Church Blog

May 20 2009 at 4:31 pm

How the Christian’s Armor Helps

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In his message this past Sunday from Ephesians 6:13-17, Braden made several references to Peter O’Brien’s commentary, The Letter to the Ephesians. Here are the quotes Braden shared:

In reference to the shield of faith (verse 16):

“Here the burning arrows depict, in highly metaphorical language, every kind of attack launched by the devil and his hosts against the people of God. They ... include not only every kind of temptation to ungodly behavior, doubt, and despair, but also external assaults, such as persecution or false teaching. Paul’s expression conveys the sense of extreme danger.  The forces of ‘the evil one’ are incredibly powerful, and left to our own devices we would certainly fail.  But these flaming arrows cannot harm those whose trust and confidence are ‘in the Lord and in his mighty power’ (v. 10). They are able to resist and overcome these satanic attacks.”

In reference to the helmet of salvation (verse 17a):

“As [Christians] appropriate this salvation more fully and live in the light of their status in Christ, they have every reason to be confident of the outcome of the battle.”

In reference to vs. 15, “... and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace”:

“What is in view here is ... the faithful speaking forth of the gospel in the realm of darkness, so that men and women held by Satan might hear this liberating and life-giving word and be free from his grasp.”

 





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