and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
A sword is both a defensive and offensive weapon. With it you can block the blows of the enemy and with it you can strike the enemy down. In Hebrews 4:12 we read “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” We see that it is able to get into the inner most being.
We see how the sword of truth is used in Matthew 4:4-11. Notice that the tempter came in a time of weakness and made his attack. Notice also that each attack was met with the word of God. The tempter also used the word in a miss application but that was turned aside by rightly dividing the word and comparing scripture with scripture. In the end the tempter left in defeat. But we see in the parallel account of this in Luke 4:4-13 the tempter only left until a more opportune time. As long as we are alive the battle is not over.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Helmet
And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION
As believers we are saved from the penalty of sin, the power of sin and ultimately from the very presence of sin.
The first stage of salvation is called justification, salvation from the penalty of sin. Justification is an instantaneous, past act of God by which one is saved from the guilt of sin- his record is cleared and he is guiltless before the judge. [1] We can see this in Romans 8:1. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. In other words we are freed from our past. This is also the basis by which God can have fellowship with us.
The second stage of salvation is called sanctification, salvation form the power of sin. Unlike justification, sanctification is not an act of God declaring us righteous; rather, it is a continual process in the present by which God is making us righteous. [2]
Because of sanctification it is no longer necessary that we sin. Before salvation we did not have a choice as to whether or not we sinned. After salvation we can choose to submit to God and allow him to change us or we can choose to submit to the old sin nature and return to what we once were. If we choose the old sin nature then our fellowship with God is broken. We utilize 1 john 1:9 to return to fellowship. If we choose not to return to fellowship then we fall under divine discipline.
The third stage of salvation is called glorification. Unlike justification (which saved us from the past penalty of sin) and sanctification (which is saving us from the present power of sin) glorification is the future act that will save us from the very presence of sin.[3] This can be seen in Revelation 21:1-4.
[1] Dr. Norman Geisler, Systematic Theology Volume Three p 235.
[2] Dr. Norman Geisler, Systematic Theology Volume Three p 237.
[3] Dr. Norman Geisler, Systematic Theology Volume Three p 241.
As believers we are saved from the penalty of sin, the power of sin and ultimately from the very presence of sin.
The first stage of salvation is called justification, salvation from the penalty of sin. Justification is an instantaneous, past act of God by which one is saved from the guilt of sin- his record is cleared and he is guiltless before the judge. [1] We can see this in Romans 8:1. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. In other words we are freed from our past. This is also the basis by which God can have fellowship with us.
The second stage of salvation is called sanctification, salvation form the power of sin. Unlike justification, sanctification is not an act of God declaring us righteous; rather, it is a continual process in the present by which God is making us righteous. [2]
Because of sanctification it is no longer necessary that we sin. Before salvation we did not have a choice as to whether or not we sinned. After salvation we can choose to submit to God and allow him to change us or we can choose to submit to the old sin nature and return to what we once were. If we choose the old sin nature then our fellowship with God is broken. We utilize 1 john 1:9 to return to fellowship. If we choose not to return to fellowship then we fall under divine discipline.
The third stage of salvation is called glorification. Unlike justification (which saved us from the past penalty of sin) and sanctification (which is saving us from the present power of sin) glorification is the future act that will save us from the very presence of sin.[3] This can be seen in Revelation 21:1-4.
[1] Dr. Norman Geisler, Systematic Theology Volume Three p 235.
[2] Dr. Norman Geisler, Systematic Theology Volume Three p 237.
[3] Dr. Norman Geisler, Systematic Theology Volume Three p 241.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Shield
in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Why is faith a shield? To understand this we must consider Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The word for faith is πίστις (4102) and means to win over persuade. Faith. Subjectively meaning firm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, veracity, reality or faithfulness (though rare). Objectively meaning that which is believed, doctrine, the received articles of faith.[1] Faith is a weighting of the evidence, both for and against and reaching a conclusion based on that evidence. So we see that faith is an orientation to reality. But what is reality? Reality is what is actually real, not what we think, or perceive as real. Let me give an example: for thousands of years people thought that the earth was flat, that was perceived reality. What was the biblical view of reality at that time? For that we turn to Isaiah 40:22 “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” (Emphasis added) So much for perceived reality. It took science a thousand years or so to catch up with the bible.
The Greek word for assurance is ὑπόστασις (5287) and it means to place or set under. In general, that which underlies the apparent, hence, reality, essence, substance; that which is the basis of something, hence, assurance guarantee, confidence.[2] This assurance comes from faith, not wishful thinking, but faith based on proven reality.
Consider Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. “ Faith is a shield because of who our faith is in. Faith in the wrong thing, no matter how sincere is useless. Let me illustrate. I once knew a man whose sister loved fresh picked mushrooms. She knew which ones could be eaten and which could not. One day she ate what she was convinced was a save mushroom to eat. It nearly killed her. Afterwards, if you ask her she would still tell you that she believed it was a safe mushroom to eat. Despite that belief she nearly died. Her faith was useless.
As our trust in God grows we are able to turn aside the enemy’s attacks. Faith is like a muscle though; if you do not use it then it withers. You cannot ignore God every day then expect to be able to trust Him to deliver you in your time of need.
[1] The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament
[2] The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament
Why is faith a shield? To understand this we must consider Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The word for faith is πίστις (4102) and means to win over persuade. Faith. Subjectively meaning firm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, veracity, reality or faithfulness (though rare). Objectively meaning that which is believed, doctrine, the received articles of faith.[1] Faith is a weighting of the evidence, both for and against and reaching a conclusion based on that evidence. So we see that faith is an orientation to reality. But what is reality? Reality is what is actually real, not what we think, or perceive as real. Let me give an example: for thousands of years people thought that the earth was flat, that was perceived reality. What was the biblical view of reality at that time? For that we turn to Isaiah 40:22 “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” (Emphasis added) So much for perceived reality. It took science a thousand years or so to catch up with the bible.
The Greek word for assurance is ὑπόστασις (5287) and it means to place or set under. In general, that which underlies the apparent, hence, reality, essence, substance; that which is the basis of something, hence, assurance guarantee, confidence.[2] This assurance comes from faith, not wishful thinking, but faith based on proven reality.
Consider Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. “ Faith is a shield because of who our faith is in. Faith in the wrong thing, no matter how sincere is useless. Let me illustrate. I once knew a man whose sister loved fresh picked mushrooms. She knew which ones could be eaten and which could not. One day she ate what she was convinced was a save mushroom to eat. It nearly killed her. Afterwards, if you ask her she would still tell you that she believed it was a safe mushroom to eat. Despite that belief she nearly died. Her faith was useless.
As our trust in God grows we are able to turn aside the enemy’s attacks. Faith is like a muscle though; if you do not use it then it withers. You cannot ignore God every day then expect to be able to trust Him to deliver you in your time of need.
[1] The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament
[2] The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament
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