Godliness: How To Dress Like Jesus

HOW TO DRESS LIKE JESUS:
The Armour of God and the Cure for Functional Atheism

Introduction:
Paul closes his letter to the Ephesians with a description of the Spiritual warfare which every true Christian who is living the Spiritual controlled life will experience. READ 6:10-22

I. Functional Atheism:
Do you think that it Is possible to be a true Christian- one who is chosen, called, bought by the blood, redeemed, justified and sanctified- and yet to be a functional atheist? What is a functional atheist? A functional atheist is someone who, regardless of faith, experience, confession and conviction, lives as though God were not a constant, present and dynamic reality in their lives. It is functional atheism because God is not functioning in any aspect of their lives. Let me describe a day in the life of a functional atheist and see if this resonates with you.
· The functional atheist wakes up a 6:35 am with the alarm; he gets dressed, makes coffee and watches the morning news before getting into his car and fighting traffic into his office.
· While at work, the functional atheist talks with coworkers about current events, office gossip and last nights episode of Lost. He reads the newspaper on his coffee break meets a friend for lunch and calls his wife in the afternoon and has a shouting match with the “dimwit in shipping.”
· After work, the functional atheists once again fights traffic, keeping the gap between himself and the car in front him tight so that no one can cut in front of him and he may even use a few expletives and derogatory name calling to describe the another driver.
· When he gets home he talks to his neighbour, read the mail, has dinner, surfs the web and watches the news before returning to bed.

Nothing about the life of the functional atheist is marked by the faith he claims to profess except perhaps that 1 hour on Sunday morning when he puts his best Christian face on and heads to church all pious and holier-than-thou. This is no unbeliever; he clings to the gospel and it brings him great joy; when things go bad he prays and God gets him through it; he has a Bible with scores of passages that are underlined and memorized; he breaks none of the Ten Commandments, support missions and has the entire works of John Calvin and BB Warfield on his book shelf (which he plans to read some day). But his day to day life; what he thinks about, what he talks about, what he watches on T.V., what he looks at on the Net, how he spends his money and his leisure time… are no different then the atheist next door and the pagan across the street. In fact, the atheist is better off because he gets to sleep in on Sunday and he doesn’t have to tithe or feel guilty about his moral actions.[1]

II. Submission Is Victory:
The language of warfare actually began back in 5:21 where Paul exhorted us to submit to one another; ‘submit’ is a Greek military term that literally means, “…to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”[2].

So the spiritual warfare begins when we submit ourselves to one another in the church and in the home with Christ as our head. Doesn’t that contradict everything we’ve ever been taught and believed about victorious living? Our culture and even our very nature is repulsed by the idea of submission. Submission is the characteristic of weakness, defeat and surrender. So every fiber of our being and every stream of our culture is all about getting our due, winning the argument, showing who’s boss.

But according to God, that’s not victory, it’s defeat! Because in God’s economy, the last shall be first, the children lead the way, the servant is the true leader, the foolish and ignoble are the chosen ones, those who think they stand shall fall, the blind see and the sighted are sightless, the poor are rich, the weak are the strong…. And that’s why spiritual victory begins with the opposite of what the world and the flesh tells us. It reminds of the Puritan prayer:
Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive… (Valley of Vision).

This becoming weak in order to be strong begins with the Gospel- our salvation is based on what God has done, not what we have done because even our righteousness is filthy rags to God. But it continues with our growth and maturity- being conformed to the image of Christ (sanctification). Yes, we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12), but it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13).
III. Our General Cannot Lose:
Working out our salvation means being in victorious submission to the servant who epitomized submission to the Father’s will when he went to the cross and took our punishment. Our General is none other then the Lord of Glory, the King of Kings- God’s own Son. In 1:18-23, Paul prays that believers would understand
… what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him  who fills all in all.

Jesus is too often portrayed as a Philosopher-King who dispenses oracles about brotherly love, but what is often overlooked is that Jesus is also a Warrior-King. In Revelation 19, John describes Jesus’ second coming,
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.  …He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now  out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:11-16).

Don’t you want to be on his side- the side that is guaranteed to win? If you knew the Canucks were going to win the Stanley cup, would root for the other team anyway? His victory is sure and secure- it’s fixed. So “from hence forth,” Paul writes, “be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might” (v. 10).
IV. The Holy Spirit is the Power of His Might:
Being strong in the power of his might is a matter of taking hold of the thing that you’ve been sealed with- the Holy Spirit; that’s the power of his might according to 1:19-20 which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and we’re sealed with that power when we put on the Holy Spirit when we walk in the Spirit- the Spirit of Christ. Whenever you see that word power or might or strength in reference to God it is almost always a reference to the Holy Spirit.

Without God’s empowering presence, it is too awkward to don the belt of truth because we are blinded to the truth and prefer lies and vain imaginations. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot bear the breastplate of righteousness because we are too dependant on our own sin stained works. Without the Holy Spirit our feat cannot be shod by the gospel of peace because our feat are too quick to run to evil. Without the Holy Spirit the shield of faith is not a viable defense against Satan’s lies, accusations and temptations. Without the Holy Spirit the helmet of salvation is as hideous as a diamond in a pigs snout. Without the Holy Spirit the sword of the spirit slashes us.

