Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 3:1–7

What are characteristics of a godly marriage? What should we be aiming for when we are looking for a wife or a husband for those who are single? Understanding what a godly marriage looks like is very important so we can prepare for it.

It is good to remember that when God made man in his image (Gen 1:27), he made a husband and wife yoked together as one flesh (2:24). This means that the marriage relationship is a model of God and specifically the Trinity. When a marriage does not function properly, it mars the image of God and it breaks down every aspect of society.

For this reason, from the very beginning of creation, the home has been under attack. Satan attacked the home by tempting Adam and Eve in the garden. He attacks the home because it destroys the image of God, and therefore, our societies become farther and farther away from God, as the family decays and erodes. The family is the foundation of society, so when the home falls, the church falls, and when the church falls, the nation falls. As we look at this text, Peter teaches us the characteristics of a godly home, focusing on the roles of both the man and the woman.

No doubt the stress of persecution happening in the Roman Empire as Peter wrote this text, led to discord and fights in the home, particularly between husband and wife. Peter aims to correct that.

Peter also attempts to correct the common scenario of how a woman should react if she was married to a husband who had not yet come to Christ. This was very important because wives in the ancient world were often viewed as property. If she became a believer when the husband was not, it was perceived as rebellion and made the home life very difficult. On the other hand, if the husband became a believer, the wife and children were expected to follow. Therefore, Peter writes specifically to women whose lives were very difficult as a result of the former scenario.

This message is important not only for married couples, but also for singles who will one day be married. Many of us have grown up with bad models of marriage. These bad models are promoted on television, in the media, and sometimes in our own home. Most Christians do not know what a proper marriage should look like, so when they get eventually married they live out the models they have seen or experienced in the home they grew up in.

Scripture calls us to a higher model which is God’s original plan for the man and the woman. We learn something of God’s design in 1 Peter 3:1-7. It is a powerful remedy, not only for the church, but for our society that is cracked at the foundation as a result of our homes functioning outside of God’s perfect plan.

In this text, we will see six characteristics of a godly marriage.

Big Question: What characteristics of a godly marriage does Peter focus on as seen in the roles of the man and woman?

In a Godly Marriage, the Wife Submits to Her Husband to Transform Him

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.
1 Peter 3:1

In the above passage, Peter starts off with the phrase “in the same way.” This is referring to the third area of submission that should be seen in the lives of believers. He previously spoke about submitting to government (1 Pet 2:13–17) and to masters (1 Pet 2:18), and now he focuses on the home.

He is particularly focusing on the woman when he says, “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands.” The first point is that in a godly marriage, the wife submits to the husband in order to bring transformation in him. This call to submission is a radical concept in our culture and many rebel against Christianity because of it. Even many Christians struggle with this concept. Is the man greater than the women? If not, then why must the woman submit to the man? Many are quite bothered by this.

However, in considering the concept of authority in the home, it has nothing to do with equality. When God called these Christians to submit to the King and to masters in chapter 2, he was not teaching inequality.  An employer and an employee are fully equal; however, in order for a company to function properly, there must be authority otherwise there is chaos. In the same way, when God made the institution of marriage, he placed authority in the home in order that it would also function well. When we look at a society, where up to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, we can have no doubt that marriages have lost their God-given design.

The Beginning of the Problem

In fact, we see God prophetically share this problem with Adam and Even in Genesis 3. The result of sin entering the world would be disorder in marriages. Look at what he says:

To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you” (emphasis mine).
Genesis 3:16

When it says the woman would “desire” the husband, it actually means the woman would desire to control the husband. We see this same word used of sin with Cain in Genesis 4:7. God said, “Sin desires you but you must master it.” Sin desired to control Cain, but he was called to control it. Sin resulted in the woman seeking to usurp the leadership of the man, and it also resulted in the man trying to dominate and control the woman.

We see these dynamics in many ways throughout society. In some cultures, especially fundamentalist Muslim ones, the wife is like property and the husband can divorce or beat his wife for any offense. The husband controls and dominates the wife. In other cultures, the husband is docile in the home and the wife is the leader. In addition, we see in the feminist movement a continual push for the woman to not only usurp the man in the home, but in the church and in society, regardless of God’s design.

