Thursday, November 29, 2012

Ephesians 6:14


Copyright Ó 2012 J. Neely
Ephesians 6:14

14 Stand [histemi] therefore, [oun] having [perizonnumi] your [humon] loins [osphus] girt about [perizonnumi] with [en] truth, [aletheia] and [kai] having on [enduo] the breastplate [thorax] of righteousness; [dikaiosune] KJV-Interlinear

14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, NASB

Whole or complete armor, refers to the complete and covered protection of a soldier in battle.

In these verses there are described six pieces of armor in the spiritual battle dress of the believer.

Belt of truth;
Breastplate of righteousness;
Footwear of peace;
Shield of faith;
Helmet of salvation;
Sword of the Spirit.

Stand, means to hold your position, do not retreat, do not run away, but hold the line, stay where you are regardless of the onslaught of attacks against you in whatever manner.  But stay the course in your spiritual life.  Just make sure that your course is the correct and a legitimate course, as God has designed and not what you have made convenient for yourself.

Girted, is a belted description of taking up loose clothing and binding it all together so that you can move freely and quickly and not be hampered by that loose clothing. It is gathered up tight or belted in tight giving you maximum freedom of movement without interference.

With truth, which is doctrine. You are to tie doctrine all round you, tight, wrapping yourself up snuggly and completely with the principles, mandates, precepts, instruction, and content of the scriptures.

And how do you do this?  You study daily.  Your life is a daily activity.  Your life in this world runs from day to day, moment to moment for your entire life, so too, you are to take truth and place yourself inside of its hold and bindings which does to restrict you, but in reality gives you much more freedom of action and movement in life.

Having the breastplate or coat of mail worn across the front and back of the individual from the neck down to the thighs. Most vital organs are in that region of the body and this symbol of protection on the front, sides, and back gives broad defensive protection for the body, which is used to function in life.

All assaults against the body are defended and deflected by that breastplate armor.  The breastplate is an integral mesh of armor woven together, strong yet flexible, tying all doctrines that have been learned and now applied in one cohesive component of your life, deflecting and defending you from all attacks of evil on your daily life.

Protecting the neck, arms, and upper legs, the heart and stomach and so forth, all tying together to represent your daily living activity.  The arms for work, the legs for movement, the heart for the content of your active thoughts within your soul and so forth.  The rest of your vital organs for the filtering of truth, for the metabolism of truth, for the many functions of the spiritual life.

Of righteousness, which is the spiritual life lived while in fellowship.

Confession accomplishes fellowship.  Fellowship is the unseen sphere or environment in which you are to live your life.  Once saved, you still commit sins, but in order to maintain an active relationship with God, you must confess your sins to God the Father, ‘Father I did this or that.’ And it is just that simple.

Confession is your recognition of your flaws and your acceptance of Gods mandate to confess to Him, and to no one else.  Confession is strictly between you and God the Father and no one else.

With confession, you are placed immediately in fellowship, 1 Jn. 1:9, and as such, your life is in effect in residence in Gods righteousness, not mans righteousness, and that all lies behind that coat of armor consisting of doctrine, thus protecting your life, your daily life from evil.

Residence in fellowship allows you to freely function in life inside of the environment in which your spiritual life flourishes.  Your spiritual life functions only when you are in fellowship.  When you commit a sin and have not confessed it, then your spiritual life is shut down, and you are in effect without the protection of Gods righteousness.