We had just begun chapter seven. The expressions stand, withstand,
and stand, therefore, of Ephesians chapter six, verses 11, 13, and
14, portray the Christian attitude towards sin. Standing of verse
11 is resisting, throwing back. This is opposite to passivity.
Withstanding is an aggressive move against the enemy. Standing,
therefore, is standing orderly in the place where God has chosen
you to be. The armor is for the Christian
in this life. The robe is for him in the life
to come. The armor is a defensive weapon,
but the Lord does not leave us with only the defensive weapon.
He has provided the helmet of salvation and the sword of the
Spirit. The sword is an offensive weapon.
The armor is never to be used to cover sin, but as a defense
against sin. The Christian is provided with
both defensive and offensive weapons. The shield of faith
which the Christian must take in faith is faith in God alone,
and taking Him at His word. He is exhorted to use the shield
of faith, and he is assured that all the missiles of the evil
one shall be stopped when the shield of faith is correctly
used. Christians are exhorted to use the shield of faith, quote,
above all, close quote, in addition to all the rest of the armor.
Paul was not intimating that faith is more important than
the other graces. Faith is not more important than
love. God gave the gift of faith the capacity to believe in regeneration,
but he also shed his love abroad in the heart. The shield of faith
is the armor of the armor, the protection of all the other parts
of the armor mentioned within the context. The Christian is
born a warrior. He is destined to be assaulted.
His duty is to attack. The shield of faith is his defense
against assault. The sword of the Spirit, which
is the Word of God, is the weapon for attack. The Christian life
is both offensive and defensive. The sword of the Spirit is more
than owning a Bible, having an adequate library, a mere tape
ministry, attending worship service, and hearing a preacher. The child
of God is responsible to take the things he has heard and make
them his own by studying the Word of God. The shield of faith
absorbs the blow of the fiery darts. A shield entirely covered
the warrior and all the armor he had put on. As the shield
enveloped the entire man, faith envelops the entire Christian.
It protects the whole man. The Lord is the shield of his
people. Quote, For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous. With
favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield. Psalms chapter
5 verse 12. Quote, the Lord is my strength
and shield. Close quote. Psalms chapter 28
verse 7. Quote, our soul waiteth for the
Lord. He is our help and our shield.
Close quote. Psalms chapter 33 verse 20. Like a shield, faith receives
the blows meant for the child of God. This shield, which the
Christian must take, is not carnal, but a spiritual piece of warfare.
The shield of faith is all of one piece. It is not made up
of faith in God, faith in oneself, faith in the brethren, faith
in the Church, or faith in this or that. But this shield is of
God's forging. The shield, which is of one piece,
should be kept before one's person and moved about to protect the
attacked parts. There are gaps between the many
pieces of armor where the fiery darts might penetrate. Therefore,
the shield is to protect the armor. Although the shield was
made of metal, wood, or various materials, it always had a covering
of leather, which not only stopped the dart from perishing the armor,
but also quenched the fire on the dart. Faith defends the child
of God in the exercise of His graces. The soldier under the
protection of the shield performs his duty, notwithstanding all
the shots made against him. When faith fails, every grace
is put to riot. 1. Courage is turned into cowardice. This was seen in the life of
Abraham when he lied about his wife, and by Peter when he denied
Jesus Christ in the presence of the damsel. 2. Self-control
is turned into self-indulgence. This was revealed in the life
of Noah, when he made wine and drank thereof and was drunk,
and in the life of David, when he committed murder and adultery.
Three, brotherly kindness is turned into contention and strife. This was demonstrated by the
Corinthian church, where sex and parties arose. None of the
graces in the Christian are safe unless it is under the protection
of the shield of faith. There is an art to handling the
shield of faith. It must be used against Satan's
attack on the mind, sentimentality, and persuasion to walk by sight
rather than by faith. The nature of the Christian's
enemy is revealed in the evil one. The word wicked of Ephesians
chapter 6 verse 16 should be translated evil one. The unity
of the evil is taught here. Every reproach against a child
of God is from the devil. Some of the fiery darts the devil
will hurl at the child of God and the quenching power of the
shield of faith as it claims the promises of God and puts
them into exercise or listed. 1. Satan will say, Someday you will
fall by my dart. Sooner or later I will get you.
