CHAPTER 6
Justification and Defense
Defending Our Position
I have tried to clearly define the high moral ground. Our standing in this position is wholly contingent upon our reliance on the Word of God. It is our faith in God’s Word that allows us to share the eternal truths and the wisdom that has come to us from above. Other people around us may not be aware of the source of our knowledge. Their perception of what we say and who we are could offend them, because our speech and actions will be in conflict with their world view.
I remember a friend of mine making this statement to me: “How come you always win our arguments?” I was taken aback and did not know what to say. I had not been aware that I had won any arguments. We had come together because we had both been drafted into the army. At that time, he had not been a Christian very long; whereas, I had grown up in a Christian home and my father was a minister. Our common faith had drawn us together and we had a lot of discussion about it. He was much more intelligent than I was and more educated. It was not that I was winning the arguments; it was the truths I presented from the Scripture that were convincing him of truth.
There is a danger of becoming prideful and we need to guard against it; however, but we can not allow ourselves to be intimidated by those who would accuse us of being proud. We need to stand for truth and righteousness and live righteously, knowing that it is God who judges the intent of the heart. We who are recipients of the truth need to declare it and make clear its source.
Judge Not
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” (Mt 7:1-2 NAS95)
This is one of those Biblical concepts that has suffered much misunderstanding and often complete distortion. I will not take the time here to go into a complete study of this subject, but it is important that we clarify some basics when it comes to judging. Simply put, God is the judge and He has given all judgment over to the Son. That means it is not for us to judge, right? Trust me on this one, we will be much better off if we leave the judging to Him.
A problem arises, because most people do not seem to know what the Bible means when it instructs us not to judge. The distortion of this concept has been used as a club by the enemy to stifle the voice of Christians. The Christian has been called to reveal to the world the judgments of God.
Judgment is twofold. First, it is the determination of right and wrong. God alone is the one who holds this authority. Secondly, judgment is the determination of the consequences of sin. This also is God’s determination, not ours. This is not to say that we are to remain ignorant on these matters. On the contrary, God wants us to understand His determinations. From verses that I have already mentioned, we learn that discernment between right and wrong comes with maturity and our receiving instruction from God’s Word. We know from the Scripture that the consequence of sin is death. It is only through the blood of Jesus Christ that we are rescued from that death.
God has revealed His judgments, and we are to be witnesses of these truths to the world. Our first responsibility is to live according to His determination of righteousness. Secondly, we are responsible to teach His righteousness. Thirdly, God has delegated authority to those in the family, the Church, and the governments, who hold positions of authority to carry out His judgments, to maintain order and promote righteousness.
Temporal Authority
“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.” (Ro 13:1-5 NAS95)
God has delegated some temporal authority for the purpose of maintaining order here on earth. There are authorities both to govern nations and to govern the Church. There is also delegated authority even down to the level of the family. God is a God of order and not of confusion.
Now we all know that the governments of this world are often not that righteous. They have their laws, their courts, and their judgments. Those holding positions of authority have their responsibility. They will eventually have to give an account of how they exercised that authority. Our response and responsibility as believers, is not contingent upon how anyone else fulfills their responsibility. God will have the final judgment and He alone determines right from wrong. We are instructed as Christians to honor those authorities and live peaceable lives.
If perchance those in authority require of us an action that is in violation of the Law of God, then it is our duty to take a stand as Peter and the Disciples did and say, “We must obey God rather than men.” Man’s law does not usurp God’s Law. There will come a time when the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord. Until then, we live in their world, but we live by God’s Law.
Our Defense
“FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.” Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always [being] ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;” (1Pe 3:12-15 NAS95)
Who is there to harm you, if you prove zealous for what is good? The answer of course is those who do evil. You may wonder why we would suffer for righteousness, if the Lord is for us and attending to our prayers. A study of Peter’s epistle brings great clarity to this issue. As disciples of Christ, we have been entrusted with the fulfillment of His mission, to offer salvation to everyone who is willing.
We have just considered the fact that Christ will judge all things. If we are in right standing, occupying the high moral ground, then Christ is our defense before the Judge. When we are considering presenting a defense to people, it is not for the purpose of the consideration of their judgments or opinions. Our defense before them is to testify of our faith and confidence that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ. They need to know why we are more concerned about them than we are about ourselves. We need to equip ourselves with answers. Our defense is always rooted in love. Love is our motivation to share with them and try to persuade them to look to Jesus as the source of life.
By sanctifying the Christ as Lord in our hearts, we overcome their attempts to cause us to fear or to be intimidated. Instead, with the love of God in our hearts, we are able to face our persecutors with their well-being in mind and not ours; being always ready to gently and respectfully share this great hope that dwells within us.