However, we should realize that this was never God’s original design for the man and the woman. Let us remember that in Genesis 1, when God made man in his image, he made them male and female. He made a plurality (Gen 1:27), just as God is a plurality. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27).

Evidence in the Trinity

Paul makes the argument in 1 Corinthians 11 that women should wear a sign of submission and submit to their husbands by calling the women to look at the Trinity. He says that the wife mirrors Christ and the man mirrors God. Look at what it says in 1 Corinthians 11:3: “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman (or translated wife) is man, and the head of Christ is God” (emphasis mine).

When Paul is correcting the women in the church who were dishonoring their husbands by removing their head coverings, he says the head of man is Christ. In the home, the man should submit to Christ, and the woman should submit to her husband because he is the head of the wife. Finally, he says the head of Christ is God

Do you see the analogy with the Godhead? In the same way that the man is the head of the woman, God is the head of Christ. Christ is coequal with God, but Christ submits to the will of the Father. He says, “I came to do my Father’s will. I only say what my Father says.” Though equal, there is submission in the Godhead. The woman’s relationship with the husband is called to mirror Christ’s relationship with God. When God made mankind, he made a relationship between the husband and wife that was “one” like the Trinity, coequal like the Trinity, and had authority in it just as the Trinity. Marriage reflects the Godhead.

Now we certainly recognize that this is a hard doctrine. However, we must see that it is God’s established order in Scripture. He is a God of order, and so he created it in the home. We must establish our homes on God’s Word and not what would seem right to us or our culture.

Christ the Restorer

Let us understand that Christ came to reestablish biblical manhood and biblical womanhood. When sin perverted the husband-and-wife relationship, the husbands became either domineering or passive and the wife either became manipulative or a doormat. This was never God’s plan, and therefore, Christ came to demonstrate what the marriage should look like. He demonstrates this clearly in his relationship with the church, who is his bride. Look at Ephesians 5:22–26,

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.

When we see the gospel, we see what marriage should be. Instead of the husband being lethargic while Satan leads the wife into sin, he is active. He is so active that he gives his life for his wife. He serves her by washing her with the Word of God, teaching her Scripture, leading her in holiness. He makes her beautiful. And the wife submits to him as the church should submit to Christ in everything, unless her submission would cause her to disobey God.

When the world looks at the Christian marriage, they should see the gospel. The wife submits to the husband as the church submits to Christ. The husband, instead of being lethargic or oppressive, he actively caters to the spiritual needs of his wife. When the Christian home operates like this, people see the beauty of the gospel. When the home is in disorder, it mars the gospel and it mars the image of God. It draws people away from God. It draws children away from God because it distorts God’s original plan.

When Eve sinned, Adam was supposed to be like Christ and die in her place. Where the first Adam failed, the second Adam, Christ, succeeds. He shows us what biblical manhood is, as he dies for his bride, the church, and purifies her through the Word. Christ came to fix broken marriages and bring them back into the original order of the Godhead.

Power of Submission

Peter espouses the doctrine of submission as he calls the wife to submit to the husband. Let us again hear the transformative power of this life of submission in the wife. It is so powerful it can transform the husband. Peter says a wife who is submissive does not even need words because she lives the gospel. Look at what he says:

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives (emphasis mine).
1 Peter 3:1–2

Here Peter gives the scenario of a wife who probably got saved after she was married and the husband was still an unbeliever. This would have created great strife in the home and possibly oppression since the wife was considered almost like property. This would have made the marriage very tough and sometimes abusive. Often in marriages like this, where the husband is an unbeliever, the woman, with right intentions, would seek zealously to win the husband to Christ. She does this by preaching at him, sometimes condemning his life of sin. Peter calls the woman to not do this.

He essentially says the life of submission which was God’s perfect plan for the wife is so beautiful, so saturated with the gospel, that it could save the husband without a word. A wife who was rooted in the sin nature that came from Adam would have been trying to usurp the husband’s authority their whole married life, arguing with him and seeking her own way. But all of a sudden, Christ came in, and there was this great submission. It would radically speak to the husband and potentially save his life. He would see the purity and the reverence of her life, and it lead to transformation.

