again, Christians are reminded to read or memorize His word diligently. There is no way the word of God can be clothing unto believers automatically by praying in Tongues.
Hence, it is not possible to take up the Full Armor of God, simply by praying in Tongues as suggested by modern teaching.
| Verses 18-19 AMPC | Verses 18-19 GNT | Verses 18-19 CEB |
| 18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). | 18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, AS THE SPIRIT LEADS. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people. | 18 Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all believers. |
| 19 And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel), | 19 And pray also for me, that God will give me a message when I am ready to speak, so that I may speak boldly and make known the gospel’s secret. | 19 As for me, pray that when I open my mouth, I’ll get a message that confidently makes this secret plan of the gospel known. |
H) PRAY IN SPIRIT
Verse 18 is a bit ambiguous. Mostly, people are saying “Praying in Spirit” is praying in Tongues.
However, to my knowledge, “Tongues” is one of the nine spiritual gifts. That means not everyone has the gift of Tongues. Unless believers are saying they inherit all the nine spiritual gifts. But that is not in line with the word.
It is just like not every believer has the gifts of prophetic, healing, word of knowledge, etc as Paul outlines in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31. Not everyone is called to be apostles, Tongues speakers, healers for the sick, etc
Besides, Paul says speaking in Tongues edifies individuals, whilst prophesying is for the church (1 Corinthians 14:4). In that, Paul is making a comparison and contrast of both Tongues and Prophecy.
In a way, the effect is quite similar. Both are making a prediction, insights, and interpreting His divinity and revelations word. It is just that a prophecy word is for the church. But Tongues are for the individuals’ edification.
Hence, Tongues mustn’t be mistaken as a tool for “protecting” Christians from evil forces.
That’s why I favor the GNT Bible translation of this verse. It means believers are to pray in word as and when the Holy Spirit leads them.
If this verse is about speaking in Tongues, it will not be fair for those believers, as well as infants and new believers who do not have the gift. Again, not everyone is given the gift of Speaking in Tongues.
I) SUMMARY
The fact is, the Full Armor of God is about Believers pursuing their godly morality and living life according to His truth and His way as they are spreading His gospel. Be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10) and don’t lose faith when facing great sufferings as believers are sharing His gospel.
Essentially, to make an apple-to-apple comparison, it is about “Put off” the deeds of works of darkness and “Put on ” other deeds of works of the requirement of the Lord. Put on God’s standard of His requirements. It is about clothing on the “WORKS”.
Without holy living, no one can stand the test and prosecution.
In conclusion, if clothing on the Armor of God is clothing on Jesus, then verses 13 and 14 need not remind believers to “RESIST AND STAND FIRM”. Believers shall be asking Jesus or the Holy Spirit to “RESIST AND STAND” on their behalf since it is all about Him, not about Believers.
Lastly, Paul, as the writer of Full Armor of God didn’t live a high and prosperous life as he penned this truth, he was imprisoned. Indeed, Paul was living in great suffering but he fought the good fight with his faith in Him.
Not just that, one of Satan’s roles and weapons is to accuse God of people. He is called an accuser/ prosecutor. He even accused Job that he loved God because the Almighty made him wealthy. Of course, modern teaching is saying Job living in “Self Righteousness”.
If taking up the Armor of God involves Believers’ effort in being self-effort as what modern teaching is claiming, then memorizing God’s word which is the sword of the Armor of God is also self-effort. Amenbible.
RELATED POSTS:-
The Truth Will Set You Free – Part 1
Full Armor of God – Part 1
Full Armor of God – Part 2
Tongues- Part 1
Tongues- Part 2
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