Can you explain the "shield of faith"?
Introduction. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)
When true children of God say “Scripture” we mean every book, chapter or verse in the Bible. God’s people know every word in the Bible is “given by inspiration.” God’s Word is so refined, that the tense of a verb (Mt 22:31-32) or a singular/plural noun (Gal 3:16) is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, or instruction in righteousness.
Not a single word “came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20-21). We trust Jesus’ promise to his apostles: “it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit” (Mk. 13:11). All they taught and wrote were “not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words” (1 Cor. 2:13; Eph. 3:4). Conviction that Scripture is God breathed and given by inspiration is just as important as “he who comes to God must believe that He is” or “if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (Heb. 11:6; Jn. 8:24).
We believe that though “Heaven and earth will pass away, My words will by no means pass away” (Mt. 24:35). Though hundreds of years have passed, Jesus words are just as accurate and perfect as when first given and will continue so until the end of time. “The word of God lives and abides forever.” We must never forget “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Pet. 1:23-25).
These convictions create our “shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Eph. 6:16). These are the absolutes upon which we build our foundation. God is, Jesus is his Son, the Bible is His Word answer every question, stop every doubt, and remove all anxiety. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isa. 26:3).
The Fiery Darts. There are many fiery darts today. Because of quick access to information and diverse views in our country, we are assailed from the most unlikely places. A novel or movie may create a serious fiery dart undermining our faith by asking a question with seemingly no answer. Science, evolution, immorality, social change and a general spirit of rebellion guarantee that quibbles and human sophistry abound. A song, the news, an article or even a casual conversation with a neighbor may introduce fiery darts that smolder in our heart.
God hasn’t answered every question yet. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our” (Deut. 29:29). In such cases, the most soothing answer we can give is “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Pr. 3:5). With a humble trusting heart we can wait for God to explain it in his time. David freely admitted there were questions he could not answer, but he was comfortable leaving them in God’s capable hands. “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me” (Ps. 131:1-2).
It is not really that difficult. Once we have assessed the material creation and concluded that an infinitely wise God is the only logical answer to its existence, the quibbles really don’t matter any more.
Once we have looked at all the evidence of Jesus resurrection, miracles and prophecy and concluded Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God, we confess him as Lord and all doubts are set aside. Having assessed the accuracy of Scripture, God’s assurance that his Spirit wrote it, and Jesus’ promise that the word of God is incorruptible, living and abiding forever, we accept “it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe” (1 Th. 2:13). Then we “are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Pet 1:5)
When true children of God say “Scripture” we mean every book, chapter or verse in the Bible. God’s people know every word in the Bible is “given by inspiration.” God’s Word is so refined, that the tense of a verb (Mt 22:31-32) or a singular/plural noun (Gal 3:16) is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, or instruction in righteousness.
Not a single word “came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20-21). We trust Jesus’ promise to his apostles: “it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit” (Mk. 13:11). All they taught and wrote were “not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words” (1 Cor. 2:13; Eph. 3:4). Conviction that Scripture is God breathed and given by inspiration is just as important as “he who comes to God must believe that He is” or “if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (Heb. 11:6; Jn. 8:24).
We believe that though “Heaven and earth will pass away, My words will by no means pass away” (Mt. 24:35). Though hundreds of years have passed, Jesus words are just as accurate and perfect as when first given and will continue so until the end of time. “The word of God lives and abides forever.” We must never forget “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Pet. 1:23-25).
These convictions create our “shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Eph. 6:16). These are the absolutes upon which we build our foundation. God is, Jesus is his Son, the Bible is His Word answer every question, stop every doubt, and remove all anxiety. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isa. 26:3).
The Fiery Darts. There are many fiery darts today. Because of quick access to information and diverse views in our country, we are assailed from the most unlikely places. A novel or movie may create a serious fiery dart undermining our faith by asking a question with seemingly no answer. Science, evolution, immorality, social change and a general spirit of rebellion guarantee that quibbles and human sophistry abound. A song, the news, an article or even a casual conversation with a neighbor may introduce fiery darts that smolder in our heart.
God hasn’t answered every question yet. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our” (Deut. 29:29). In such cases, the most soothing answer we can give is “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Pr. 3:5). With a humble trusting heart we can wait for God to explain it in his time. David freely admitted there were questions he could not answer, but he was comfortable leaving them in God’s capable hands. “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me” (Ps. 131:1-2).
It is not really that difficult. Once we have assessed the material creation and concluded that an infinitely wise God is the only logical answer to its existence, the quibbles really don’t matter any more.
Once we have looked at all the evidence of Jesus resurrection, miracles and prophecy and concluded Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God, we confess him as Lord and all doubts are set aside. Having assessed the accuracy of Scripture, God’s assurance that his Spirit wrote it, and Jesus’ promise that the word of God is incorruptible, living and abiding forever, we accept “it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe” (1 Th. 2:13). Then we “are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Pet 1:5)