Putting on the full armour of God is not so much something you do, but something that is done to you; it means being strengthened, or endued with the power and might of Christ- the power that raised him from the dead and seated him in the heavenlies. If you have accepted the gospel (or been accepted by it) and Jesus as your saviour then you have also submitted yourself to his Lordship (his authority) and in submitting to Christ, you have effectively resisted the devil and he is fleeing.
This is not a matter of making Jesus Lord, it’s a matter of acknowledging his Lordship as saviour and standing against the wiles of the devil. John Macarthur writes, “The signature of saving faith is surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ. The definitive test of whether a person belongs to Christ is a willingness to bow to his divine authority.”[3]

Conclusion: [4]
I want to leave you with this application. If you are experiencing Spiritual warfare in your life, then you are probably in good condition. Conversely, if you are not experiencing spiritual warfare, then you may be in big trouble- you may be a functional atheist. I do think it is possible to be a true Christians and live like a functional atheist… for a time. But like the empty stomach in a time of famine cries out to be filled, so your soul will cry out to be filled by God’s truth, God’s righteousness, God’s gospel and God’s gift faith. The only way to feed that hunger is by every Word that comes from the mouth of God and prayer.

I think people sometimes pervert spiritual warfare and surrender too much of the attributes of God to Satan and his angels. Satan is not omnipotent; he’s not omniscient, he’s not sovereign- God is. And Satan attacking God and his people is equivalent to a primitive tribe in the jungle whose only weapons are sticks and stones trying to wage a Nuclear war on the United States.
Putting on the armour of God does not mean that everything will go your way. In fact, you may be rejected by your family- your people (or worse yet, you may become a person of influence with all the temptations that brings), you may lose your job (or worse yet, you may become wealthy and successful and never depend upon the Lord any thing), you may become a laughing stock- you may even lose you life (or worse yet, you may live a life of comfort and ease and die in sterile hospital bed- where’s the glory in that)….

But regardless of what happens, when you are strong in the Lord and the power of his might you will never lose the battle; you have the victory. When times are dark, you walk in light; when times are uncertain, you have a certain hope; when times are heavy with burdens, you have his yoke and his yoke is easy; when the earth no longer yields its fruit, God will still provide; and yes, when your body longer lives, yet will you leave and see your redeemer. Be strong in the power of Christ’s might- Pray always!











Appendix:
We acknowledge the lordship of Jesus and submit to it in several ways:

1. Belt of Truth: Truth liberates us- it sets us free from the bondage of lies; both our own lies and the lies of others. Truth defeats heresy and preserves believers. Truth is unpopular with men because its not as sensational; it’s not as self aggrandizing; its not easy to believe. But Jesus claimed to be the way, the truth and the life- apart from him, there is no way. Apart from him, there is no truth. Apart from him, there is only lostness, lies and death.

The truth sets us free when the alarm rings a 6:35 am; it sets us free in our morning commute and our conversations with our coworkers; it sets us free in our thought life and in rush hour traffic. The truth sets us free in all things. Put on the belt of truth.

2. Breastplate of Righteousness: Romans 14:17 says that 

the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

That means that there are more important things in life then base cravings which satisfy the body, but do nothing for the soul. Serving Christ in righteousness is daily bread for the soul. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness in the morning news and their commute to work; who hunger and thirst for righteousness in their conversations with coworkers; who hunger and thirst for righteousness in the evening rush hour commute… for they will be filled. Put on the breastplate of righteousness.

3. Shoes of the Gospel: are you ashamed of the gospel? Do you share it with people? Its simple- “you are a sinner, there’s nothing you can do to save yourself but Jesus has done it by dying on the cross for your sins and being raised from the dead. All you have to do is believe it.” God will do the rest. If it costs you your friendship, then so be it.
“Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children [or friends] or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mk 10:29-30)

4. Shield of Faith: Jesus said “according to your faith, let it be to you” (Matt 9:29). Faith is the best defense against the lies of Satan. He will try to cause you to doubt the assurance of your salvation; doubt the power and the love of God to save you; even doubt the truth of the gospel. Without faith it is impossible to please God. But even your faith is a gift that has been granted by God so that the fact that you have faith in Jesus Christ is evidence that God exists- it is the substance of your hope of eternal life, because how else can you explain the fact that you have believed something that is so impossible to believe? Only God can grant faith, so use it as your shield.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Rom 5:1-2)

5. The Helmut of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit: These two go hand in hand. The sword of the spirit is the word of God the crown and helmet for our heads.
The words of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times. (Ps 12:6)

9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord!
Teach me Your statutes.
13 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word. (Ps 119:9-16)

The Word of God is like a seed planted in the soil of your heart. Jesus said, “he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

[1] I suspect that more Christians are functional atheists or are at least intermittent FA’s who go long periods of time without acknowledging Christ. The vast majority of Christians (at least in Western nations) live in physical and material comfort that bring more satisfaction to them then Jesus; but their lives are passionless and void of the presence and power of God- functionally they are atheists.
[2]Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G5293). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[3]MacArthur, J., F. (1997, c1988). The Gospel according to Jesus : What does Jesus mean when he says "follow me". Grand Rapids, MI: Academic and Professional Books, Zondervan Pub. House.
[4] I originally prepared a short exposition of the various elements of the Armour of God, but after I came back to it, I decided to remove it because the brevity of time does not allow a full exposition. I have posted it as an addendum to this sermon and if you want to read it, you can visit the Gateway Homepage and the link will take you there.