Faith answers, He who has begun a good work in me will perform
it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1, verse 6. And no
weapon that is formed against me shall prosper. Isaiah 54,
verse 17. 2. Satan will say, You cannot stand
against me, because you are weak. Faith answers, My strength is
made perfect in weakness. 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 verse
9. 3, Satan will say, your sins
have caused God to cast you off. You are not a Christian. Faith
will answer, God has promised. He will never leave me nor forsake
me. Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5. 4, the devil will say, There was
nothing in you good enough for God to choose you. Faith will
answer, God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound
the things which are mighty, and base things of the world,
and things which are despised, and things which are not to bring
to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory in his
presence. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 27 through 29. Five, Satan will say, some have
suffered shipwreck. Do you think you can continue
without having the same experience? Faith answers, I am capable of
distinguishing genuine faith from false faith. I am kept by
the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed
in the last time. First Peter chapter one, verse
five. Six, Satan will say, faith grows from faith to faith, but
I have not seen any growth in your life. Faith will answer,
do not expect fruit every day or month of my life. The fruit
tree does not bear fruit perpetually. There is the winter season, spring
and fall, but there is also the summer for fruit bearing. You
are looking at me in only one point of my life, but at the
end of my life there will be a manifestation of growth, because
faith grows." 2 Thessalonians 1 verse 3. 7 The devil will say, True faith
never fails, but I have seen your faith fail many times. Faith
will answer, The strongest faith will limp a little when it has
tried. David's faith was tried, and he limped when he thought
he would perish by the hand of Saul. Satan, the fact that you
are throwing that fiery dart at me proves that my faith is
genuine. The Lord sifts me as wheat, but
He has prayed for me that my faith will not fail, and Christ's
prayer shall never go unanswered. John 11, verse 42. Chapter 8 The Consummation of
Saving Faith It is wonderful that God provided salvation for
the elect, but it would not be wonderful if He failed to apply
that salvation. It is wonderful that God has
given us precious promises, but it would not be wonderful if
He did not fulfill them. It is wonderful that Christ began
a good work in us, but it would not be wonderful if He failed
to complete what He began. Jesus Christ did not die in vain.
He will consummate our faith. Rejoicing is upon the basis of
hope in Christ, through whom we have permanent access by faith
into this grace, in which we stand and rejoice in hope of
the glory of God. We've grown within ourselves,
expectantly awaiting the redemption of our bodies. In hope we are
saved. But hope being seen is not hope.
Why does a man continue to hope for what he sees? For we hope
for that which we do not see. Hence, we eagerly expect its
fruition. Romans chapter 8 verses 23 through
25. We expect that blessed hope,
looking for the Savior. Titus chapter 2 verse 13. We
do not look for events, but for the Savior. Hope is the expectation
of something excellent, but not yet experienced. It refers to
the completion of what is excellent, righteous to its highest degree.
The personal unmediated presence of Jesus Christ, not things or
circumstances, is the object of this hope. The eternal kingdom
is the conclusion of this hope. Hope is not disappointing because
the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the
Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Having been justified,
we are experiencing peace, access, permanent standing, and hope
that looks into the future. No person can have the hope described
in Romans chapter 8 verse 24 apart from saving faith. Quote,
for we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope.
For what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" Such verses
as 1 Peter 1, 3-9, 1 John 3, 2, and Philippians 3, 20-21 should
be considered in connection with this text of Scripture. The preposition,
by, used in connection with hope of Romans 8, 24, should be translated
in. In hope refers to the fact that
the salvation bestowed in the past and presently possessed
is characterized by hope. The context of this verse includes
verses 18 through 25, which teach present suffering and future
glory. Paul reckoned that present suffering is not worthy to be
compared with future glory. Romans chapter 8 verse 18. As
to the future, we rejoice in hope of the coming kingdom. there
is a spiritually legal boasting in hope of the glory of God.
