(or, The Christian in Complete Armour, if you are British)
by William Gurnall
From the dust jacket: "John Newton said that if he might read only one book beside the Bible, he would choose this one."
This is a massive (40,000 word) exposition with application, of Ephesians vi.10-20.
Part 1--A Sweet and Powerful Encouragement to the War
Eph. vi.10--Finally, brothers, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
In which we have:
I. A familiar address--brothers
II. An exhortation--be strong
III. A cautionary direction attached to the exhortation--in the Lord
IV. An encouraging amplification of the exhortation--and in his mighty power
I. No commentary
II. Be strong, or unite all the powers of your souls.
Doctrine: The Christian, of all men, needs courage and resolution. In fact, there is nothing the Christian does which is not an act of valor. To prove that a Christian needs courage, consider...
A: The Christian is to proclaim permanent war against all his sins.
B: The Christian is to walk a lonely path, not after the ways of the world.
C: The Christian is to fix himself towards heaven, even as other supposed Christians around him fall and shrink back.
D: The Christian must trust and follow a God whose presence is not always felt.
E: The Christian must persevere in all these things even until the end of his life.
Application:
1. This should show us that there are so many people who merely call themselves Christians, yet so few who actually walk the lonely paths. It should not surprise us when men fall (although it should still grieve us).
2. Let me encourage all Christian men to labor for this courage and this holy resolution.
Here is a good section from Gurnall:
Your dear Savior, who stands by with a reserve for your relief at a pinch, his very heart leaps within him for joy to see the proof of your love to him and zeal for him in all your combats; and will not forget all the faithful service you have done in his wars on earth.
This raise the question, how can we obtain this Christian courage?
First, a clear and full knowledge of the truth of God. "Blind zeal is soon put to a shameful retreat, while holy resolution, built on fast principles, lifts up its head like a rock in the midst of the waves."
Second, a firm decision to act, or "an aim at the right end in our profession."
In other words, the Christian needs both a knowledge of the truth of God, and a firm commitment to act on this knowledge. That is courage. (aside: Ryan, doesn't this sound a lot like our fear matrix? Do you read this blog?)
III. Be strong in the Lord, that is, the courage we seek is found not in ourselves, but in the Lord alone.
Doctrine: The Christian's strength lies in the Lord, not in himself.
Whatever strength we have comes from the Lord. Whatever duty we perform right, we must praise the Lord. Whatever success we have against sin, etc. in all these things, we must praise the Lord, and attribute in truth all success onto him.
What are the reasons for this?
1. Both ourselves and the grace we receive are created things. As it is created by God, it is given by him. Even in the received grace, it is God who is acting through his creature.
2. That the grace that is in us is weak. If our strength were not laid up in him, then we would be overcome by enemies far stronger than us.
3. That we should receive all our strength from God is seen in the grand design that God has in our salvation. This is in two-parts:
A) God would bring his saints to heaven in a way that is the most expressive of his love and mercy to them.
B) God would express this love and mercy to them in the way that causes the glory of it to rebound back to him in the greatest way.
Application:
1. If our strength is not in ourselves, than in ourselves we are poor, impotent creatures, devoid of all strength, and unable to do anything by ourselves towards the goal of our own salvation.
2. Not only should we know this, but it should also keep us in a humble frame of mind.
IV. in his mighty power, that is, God's infinite almighty power. To be strong in it requires 1) a settled persuasion that God is almighty in power, and 2) a further act of faith that that power is engaged on our behalf.
Doctrine: It is our duty in all trials and temptations to strengthen our faith in the almighty power of God. Several reasons for this duty:
A) Because it is not easy when in the midst of temptations to make use of this truth. In other words, in the midst of temptation, we often fail in our faith because the world seems strong while God seems to fade into the background. Hence, when Lazarus died, his two sisters, thought they knew Jesus, doubted him in his ability.
B) Because this is truth is the most important truth in the hour of temptation. When all other things have fled, all other sources of strength, yet God will remain stronger than all other things.
C) Because God is very zealous for his glory in this aspect. He attaches it to his very name "the Lord Almighty."
Doctrine: It is our duty not only to believe in his great and mighty power, but also to believe that this almighty power is exercised on our behalf in all our trials and temptations. To this, we will first prove that this power is in fact on our behalf, and then secondly show why it is important to strongly act in faith on this.
1. The power of God is engaged on our behalf as a result of a five-fold tie or engagement that lies between his power and our defense. In other words, God's power is connected to us in five ways.
A. Through his near relation to us. He calls us his sons and daughters.
B. The dear love he has for us. We loves us first as he has chosen us, then as he has redeemed us, then as we are remade in his likeness. (Gurnall examines these in more detail then I have space for, and it is very beautiful).
C. The covenant engages his power towards us, for his glory and honor is invested in the completion of it.
D. As he express dependence on it, his power goes out to it through his promises.
E. The present priesthood of Christ inclines him to plead our case before God. He ever lives to intercede there for us.
2. There are two reasons why we should exercise our faith towards this almighty power.
A. Because the object of all our faith is the promises of God expressed in the Scripture, we may boldly act on them if we are assured of the almighty power of God in fulfilling his promises. Promises are only as strong as the one who stands behind them. Therefore if our faith is exercised in the promises of God not in themselves, but as they are spoken by the almighty God, we have comfort and security in them.
B. Our obedience can only be as strong or as weak as the object in which they have faith. We act in faith in all our doings, and if we are acting in faith in God's almighty power, than both our obedience and our comfort will be strong and sweet.
Application:
1. If God's almighty power is exercised on our behalf, then those that oppose it our in terrible danger.
2. We see the dismal and deplorable condition of those who do not know Christ.
3. With the same faith that you, O Christian, believe in God, believe also in his almighty power as yours, improving your faith in it to the highest degree possible. When will it be useful?
A) In agonies of conscience, when your sin seems to much and too powerful, fly then to the almighty power of God.
B) When you are afflicted and threatened by temptation, or when you feel that you may one day fall into temptation, etc. Listen to Gurnall here:
What good to have a shadow, though of a mighty rock, when we sit in the open sun? to have almighty power engaged for us and we to throw ourselves out of the protection thereof by old sallies into the mouth of temptation?
When plead his power in temptation, to so from the shelter of him, not boldly venturing into temptation.
C) When you are oppressed by the weight of our duties and services, especially in your holy duties.
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