Being always ready implies being prepared. Remember we are in a battle here, but our battle is not against flesh and blood. Our battle is against that which enslaves the souls of people. If we do battle correctly, we will have the advantage. We will occupy the high ground. We have been given instruction to equip ourselves and to be encouraged that our strength comes from the Lord. We are told to take a stand and that we stand for truth and righteousness.
Equipped
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places.] Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 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.] And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” (Eph 6:10-18 NAS95)
Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians begins by greeting them as saints (holy ones). As the letter unfolds, we see how we as Christians (the saints) are positioned in the family of God. We are reminded of who we were and where God has brought us to. We are encouraged to grow up and become established in the righteousness of God. We are taught proper relationships one with another. Finally, we are confronted with the conflict that continues to war against our souls. We have been given what is necessary for the battles that lie before us. Now we need to put on that armor so that we will have full protection.
Before we start swinging our swords, we need to understand what we are up against and know who the enemy is. Our enemy is the devil, and his scheming attacks on us, God’s children. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. This does not mean that there are not going to be people fighting against us, but our struggle is against the forces that have enslaved them. Christ came to redeem man from the clutches of sin. Satan (the devil) has purposed to thwart God’s plan of redemption. Satan is no match for God in any way.
“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1Jo 4:4 NAS95)
We obtained our standing in Christ through faith. It is also faith that is required for us to maintain our standing. If we stand firm in the Word of God, then nothing can harm us; however, the warning that comes here is that the devil is scheming to undermine our confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ and His power to save us. As we grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord, we become a threat to the scheming of the devil. Not only are we becoming less vulnerable, but we become a bulwark of protection for those who are coming behind us.
As babes we could be content, surrounded by the fellow believers, to drink of the milk of God’s Word, and enjoy the pleasures of peace with God. As we mature in the faith, God asks us to gradually take on responsibilities concerning the Kingdom. We may not end up on the very front line of the battle like the Apostle Paul, but Paul, as a seasoned soldier, wanted us to know that we cannot withstand the schemes of the devil on any level without the armor that God has provided for us. This is not a physical battle, but a spiritual battle. The armor must be spiritual.
The Equipment
Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 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.] And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph. 6: 13 – 17 NAS95)
Even here in the 21st century, we have a basic understanding of the armor a soldier dons as he goes out to battle. Today, that armor may be more sophisticated, but the images of days gone by have been preserved through stories and traditions. Even though the battles we are considering are spiritual in nature, the principles still remain. Potentially we have vulnerable areas that need to be guarded. God has provided the equipment, but we need to put it on, test it, and get used to wearing it. This armor is not strictly for defense, but also to be used offensively.
Girdle
Stand firm having girded your loins with truth. If you have ever watched a man try to carry a heavy load with both arms while wearing low riding pants without a belt, then maybe you can understand the importance of girding your loins. As his pants slip lower, they not only expose him, but also impede his progress. Clothing is our first line of defense. Although it is not mentioned here, it is implied by the need to be girded. Clothing needs to be held in the place it was intended to be; otherwise, it can end up being a hindrance to our movements.
We are looking at a physical illustration here to help us understand the importance of preparation for spiritual battles. Let us not lose sight that the realities of the spiritual world are just as real as in the physical world. When we consider that we are girdled with truth, then we begin to visualize that the fundamental precept that ties everything in place is truth. Uncompromising truth is essential to enable us to stand and move with confidence. Once we deviate from truth, we have lost the high ground. Girded with truth, we can face our foe straight on. We can not battle as our enemy does through conniving and deceptive maneuvering, because we stand for truth and honesty. When we stand girded with truth, we will have the backing of heaven above and can stand in the strength of God’s might.
Breastplate
Having put on the breastplate of righteousness, we provide protection for our body and our essential organs. Most important is the guarding of the heart. Spiritually speaking, the heart is central to who we are. This is the seat of our desires. As a Christian, we have been born again, and have been given spiritual insight from the Word of God. Having tasted of this heavenly manna, our hearts desire those things that only God can provide; peace, love, and fellowship with Him. As I ponder the ramifications of this train of thought, it seems to make perfect sense that the armor guarding my heart would be righteousness.
Sometimes we use the words truth and righteousness as being synonymous, but righteousness is more about the way in which we use truth. Righteousness is “rightly using truth”. Truth can be manipulated to create a heart of stone. The enemy is not ignorant of the truth. If he can trick us into desiring to be seen as right, then our heart becomes vulnerable and our desires compromised. If we are protected with the breastplate of righteousness, then our godly desires remain intact.