In fact, we have seen this throughout history. Listen to a few of these stories of the power of a submissive life.

Here is a story of a Hindu woman who was converted.

A Hindu woman was converted, chiefly by hearing the Word of God read. She suffered very much persecution from her husband. One day a missionary asked her, “When your husband is angry and persecutes you, what do you do?”

She replied: “Well, sir, I cook his food better; when he complains, I sweep the floor cleaner; and when he speaks unkindly, I answer him mildly. I try, sir, to show him that when I became a Christian, I became a better wife and a better mother.”

The consequence of this was that, while the husband could withstand all the preaching of the missionary, he could not stand the practical preaching of his wife, and gave his heart to God with her. ¹

Here is another story that missionary George Muller told.

George Müller told of a wealthy German whose wife was a devout believer. This man was a heavy drinker, spending late nights in the tavern. She would send the servants to bed, stay up till he returned, receive him kindly, and never scold him or complain. At times she would even have to undress him and put him to bed.

One night in the tavern he said to his cronies, “I bet if we go to my house, my wife will be sitting up, waiting for me. She’ll come to the door, give us a royal welcome, and even make supper for us, if I ask her.”

They were skeptical at first, but decided to go along and see. Sure enough, she came to the door, received them courteously, and willingly agreed to make supper for them without the slightest trace of resentment. After serving them, she went off to her room. As soon as she had left, one of the men began to condemn the husband. “What kind of a man are you to treat such a good woman so miserably?” The accuser got up without finishing his supper and left the house. Another did the same and another till they had all departed without eating the meal.

Within a half hour, the husband became deeply convicted of his wickedness, and especially of his heartless treatment of his wife. He went to his wife’s room, asked her to pray for him, repented of his sins, and surrendered to Christ. From that time on, he became a devoted disciple of the Lord Jesus. Won without a word!

George Müller advised: Don’t be discouraged if you have to suffer from unconverted relatives. Perhaps very shortly the Lord may give you the desire of your heart, and answer your prayer for them. But in the meantime, seek to commend the truth, not by reproaching them on account of their behavior toward you, but by manifesting toward them the meekness, gentleness and kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ.²

Again, this is not just a truth for those married to an unbeliever. This is a truth for those who are married, period. The most traveled path in a marriage to changing a husband or changing a wife is arguing and nagging, but Peter says this is largely ineffective. Oftentimes, this pushes the other person farther away, instead of closer to what God desires.

Peter says it is the power of a submissive life with purity—meaning no sin—and reverence—which is respect and honor—that has the ability to change a life. This is something that husbands and wives need to get a hold of. Yes, let us speak, but more than that, let our actions speak that our wives may be won and our husbands as well.

This should change many marriages that are largely dominated by arguing with one another. A submissive life is free of sin and sinful responses; it is a life of reverence and respect that transforms.

This life of submission is transformative because it was the life of Christ. Peter has already been arguing that this practice of submission among the authorities of the world could save lives and make them glorify God on the day of visitation (1 Pet 2:12–15); now he says it can changes marriages as well.

*It should be added that this text should not be used for females or males to consider dating or marrying unbelievers. Scripture speaks very clearly against that. In Nehemiah, Nehemiah starts to pull the hair out of the men that had married unbelievers (Neh 13:23–27). He essentially says, “Don’t you know that Solomon lost the kingdom for this very sin?” The nation of Israel was judged for this sin.

Paul says very clearly in 2 Corinthians 6:14 that we should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This does not refer primarily to marriage but to every intimate relationship. Intimate relationships are yoking relationships; they pull us in a certain direction. He says the Christian who does not separate from worldy relationships will give up intimacy with God and ultimately bring discipline on their lives (v. 17, 18).

When I talk to young Christians in church or on college campuses, it seems they are largely unaware of this truth. It is like they have never read the tragic story and warnings in the Bible about courting or marrying unbelievers. It essentially led to the death of Samson and the discipline of Israel on several occasions.

Application Question: What are your thoughts and feelings about the submission of the wife to her husband? How do you see this being attacked and lost in society?