Assurance is native to the character of salvation. It is the foundation
to Christian joy or Christian boasting. It is the essence of
our hope in God. Hope is not to wish or blindly
expect something. It is the perseverance of faith
which is the gift of God. Paul prayed that the enlightened
Ephesians might know the hope of God's calling, the riches
of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the exceeding
greatness of His power to us who believe." Ephesians chapter
1 verses 16 through 19. Our hope looks not only to the
future but it also has a present sanctifying effect in the life
of every true believer. Quote, if in this life only we
have hope in Christ, We are of all men most miserable." 1 Corinthians
15, verse 19. The Christian hope is future
and present. The believer's hope of the glory
of God in his kingdom enables him to glory in present tribulations. It does not make him ashamed
because the love of God has been shed abroad in his heart by the
Holy Spirit. The word glory, from doxa, sometimes
denotes the splendor with which God clothes Himself. Sometimes
it refers to the sublime display of the attributes of God, and
sometimes it points to the combined display of the perfection of
the Godhead. The latter is the meaning of
the word in Romans chapter 5 verse 2. The display of that glory
is reserved for the future when Jesus Christ will establish His
Kingdom, and the glory of God shall cover the earth as the
waters cover the sea. Present hope concerns the things
that befall Christians while we are in the world. During that
time, we wait for the coming of Jesus Christ, or for our death,
when we will be transformed into His likeness. The present hope
enables us to rejoice in tribulation. It is not blind expectation,
but perseverance in faith. The gift of the Holy Spirit is
the reason hope is secure. Romans chapter 5, verse 5. The
love of God shed abroad in the heart refers to God's love for
the believer and not the believer's love for God. That love is shed
abroad in the believer's heart by the Holy Spirit. It is a completed
transaction. God's love is not naturally revealed
to man. Since God is love, the beams
of His love always shine, even though clouds of sin obscure
its rays. God is the source of love, and
hope is the inevitable result of that love. The Holy Spirit
is the means by whom God's love comes and abides in the heart
of man. Therefore, hope does not make one ashamed. Hope without
foundation brings shame. The person who merely thinks
his faith is the ground of righteousness will be ultimately brought to
shame. Conversely, one who has been justified by faith looks
outside of himself and rests in the righteousness of God.
The hope of Romans chapter eight, verses 24 and 25, is the hope
gained through progressive sanctification. Paul had learned that perfect
satisfaction awaits the redemption of the body. It cannot be obtained
in this life. The psalmist declared, quote,
I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness, close quote.
Psalms, chapter 17, verse 15. The New Testament companion passage
is 1 John, chapter 3, verses 2 and 3. Quote, Beloved, now
are we the sons of God. and it doth not yet appear what
we shall be. But we know that, when he shall
appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is,
and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as he is pure." Any attempt to claim for the present life
elements which belong to the consummated perfection, whether
in the individual or the collective spheres are only symptoms of
that impatience which would disrupt divine order. The hope of the
child of God is built upon the foundation of biblical truth
and will never disappoint him. This is the time of suffering
and the time to come is the time for glory without suffering.
The creature awaits the future glory of the children of God,
Romans chapter 8 verses 19 through 21. This is their earnest expectation. The two words earnest expectation
come from one Greek word which is made up of three different
Greek words. The first part of this Greek
word is a preposition and it means from afar. The middle part
means one who is stretching his neck looking out. The last part
means to wait for. The creature looks from afar
with his neck stretched out, waiting for deliverance. The
entire creation, which is under the judgment of God, is crying
for deliverance. How much more do the suffering
children of God cry out for deliverance? Creation will not be delivered
from the bondage of corruption until the people for whom Christ
died are delivered. The creature awaiting deliverance
cannot be the angels. because they are not subject
to vanity and the bondage of corruption. Satan and the demons
are eliminated because they will never experience deliverance.
The devil knows that our deliverance and the deliverance of creation
means his eternal damnation from the presence of God. Believers
are not included because they are distinguished from creation.
Paul was saying that creation is looking for deliverance and
the children of God by redemption should also be looking for deliverance.
Mankind in general must be excluded because it cannot be said that
mankind is subject to vanity. To say the creature is mankind
would contradict Romans chapter 5 verse 12. Unbelievers are excluded
because such expectations do not characterize unbelievers.
They are not looking forward to the day of deliverance. Conclusively,
Romans chapter 8 verses 19-21 must be restricted to non-rational
creation. Creation groans as it awaits
deliverance, and those who have the firstfruits of the Spirit
also groan as they await deliverance. We have the earnest, the down
payment, assuring us that the transaction will be completed.