Righteousness protects the heart that is in a life bound by truth. Our breastplate is obtained by grace through faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is maintained by the power of God in our lives as we follow Jesus. Christ is our righteousness. With the knowledge of sin came the truths of forgiveness, mercy, and grace, that we might be sanctified and redeemed by His holy blood. Only His righteousness can guard our heart against the pride or the discouragement the enemy would bring.
“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” (1Co 1:30-31 NAS95)
Footwear
Our feet are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. This is not what the enemy wants to see. He would rather see us coming forth with hate and revenge, but we have been informed that our struggle is not against flesh and blood. We have been equipped with preparations of good news that can redeem even those in the service of our enemy.
It is these shoes that present us with a constant reminder of what our mission really is. These shoes provide understanding (pun intended) of why we are willing to face the enemy, and why he is so opposed to our going forth. The world and its inhabitants lie in bondage to sin and corruption. We stand as witnesses of salvation and the good news of deliverance and reconciliation of man to God.
“How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” (Isa 52:7 NAS95)
Shield
Above all, take up the shield of faith. Faith is our confidence in Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Remember that we are talking about Biblical faith. The world’s definition of faith amounts to no more than wishful thinking. For them, acting in faith is merely a bold recklessness; however, our faith is confidence in the most reliable person in the universe, God the faithful. Our faith is established by the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we act in faith, we are trusting in the reliability that set the universe in motion.
The shield of faith is necessary because the enemy is shooting flaming arrows at us and this shield will extinguish them. The King James version of the Scriptures uses the words “fiery darts”, or as some have identified them, as “fiery doubts”. There are few things that can be as debilitating as doubts. Satan’s attack on Eve in the Garden, was to create doubt concerning God and His Word. Doubts are raised about His love for us, His purpose, and if or why He loves us. Doubts are raised concerning our salvation, our sanctification, our justification, or why God would care about us as individuals.
Those doubts easily find traction, if we allow ourselves to focus on our limited abilities or our failure and shortcomings. It is only that shield of faith, that confidence in the faithfulness of our redeemer, that can extinguish those fiery doubts and allow us to stand strong in the might of our Lord and Savior.
Helmet
Then there is the helmet of Salvation. We had better not leave our head unprotected. Most of our sensory perception comes through our head. Sight, hearing, taste, and feeling, are all located here facing up our mind, or control center. As we perceive life from within the protection of our salvation, we have a different perspective of the world around us. You might say, “We can now keep our head on straight.”
As we consider the head and its importance, we need to remember that this is the area where others are looking. Our head is associated with our identity, who we are, and what we stand for. The helmet we wear identifies who or what we represent. Our helmet carries the identity of the kingdom we belong to and the King that we serve.
Sword
Then there is the sword. This is not just any sword, but the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This is what we have been equipped with to engage the enemy. It is also a very versatile piece of equipment. It can cleanly divide that which is good from that which is evil. The broadside can be used to rebuff those who need correction. The sword’s very appearance serves as a warning for those who would challenge us. It goes before us clearing the way.
There is no better example of how the sword is used, or its effectiveness, than when we see how Jesus used it. When he was confronted with Satan, He used the Word (sword). He confronted temptation with the Word. When questioned concerning righteousness, godliness, judgment, or authority, He always answered with the Word. Everything He did or said was based upon the Word.
The sword’s power is limitless in God’s hand, but God has also placed it in our hands. In our hands, it is limited by our ability to wield it. That ability comes as we study and practice the proper use and care of this powerful sword. This sword was designed for one purpose only, and that is to promote and perform the will of God. We need to keep this in mind, for misuse can cause much damage.
Let us not forget that this is the sword of the Spirit. Power to wield the sword is present only in the believer, for the Spirit of God only resides within those who are the redeemed. We are given the sword in our hand, but the power to wield it resides in the Spirit.
Prayer
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” (Eph 6:18 NAS95)
God did not just equip us and then say, off you go. Communication is essential for us to stay on track. Prayer is our connection with God to give us direction, help, supplies, and inspiration. Many a general has learned the hard way not to outdistance their supply line, or miss their intelligence briefings. Prayer is our constant reminder of our dependence upon God, and that we are not alone. Prayer is used here in the Scripture in its broadest sense, not just the act of asking for something, but all prayers and petitions.
It is our connection with God that helps us maintain the proper perspective. It also broadens that perspective as we are encouraged to be on the alert. It is easy to become shortsighted and let our guard down; however, as we take to heart this admonition to petition also for all the saints, we are reminded that we are not the only ones facing struggles. The battle is much bigger than we can see right in front of our eyes, and we need to remain alert and persevere.