Standing Firm: The Armor of God Against Deception
Summary
In Ephesians 6:10-13, Paul urges believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes. The devil's attacks are not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. These attacks often target the mind, experience, and conduct of Christians. The devil seeks to confuse and mislead believers, particularly concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ. Understanding and defining our faith is crucial to withstand these attacks.
The devil's tactics include promoting heresies about Jesus Christ, which have plagued the church since its inception. These heresies often distort the truth about Christ's divinity and humanity. Some deny the Trinity, suggesting that God merely appears in different forms, while others claim that Jesus was a created being, not co-eternal with the Father. Such views undermine the unique glory of Christ and the Holy Spirit, negating the core of the Christian message.
The devil also attacks the work of Christ, particularly the meaning of His death on the cross. Many today hold a vague understanding of the cross, seeing it merely as a display of God's love or a moral influence. However, the cross is about propitiation—God's wrath against sin being satisfied through Christ's sacrifice. This profound truth reveals the depth of God's love and the seriousness of sin.
Understanding these truths is vital for a robust Christian faith. The New Testament and the early church councils addressed these heresies to preserve the integrity of the gospel. Believers must be clear about who Christ is and what He accomplished on the cross. This clarity is essential for living a victorious Christian life and for the church to have a meaningful impact in the world.
Key Takeaways:
- The devil's primary strategy is to confuse believers about the person and work of Jesus Christ. Understanding and defining our faith is crucial to withstand these attacks. The New Testament and early church councils addressed these heresies to preserve the integrity of the gospel. [10:07]
- Heresies about Christ often distort the truth about His divinity and humanity. Some deny the Trinity, suggesting that God merely appears in different forms, while others claim that Jesus was a created being, not co-eternal with the Father. Such views undermine the unique glory of Christ and the Holy Spirit. [19:19]
- The devil also attacks the work of Christ, particularly the meaning of His death on the cross. Many today hold a vague understanding of the cross, seeing it merely as a display of God's love or a moral influence. However, the cross is about propitiation—God's wrath against sin being satisfied through Christ's sacrifice. [39:03]
- Understanding these truths is vital for a robust Christian faith. Believers must be clear about who Christ is and what He accomplished on the cross. This clarity is essential for living a victorious Christian life and for the church to have a meaningful impact in the world. [45:10]
- The New Testament and the early church councils addressed these heresies to preserve the integrity of the gospel. Believers must be clear about who Christ is and what He accomplished on the cross. This clarity is essential for living a victorious Christian life and for the church to have a meaningful impact in the world. [46:11]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:10-13
- [01:05] - The Devil's Schemes
- [02:03] - Attacks on the Mind
- [03:23] - The Danger of Heresies
- [05:14] - Heresies About Christ
- [06:34] - The Devil's Activity in Christ's Time
- [08:28] - The Church Under Attack
- [10:07] - Historical Heresies
- [12:18] - Betraying Christ with a Kiss
- [14:29] - The Higher Critical Movement
- [16:21] - The Myth of Jesus
- [19:19] - Denying the Trinity
- [22:29] - The Importance of Doctrine
- [25:00] - The Reality of the Incarnation
- [27:19] - Jesus as Only a Man
- [30:39] - The Two Natures of Christ
- [33:34] - The Work of Christ on the Cross
- [36:03] - Understanding the Cross
- [39:03] - Propitiation vs. Expiation
- [42:53] - The Love of God
- [45:10] - The Importance of Clarity in Faith
- [46:11] - Conclusion and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 6:10-13
- John 1:1-3
- Isaiah 53:5-6
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#### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 6:10-13, what are believers instructed to do to stand against the devil's schemes? How does this relate to the concept of spiritual warfare? [00:11]
2. What are some of the specific heresies about Jesus Christ mentioned in the sermon, and how do they distort the truth about His divinity and humanity? [19:19]
3. How does the sermon describe the devil's activity during the time of Christ, and what was his ultimate goal? [07:26]
4. What is the significance of the term "propitiation" as explained in the sermon, and how does it differ from "expiation"? [39:03]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it crucial for believers to have a clear understanding of who Christ is and what He accomplished on the cross, according to the sermon? How does this clarity impact their faith and witness? [45:10]