The Holy Spirit within us is the earnest. His indwelling guarantees
us that what God has begun in us will be brought to perfection.
Consummated perfection is our hope. This is the meaning of
Saved in Hope, Romans 8, verse 24. Revelation is not needed
to make us conscious of our present sufferings. Experience fails
to make us know the glory which is yet to come. A Christian knows
when he suffers, but it takes the revelation of the mind of
God to make him conscious of what he will experience in the
future. Therefore, the calculation of the future glory outweighs
all our present sufferings. Man has but three days in his
span of life. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Yesterday is gone. It cannot
be redeemed. Mistakes of the past cannot be
redeemed. Today is here. and we must live in thee today,
redeeming the time." Ephesians chapter 5 verses 15 and 16. Tomorrow is coming. The God of
yesterday plus His grace today gives hope for tomorrow. We were
justified yesterday by the grace of God. We are being sanctified
today by God's grace. We will be perfected and glorified
tomorrow by the grace of God. Groaning over yesterday's mistake
will affect today and the rewards of tomorrow. We must buy up the
time because our realization of the hope of consummated perfection
will be tomorrow. The Christian never finds his
today to be a time of rest, but he is possessed with one incomparable
advantage. His hope will never make him
ashamed. This hope renders duty delightful.
It enlightens darkness. It elevates sorrow and teaches
contentment. Like the helmet of salvation,
this hope guards the head in the day of battle. Like the anchor
of the soul of Hebrews chapter 6 verses 18 through 20, it holds
and secures in the day of storm. This hope, like a pleasing companion,
travels with us throughout our wilderness journey. Hebrews chapter
6 verses 1 through 11. What is hope? Hope is a pleasing
expectation of something good. The object of this hope is Jesus
Christ. Titus chapter 2 verse 13. The
consummation of this hope is the eternal kingdom of the Savior. Faith, hope, and love are the
essential elements of Christian character. Quote, but now abide
faith, hope, love, these three. but the greatest of these is
love." 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13. These three elements
are vitally connected. They are all found within the
context of Romans chapter 5 verses 1 through 5. Christians live
by faith, walk by faith, stand by faith, persevere by faith,
fight by faith, conquer by faith, and triumph by faith. Faith precedes
hope and is hope's foundation. Hope enables the believer to
expect, idolize, foresee, and anticipate. And it inspires him. Hope is well-rounded. It is based
on the past with the covenants as its foundation. It is presently
confirmed by Jesus Christ. It is future in that it looks
through the eyes of faith through Christ's second advent for its
realization. Hope anticipates the fulfillment
of what faith expects. Faith holds on to what is. Hope
leaps out to what shall be. Faith sees. Hope foresees. Faith realizes. Hope idealizes. Faith inspects. Hope expects. Faith is quiet in possession.
Hope trembles in awe with expectation. Faith is the believer's logic.
Hope is his rhetoric. Faith's object is the divine
logos, the infallible promise of God. Hope's object is the
person promised. Faith looks to the word of the
promised. Hope looks to the promiser of
the word. Faith abides because it is the
substance of things hoped for. It is God's gift. Hope abides
because it anticipates the fulfillment of what faith embraces. Love
abides because it is the very nature of the new life. Faith
is in-reaching. Hope is out-looking. Love is
in-being. By faith the believer stands,
by hope he soars, and by love he is. Faith assures him. Hope inspires him. Love is the
Christian at his best. Love is greater than faith and
hope because it is necessary for both. Love abides because
it is the nature of the new life. Love is greater because of its
age. It can say, before faith and hope, I am. Love is also
greater in strength. Quote, love is strong as death,
close quote. Song of Solomon chapter 8 verse
6 quote greater love hath no man than this that a man lay
down his life for his friends close quote John chapter 15 verse
13 love is greater than faith and hope by reason of its dignity
faith and hope are receptive in their character but love is
communicative love is greater than faith and hope because faith
and hope will be made useless. They will reach their fruition
in the presence of Jesus Christ, but love will continue throughout
eternity. This concludes the book, Justification
Before God, Not by Faith. This is the end of Side B, tape
number 3.