Ephesians
1:13
"In
whom ye also trusted, (in Christ, in verse 12) after
that ye heard the word of truth*, the gospel of your
salvation**: in whom also after that ye believed***,
ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,"
*an
again we can put the term Christ in there for Truth, which is this
gospel. **that is when we became a believer. When we heard the Word
of Truth, this Gospel. ***and nothing else. Then after you believed
this Gospel.
The
whole concept of Paul’s teaching is, "That Christ is the
very Truth of God, He is the Word of God, and we are to be surrounded
with His very presence.” And John in his synoptic gospel
affirms this. Look with me at the end of verse 14 of Ephesians 6, where we left off.
Ephesians
6:14b
"...an
having on the breastplate of righteousness:"
Those
of you who remember when we were in Romans chapter 3, how did we
receive the righteousness of God? When we believe this Gospel! We had
to do a little research on this because we never want to put
something in here that is not here. But the breastplate of the Roman
soldier that Paul was looking at as he was writing this did not just
cover the upper chest as we may think of it as a bullet proof vest
today. But the breastplate actually went to the lower part of the
torso, where the legging then would pick up. So this breast plate of
righteousness was that which covered the whole torso of the Roman
soldier. The wealthy ones had a connecting hing strap on one side and
a buckled strap on the other. Which means this plate also went around
to cover the backside as well. Then at the shoulder tops on each
side, was a place for the regiment colored cape to be attached which
hung down the back. Now look at Romans chapter 3 for a moment. We
should recognize the verses because I have used them often. And
remember the breastplate is righteousness! This is our security, it
is our defense against the principalities and powers.
Romans
3:21-22a
"But
now (that we are under Grace rather than Law) the
righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed
by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is
by faith of (in)
Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
believe:..."
I used the term under Grace, maybe it should be in Grace because Grace is active, contrary to common definition, Grace is Christ and Christ is Grace and Christ is God, the Life giving force of Light. We must also keep in mind that for those who oppose God and themselves such as Satan and Molech this same Light means death for them and their minions. What
is, unto all and upon all them? Righteousness! Not just
any righteousness but rather it is God’s righteousness, which is
imputed to us. It covers us, it is our defense against the powers of
darkness. This righteousness has been placed upon all them that
believe! For we are clothed in Christ, we will call it a
shoulder cape of red, which rests upon us, His regiment seal. Do any of you
remember the book titled “The Red Cape of Redemption” on its
cover was a Roman shoulder with this cape upon him as his regard. We
are clothed in Christ and His glory surrounds us. Another one we
always like to use from the Old Testament is found in Isaiah chapter
61, and verse 10. This is a Jewish prophet, but he is also writing by
the inspiration of the Spirit the same as Paul is.
Isaiah
61:10
"I
will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for he (God) hath clothed me with the garments of
salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a
bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments,..."
Do
you see the analogy? Oh as God’s righteousness has been imputed, it
becomes the breastplate that Paul talks about in Ephesians chapter 6, which Isaiah refers to as a garment.
And it is our defense against the powers of the evil one which
covers both frontal assault and also the rear from assault as well.
Now coming back to Ephesians for just a moment, let’s look at verse
15.
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