1 Battling Our Own Sinful Natures Ephesians 6:10-20 14 th Sunday after Pentecost Pastor Ryan Redeemer Lutheran Church www.redeemerlutheran.us The devil wins when Christians are lukewarm in our faith. When we know the right words to say to each other, but when we step out the doors, we fail to speak up for the voiceless, we fail to help when we have the means to make a real difference in some else's life. Today our sermon is based on Ephesians 6 where Paul describes the battle we fight isn t just an external one. We are fighting against the devil, the world, and our own sinful natures that try to ensnare us into apathy and inaction when it comes to living our faith out in our daily lives. It is a life long struggle, just as sanctification is a life long process. I came across a comic strip called Don t be a crazy Christian. by the artist on Adam Ford whose website is Adam4d.com
2 Let s Not be Crazy Christians, when we try to be more reasonable than faithful committed followers. It is crazy to give in to the devil s plans, the broken world that entices us, and our own sinful nature that tempts us to follow our ways, instead of God s plan for our lives. Day in and day out, there is a struggle for the Christian. By nature it says in Ephesians 2, we are objects of wrath, we are broken with sin. How serious is our sinful condition you ask? It is CRITICAL. We are conceived in sin, ever since the fall all of humanity has been addicted to rebellion against our Creator. Psalm 51:5 For I was born a sinner- yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. NLT I would say when it comes to understanding the depth of our brokenness of sin, this verse sheds a lot of light on the subject. Another verse that shows how far we have all fallen from God s grace is Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. We all stand in need of God s grace, none of us are perfect, we have all broken God s commandments, and in one way or another rebelled against Him. Martin Luther s teachings about what it means to be a Christian can be summed up in one short Latin Phrase. Simul Justus Et Peccator. Simul is where we get the English word, simultaneously. Justus means Just or Righteous. We are familiar with the latin word et Ceasar said the words when he was assassinated, Et Tu Brutus? And you Brutus? So the word et means simply and. Peccator means sinner or transgressor. In the natural sense we know we are sinners, we break God s Commandments, and only deserve judgement and hell; but in the spiritual sense since we have faith in Christ Jesus, we stand before justified by faith alone apart from works. We stand dressed up in the righteousness of Christ because only through Jesus sacrifice on the cross, is all of our sins atoned for. Past, Present, Future failures of all humanity are forgiven by the blood of Christ, and faith is simply trusting in His work on behalf which He completed through a cross outside of God s City Jerusalem, over 2000 years ago. This picture of the full armor of God, sums up the entire letter from Paul to the church in Ephesus. The armor represents both a promise of divine protection and a calling into battle. Like a general encouraging his troops, Paul tells us that the victory is certain because Christ has already won
3 the war, and he has made us well-prepared to stand with His to face any last-ditch assaults. God is calling us to live for Him, and the devil, the fallen world, and our own sinful natures want us to live for absolutely anything other than for Jesus. When we have a spiritual victory through the continued power and presence of the Spirit, the devil has been routed in an attack on us, one of God s people. One of Christ s soldiers who are part of the Christian Church Militant. The armor Paul describes is not simply from God; it is God s own armor, what He Himself wore in battle. Dressed in Christ s armor, we look remarkably like Christ, for through our Baptism we have been Clothed in Christ s righteousness. Spiritually we have put on Christ to cover us and seal us for His Kingdom which has no end. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12) We are to stand firm in the Lord s strength not our own. We are to be reliant on Him, like David was when he went to fight Goliath. The Devil wants to drive a wedge of separation between God and every person, which He has to work extra hard at with Christians, since we have been given the Spirit of the Living God. We have given the gift of faith, and the Truth of His Word to build our lives upon. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, A belt holds loose clothing in preparation for moving quickly. God s truth alone can counter the devil s lies. God s Word bring us the Truth about reality, we are sinners, and Jesus came in order to redeem us from all of our sins, and bring us home with Him to heaven.
4 And having put on the breastplate of righteousness, The metal piece that protects the vital organs of a soldier, here representing Christ s righteousness with which God clothes us. This is trusting in Christ s perfect life and holiness instead of our own works that are tainted by sinful desires. 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. A Roman Soldier wore half boots studded with nails to help him stand firm. The preaching of the Gospel of peace has, ironically prepared us for battle. The battle is over human souls that will end up in heaven or hell, which another reason we are eager to run to share the peace of the gospel with others who do not know Christ or have not yet heard the Gospel. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; Arrows were dipped in pitch and set on fire. In defense, Roman soldiers soaked their full-length, leather-covered wooden shields in water before battle an allusion to our baptismal refuge. Luther wrote in the Large Catechism: If you could see how many knives, darts, and arrows are every moment aimed at you, you would be glad to come to the Sacrament as often as possible. Faith can deal with the darts of temptation. When Paul talks about faith, he is always meaning, complete trust in Christ. When we walk close with Christ, we are safe from temptation. 17 and take the helmet of salvation, A Roman helmet was made of bronze with cheek pieces. Salvation is not something that only looks back at ones life. True salvation that is found in Christ gives us forgiveness for the sins of the past and the strength to conquer sin in the days to come. And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, The term refers to the sharp, short sword for close combat. The Spirit gives the Gospel Word its effectiveness. Jesus used God s Word against the Devil s lies and temptation in the wilderness following His baptism at the beginning of His Ministry. In that account the Devil twisted and took Scripture verses out of their context to justify what he asked Jesus to do, but Jesus fought and resisted the Father of Lies by rightly using God s Word.
5 Luther sang of the devil in his famous hymn A Mighty Fortress is Our God by writing the phrase One little word can fell him. And Paul mentions prayer at the end of his description of the armor of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. (Eph. 6:18) The armor of God is God s Work, not ours. We are trusting in Him as we battle our own sinful natures. As Christians we are all prayer warriors, interceding for those we know and love, and others whom are brought to our attention. At Redeemer include the prayer sheets every week of worship so that in your own devotion time, you can and will lift up these brothers and sisters that have requested our prayers to our Heavenly Father. There are prayer groups that meet throughout the week, a prayer ministry team, and a digital prayer chain delivered through email. Luther has a remarkable idea that Prayer for the Christian is a sort of spiritual pulse. He writes: Wherever a Christian is, there is the Holy Spirit is, who does nothing else but pray constantly. For though a Christian is not constantly moving his lips and speaking words, his heart is nevertheless moves and beats (just like a pulse in his body) and always throbs with such sighs as these: Dear Father, may Thy name be hallowed; may Thy kingdom come; may Thy will be done by us and everyone. And the harder the blows of life or temptation and trouble press and beat upon him, the stronger such sighs and prayers become, even vocally. Therefore you cannot find a Christian without prayer, just as you cannot find a living man without a pulse. (LW Vol. 45 p. 541) As we battle against the devil, the world tainted by sin, and our own sinful natures, we don t face these enemies alone. We are in this battle together, and the Holy Spirit has equipped us with the full armor of God to stand firm against the schemes and lies of the Devil. As you cling to Christ you will overcome everything this world can possibly throw at you. As it says in 1 John 4:4 The Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. And now may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, guard and keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until He comes to bring us all home. Amen.