2. How do the early church councils and creeds play a role in preserving the integrity of the gospel, and why is this important for believers today? [10:07]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the devil uses subtle tactics to confuse believers about the person and work of Jesus Christ? How can believers guard against these tactics? [11:16]
4. How does the sermon explain the relationship between God's wrath and love in the context of the cross, and why is this understanding vital for a robust Christian faith? [42:53]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your understanding of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Are there any areas where you feel uncertain or confused? How can you seek clarity and deepen your understanding this week? [45:10]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of defining our faith to withstand the devil's attacks. What steps can you take to better define and articulate your faith to others? [04:11]
3. Consider the heresies mentioned in the sermon that distort the truth about Christ. How can you equip yourself to recognize and refute these false teachings in your own life and in conversations with others? [19:19]
4. The sermon highlights the significance of the cross as a demonstration of God's wrath being satisfied through Christ's sacrifice. How does this understanding of the cross influence your view of God's love and justice? [39:03]
5. How can you actively put on the "full armor of God" in your daily life to stand firm against spiritual attacks? Identify one specific piece of the armor you want to focus on this week and how you will do so. [00:11]
6. The sermon discusses the devil's attempts to confuse believers about the person of Christ. How can you ensure that your relationship with Christ remains personal and not just intellectual or traditional? [06:18]
7. Reflect on the role of the early church councils in preserving the gospel's integrity. How can you contribute to maintaining the purity of the gospel message in your church community? [10:07]
Devotional
Day 1: Defining Our Faith to Withstand Confusion
Understanding and defining one's faith is crucial to withstand the devil's attacks, which often aim to confuse believers about the person and work of Jesus Christ. The devil's primary strategy is to sow doubt and confusion, particularly concerning the divinity and humanity of Christ. This confusion can lead to a weakened faith and a distorted understanding of the gospel. The New Testament and early church councils worked diligently to address these heresies and preserve the integrity of the gospel. Believers today must continue to be vigilant, ensuring that their understanding of Christ is rooted in biblical truth. [10:07]
Ephesians 4:14-15 (ESV): "So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is, according to Scripture, to guard against confusion and doubt?
Day 2: Recognizing and Rejecting Heresies
Heresies about Christ often distort the truth about His divinity and humanity. Some deny the Trinity, suggesting that God merely appears in different forms, while others claim that Jesus was a created being, not co-eternal with the Father. These views undermine the unique glory of Christ and the Holy Spirit, leading believers away from the core truths of Christianity. It is essential for believers to recognize these heresies and reject them, holding fast to the biblical revelation of Christ's nature and work. [19:19]
2 Peter 2:1-2 (ESV): "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed."
Reflection: Can you identify any teachings or beliefs you have encountered that might distort the truth about Jesus? How can you address these in light of Scripture?
Day 3: Understanding the Cross Beyond a Symbol of Love
The devil also attacks the work of Christ, particularly the meaning of His death on the cross. Many today hold a vague understanding of the cross, seeing it merely as a display of God's love or a moral influence. However, the cross is about propitiation—God's wrath against sin being satisfied through Christ's sacrifice. This profound truth reveals the depth of God's love and the seriousness of sin. Understanding the true meaning of the cross is vital for a robust Christian faith. [39:03]
1 John 4:10 (ESV): "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Reflection: How does understanding the cross as propitiation change your perspective on God's love and the seriousness of sin in your life?
Day 4: Clarity in Faith for a Victorious Christian Life
Understanding these truths is vital for a robust Christian faith. Believers must be clear about who Christ is and what He accomplished on the cross. This clarity is essential for living a victorious Christian life and for the church to have a meaningful impact in the world. Without a clear understanding of these foundational truths, believers are susceptible to doubt and confusion, which can hinder their spiritual growth and effectiveness in ministry. [45:10]
Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV): "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."
