B-A-C
Loyal
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
- Messages
- 12,067
Just before Jesus died on the cross, His last words were...
John 19:30; Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
It was finished for Him, but not for us.
Heb 4:3; For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
His works were finished from the foundation of the world, but that is no guarantee everyone who journeying to the promised land (heaven) will make it there.
The Bible says we are still at war.
2 Cor 10:3; For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
2 Cor 10:4; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
2 Cor 10:5; We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
The battle is still in our minds. We still have to take captives (in this case, some of our own thoughts).
This isn't physical, literal war... but rather a spiritual war we are in everyday.
1 Pet 2:11; Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
Peter says there are fleshly lusts... "which wage war" against our very souls.
Almost all Christians are familiar with the passage below.
Eph 6:10; Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Eph 6:11; Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Eph 6:12; 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.
Eph 6:13; 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.
Eph 6:14; Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
Eph 6:15; and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
Eph 6:16; 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.
Eph 6:17; And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Eph 6:18; 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,
But why do we even need helmets, shields, armor and a sword? If the battle is over, why are these things even needed?
I have never been in a real military battle. But I was in the military, and I have seen war games, mock battles, and I have seen the men prepare for it.
I have seen police riot squads and swat teams. These people wear armor, sometimes they have shields and guns.
People who aren't in war, don't wear these things. They don't need to. But the Bible says we need to. The battle isn't over.
It seems a lot of the battle is with ourselves, our flesh.
Rom 7:23; but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
Gal 5:17; For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Gal 6:8; For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
When I was younger, we sang songs in church like "Onward Christians Soldiers". Christians knew about the war, but churches don't teach this anymore.
The main message these days seems to be God loves me. He does love you, but there is still a war going on all around us.
John 19:30; Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
It was finished for Him, but not for us.
Heb 4:3; For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
His works were finished from the foundation of the world, but that is no guarantee everyone who journeying to the promised land (heaven) will make it there.
The Bible says we are still at war.
2 Cor 10:3; For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
2 Cor 10:4; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
2 Cor 10:5; We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
The battle is still in our minds. We still have to take captives (in this case, some of our own thoughts).
This isn't physical, literal war... but rather a spiritual war we are in everyday.
1 Pet 2:11; Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
Peter says there are fleshly lusts... "which wage war" against our very souls.
Almost all Christians are familiar with the passage below.
Eph 6:10; Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Eph 6:11; Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Eph 6:12; 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.
Eph 6:13; 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.
Eph 6:14; Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
Eph 6:15; and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
Eph 6:16; 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.
Eph 6:17; And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Eph 6:18; 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,
But why do we even need helmets, shields, armor and a sword? If the battle is over, why are these things even needed?
I have never been in a real military battle. But I was in the military, and I have seen war games, mock battles, and I have seen the men prepare for it.
I have seen police riot squads and swat teams. These people wear armor, sometimes they have shields and guns.
People who aren't in war, don't wear these things. They don't need to. But the Bible says we need to. The battle isn't over.
It seems a lot of the battle is with ourselves, our flesh.
Rom 7:23; but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
Gal 5:17; For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Gal 6:8; For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
When I was younger, we sang songs in church like "Onward Christians Soldiers". Christians knew about the war, but churches don't teach this anymore.
The main message these days seems to be God loves me. He does love you, but there is still a war going on all around us.
