"The good fight of faith" to which born again believers are called originates with the Lord Jesus Christ, continues by Him, and culminates with Him (I Timothy 6:12).
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:13-19).
Each component of the whole armor of God is identified with Christ in Scripture.
1. "Having your loins girt with truth" - "I am... the truth" (John 14:6).
2. "Having on the breastplate of righteousness" - "Christ is made unto us... righteousness" (I Corinthians 1:30).
3. "Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" - "He is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14).
4. "Taking the shield of faith" - "I live by the faith of the Son of God" (Galatians 2:20).
5. "Take the helmet of salvation" - "Being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him" (Hebrews 5:9).
6. "Take the... sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" - "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).
7. "Watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel" - "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6).
This series of messages began with the proposal that We must always view the battle to which we are called through the prism of the Lord Jesus. Our Heavenly Father purposes His Son to "in all things... have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18). "God always causeth us to triumph in Christ" (II Corinthians 2:14). We fight the good fight of faith through Christ, by Christ, and for the glory and revelation of Christ. Any other emphasis or means of waging war against the devil, the world, and the flesh is futile at best, and spiritually dangerous at worst (a point we will address in a future consideration).
Being a "good soldier of Jesus Christ" requires devotion to our Savior as the center and circumference of our existence (II Timothy 2:3). If we have believed, the Lord Jesus dwells in us by His Spirit, and we are in Him. We must recognize that Christ created all things, He sustains all things, and He will culminate all things as both Judge and as the One who will ultimately present all things to His Father "that God may be all, and in all" (John 1:3; Colossians 1:17; John 5:22; I Corinthians 15:28). Whether we know it or not, our lives are Christ-saturated, and the more we grow in awareness thereof, the more we are prepared "to triumph in Christ." Indeed, Satan's primary purpose involves distraction, diversion, and deception from the centrality of the Lord Jesus. Those who consistently and successfully fight the good fight of faith see the true nature of the battle, and war accordingly.
"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue."
(II Peter 1:2-3)
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