I’m guilty of this, at times. Amongst Christians, there can be wrestling against flesh and blood in this world, and yet the Word of God tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. All we can see is flesh and blood, and yet there is a battle that we cannot see, which wars against our mind for reaction, despair, blame, hate, negativity. Look at what the media does – anything to cause a reaction in people to cause anger, blame, and divide.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places – Ephesians 6:10-12
Worldly issues can infect Christians who are not dependent on the Word of God, and the Body of Christ is weakened.
In a perfect world, there would be no need for abortion, greed, rape, famine, murder, suffering, disease, cruelty, torture, injustice, racism, hate, gossip, adultery, violence etc, but we live in an imperfect corrupt world because of sin, and yet humans fight against humans because of all the above. Power corrupts. Why are there even celebrities who are paid vast amounts of money, often to spread their godless agendas of the love of self, new age religion, humanism etc. Man believes that peace is possible upon this Earth, but the Word of God says otherwise. Only until the Prince of Peace comes will there be lasting peace upon this Earth.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6
The world hates Jesus Christ and the only true God. God is taken out of education and has been replaced with interfaith, which teaches that all paths lead to God, because this way it doesn’t offend the pride of man. Jesus does offend the pride of man, because Jesus said quite clearly that he is the only way to be reconciled to God the Father.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me – John 14:6
Only Jesus can save a soul from eternal death and separation from God, and yet much of the ‘Christian’ religions today are teaching an accursed gospel of grace plus works. They do not take God at His Word, and instead believe that they are doing God a favour in adding works to the gospel. They spit in the face of Jesus. If works could save us, why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnCunPboHMQ&w=560&h=315]
In TV and movies, God is often portrayed through the Roman Catholic Church, but a human ‘Father’ cannot take away sin. Transubstantiation, or the catholic mass, does not pay for sin. Mass is completed daily, and yet its leaders and followers are deceived by man’s traditions and depend upon human works to pay for sin. Hebrews is clear.
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins – Hebrews 10:11
Jesus’ sacrifice paid for ALL the sin of mankind, and God the Father was satisfied with the payment because Jesus sat down at the right hand (the place of honour) of the Father. No priest in the Old Testament could ever sit down, because there was always sin to atone for, and sin offerings were made daily, but they were never permanent. Only the sinless Lamb of God would one day make a one-time atonement for mankind’s sin on the cross.
but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; – Hebrews 10:12
This is why when God saves a person who trusts in the perfect work of Jesus Christ on the cross, who died for us and rose from the dead, God seals them with the Holy Spirit of Promise, and salvation does not come by a feeling. Instead, we must take God at his word by faith.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him – Hebrews 11:6
The reason we are the way we are is because of the inherited sin nature, from Adam.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: – Romans 5:12
Sin brings a death penalty, and the wages of sin is death.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord – Romans 6:23
Everyone dies, and there is a lasting place for our soul, either in heaven, or in hell. Even though philosophy might state otherwise, and men might have accreditation’s and doctorates to say that Jehovah God does not exist, the Word of God (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men – John 1:1-4
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him – John 1:14-18
Nobody needs to go to hell, because Jesus has made the payment for everyone’s sin, but we must receive Him as Saviour by faith in his death, burial, and resurrection as payment for our sin. The gospel is clear in Corinthians.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures – 1 Corinthians 5:1-4
Jesus came not to condemn humans, but to save them and reconcile them to God the Father. But God has also given us something called free will – the free will to receive Christ, or to reject Him.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God – John 3:16-18
The Bible is clear that we do not receive salvation by ourselves, or our works. It is a free gift of God that we must receive by faith in Christ’s atoning work for our sins.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast – Ephesians 2:8-9
Upon putting our trust in Christ, we receive His very righteousness that completely erases our sins, and we are now positionally sanctified forever by the finished work of Christ.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him – 2 Corinthians 5:21
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us – Psalm 103:12
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God – 1 Corinthians 6:11
The devil does a good job of turning humankind against itself, even in the Body of Christ, often via the news and media, but the warfare is spiritual. Satan wants souls to take to hell, while Jesus wants to save souls from eternal destruction, and it is so easy to be saved because God made it simple to receive. Man makes it complicated by religion and rituals. Jesus overcame the world, and yet the current god of this world is Satan, who deceives humankind away from the One True God by way of religion, accursed gospels, media, sports, violent gaming, pornography etc.
Faithful exercises for Christians to practice in this current world against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness in this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places is faithfully giving the gospel of Christ focusing only on Christ’s perfect atoning work, and nothing of ourselves, praying for the Body of Christ, submission to authority and prayers for our leaders, practicing gratitude and praise toward God, singing unto the Lord, praying in the Will of God for answered prayers, obedience to the Word of God, reading the Word of God daily, meditating and memorizing scripture, fasting as described in Isaiah 58:5-7, and yet we need strength in all of these areas. We need the whole armour of God.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; – Ephesians 6:13-18
The belt of truth is God. There is only one True God in three distinct persons – God the Father, the first person of the Godhead, the Son of God, the second person of the Godhead, and the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead. These three are distinct, yet each fully God.
Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else – Deuteronomy 4:39
I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies – Psalm 18:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want – Psalm 23:1
The breastplate of righteousness is what Christ gives us when we place our faith in Him. We can boldly come to the throne of grace, praying all day long, praising all day long, lifting precious souls up to God, asking for His intervention and guiding to bring them to Christ.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture – Psalm 100:3
for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: – Romans 3:23-24
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord – Romans 6:23
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him – 2 Corinthians 5:21
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain – Galatians 2:20-21
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; – Philippians 3:8-10
Our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace is our witness of hope in Christ to others. This is a lost world, and Jesus came to save sinners, of which we are all guilty. We are the light and salt in this world as believers who can share the good news that Christ came not to condemn the world, but by his death, burial and resurrection, saves those who receive Him.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: – Romans 5:1
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; – Ephesians 2:14
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid – John 14:27
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world – John 16:33
but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: – 1 Peter 3:15
The shield of faith is to live by faith in the truths and promises of God.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith – Romans 1:17
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform – Romans 4:18-21
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen – Hebrews 11:1
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him – Hebrews 11:6
The helmet of salvation is available only through Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, who died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead. Salvation is not of human works, only by the sinless Son of God who became a sin offering for mankind, and when we change our mind and see that by our works we can never attain perfection, we put our faith in Jesus Christ who gives us His righteousness, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and can never be lost.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life – John 5:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life – John 6:47
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me – John 14:6
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 4:17
who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him – Hebrews 1:3-6
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure – 1 John 3:1-3
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God – 1 John 5:13
The sword of the Spirit is God’s Word, which is used to discern spiritual deception, to build up the Body of Christ, to strengthen, to successfully battle the enemy.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him – Matthew 4:2-11
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart – Hebrews 4:12
preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine – 2 Timothy 4:2
but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: – 1 Peter 3:15