Reflection: In what areas of your faith do you need greater clarity to live a more victorious Christian life? What steps can you take to gain this clarity?
Day 5: Preserving the Integrity of the Gospel
The New Testament and the early church councils addressed these heresies to preserve the integrity of the gospel. Believers must be clear about who Christ is and what He accomplished on the cross. This clarity is essential for living a victorious Christian life and for the church to have a meaningful impact in the world. By understanding and upholding the true gospel, believers can effectively share the message of Christ with others and stand firm against the devil's schemes. [46:11]
Jude 1:3 (ESV): "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in preserving the integrity of the gospel in your community and church? What role can you play in contending for the faith?
Quotes
The devil and all these forces gathered around him and which he governs and controls as we've seen are intent always upon trying to destroy God's work, and therefore it is not surprising that a very special attack should be made upon Christian people, members of the Christian Church, those who are followers of our blessed Lord and Savior. [00:01:31]
Nothing is more important about men than his mind, nothing is more important about the Christian life than an understanding and an apprehension of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. So the Devil comes and he would upset our balance, turn us into pure intellectualists or into traditionalists, make us take a purely academic interest and lose sight of the blessed person himself and our relationship to him. [00:02:40]
It is essential that we should know what we believe and that we should be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us with fear. But now that was simply a general statement to the effect that the faith can be defined and must be defined. But we have to become a little bit more particular this morning and to look at some of the heresies. [00:04:13]
Christianity after all is Christ. It isn't just a teaching, this isn't just one of the philosophies, it isn't just a collection of ideas. There are, as I've been saying, such ideas, doctrines, and so on, but after all, they are but means of trying to bring us to an understanding and a knowledge of the blessed person himself. [00:05:40]
The devil perhaps showed a greater activity during our Lord's time in this world than he has ever done. Obviously, he felt this was the crucial moment. If he could somehow or another persuade this person to listen to him and to disobey God in the slightest degree, his victory would be final and complete. But he failed, he failed completely as we've seen. [00:07:26]
The devil immediately began to do was to attack the church, was to attack these people. This is all he can do now. Here is this work of Christ brought as it were into a concrete situation in the Christian church, the church which is his body. So obviously the tactics of the devil, the whole strategy and tactics of the devil now would be somehow or another to confuse the church. [00:08:30]
The devil began at once, he began to manifest these wiles of his immediately, and he's continued it ever since. That is why the church, the early church, had to call together certain great councils. The leaders had to come together, and they had to decide what was true and what was false. Hence your Creeds, that's how they came into being. [00:10:01]
There have been heresies which have said that there are no three persons in the Blessed Holy Trinity, that there is but one person God who sometimes shows himself as father, sometimes comes in the guise of the appearance as it were takes the part of a son, and sometimes comes in the guise of the spirit. [00:18:27]
The effect of that of course is to take from the Blessed Son of God his unique glory and likewise from the Holy Spirit also. You rarely are negativing the whole of the Christian message by saying that we don't understand the doctrine of the Trinity. We are not asked to understand it, but we are asked to believe it, this profound Everlasting mystery. [00:19:27]
The devil in his wiles and how subtly he is, the moment you've settled that he turns right over to the other side and he says of course he was men and then goes on to say he was nothing but men, he was only men. He says that's been the great trouble of course. [00:27:09]
The devil has attacked this, the meaning of his death upon the cross. How has he manifested his subtlety, how has he used his wiles at this point? Well, again the theme is almost endless. I think the commonest of all his methods at the moment is this, is to put into the minds of Christian people a kind of utter vagueness about our Lord's death. [00:33:40]
Propitiation, my friend, is this: that forgiveness was not a simple matter for God, that sin created the most awful problem for God himself because he's holy, because he's just, because he's righteous, because he's of such a countenance that he cannot even look upon sin, that God can't just say all right I forgive you, I forget all about it. [00:39:38]
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