In a Godly Marriage, the Wife Is Focused on the Internal and Not the External

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.
1 Peter 3:3-5

In this text, Peter begins to expand on the best way to submit to the husband and reverence him. The woman might be tempted to believe that it was all about her beauty and her outward appearance. But Peter teaches that beauty is not the primary way to honor your husband.

Now it should be noted that Peter is not saying that women should not wear jewelry or fine clothes. He is actually speaking about being consumed with it. This is seen by the fact that “fine” clothes is not in the text. It’s added by translators. It literally says “do not let your adornment be clothes.” Is he saying the woman can’t wear clothes? No, that is why the interpreters added fine clothes. He was talking about obsession with the external.

We live in a world where the woman is tempted to often be consumed with outward adorning and her physical beauty. The world system perpetuates this. One cannot watch a commercial that doesn’t say you can be more beautiful or attractive if you wear this or do that or you must look like this. God hates this focus on the external because it does not reflect the image of God. We see this in the story of the choosing of David to be king. Samuel was surveying the older brothers for kingly characteristics, and noticing one of them, he said, “Surely this must be God’s anointed.” However, God replies in 1 Samuel 16:7,

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (emphasis mine).

God essentially says, “I do not look at people the way man does. Man is consumed with the outward appearance, but I am consumed with the heart.” Therefore, when Christians are consumed with the outward appearance, they are acting like the world, not like God. You were made to look like God, to think like him. There is not one child of God who is not beautiful to him. Beauty is a work of the heart.

This would rid a lot of people of their insecurities and their pride. It would close the door on the lies that Satan speaks to so many. You must be lighter, darker, tanner, skinnier, have these kind of eyes, this kind of nose. It is a lie. Let your focus be the inward man and not the outer man. In fact, let us see how much God hates this continual focus on the outward by how he curses the women of Israel in Isaiah 3. He says this external focus all comes from pride. Look at what he says:

The LORD says, “The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald.” In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils, the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well–dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding (emphasis mine).
Isaiah 3:16–24

God calls them “haughty,” or prideful, for being totally consumed with their outward beauty. This is a form of pride which God hates. James 4:6 says, “He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” God was angry with this fascination by the women of Israel with their outward appearance. When a person is all about their outward appearance: their skin, their hair, and their clothes, they are people seeking to glorify themselves instead of seeking to glorify God. Because of this pride, God judged the women of Israel.

Sad to say, many of the women in the church have become like this as well. Their focus is their bodies and their appearance, instead of the inward man. They spend more time every day on their outward man—their makeup, their clothes, their hair—instead of working on their inward man. This shows their idolatry. They run around seeking plastic surgeries because of being consumed with their outside adornment. Instead of being transformed by the Word of God. They are being conformed and pressed into the mold of the world (Romans 12:2).

This should not only be applied to clothing, for when he talks about the putting on of jewels in one’s hair, this was just an ancient way of showing one’s wealth. Wealthy women would often wear their hair up high with tons of jewels wrapped in it. Today, many marriages are also consumed with signs of wealth. They want to show their wealth by having the most expensive car, the most luxurious TV sets and the nicest homes. Like the world, they are consumed with the external, and they want everybody to see and know what they have. A godly marriage is not like this. It is a marriage focused around God and developing the inward man to please God.

Peter says a godly wife is not like this. He says the “adornment” of this woman is the cultivation of the internal and not the external. She clothes herself like ancient godly women as seen in Sarah, who called her husband, Abraham, master. He focuses on two particular attitudes of a godly wife: gentle and quiet.

“Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Pet 3:4).

Interpretation Question: What does Peter mean by the two characteristics of the “gentle and quiet spirit”? How should these be demonstrated not only in the life of the woman but the life of the man?

The word translated gentle or meek means “not insistent on one’s own rights,” or “not pushy, not selfishly assertive,” “not demanding one’s own way.”³ It is the same word used in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” It is actually one of the hardest words to translate in the Greek. It was used of a wild horse that had been broken and now was tamed. It means “power under control.” One commentator translated this beatitude as “Blessed are those who are always angry at the right time, and never angry at the wrong time.”⁴

Peter pictures a woman who is in control of her emotions and her actions. Instead of blowing up over issues, she is calculative. She ponders her responses, “Is this just my opinion, or is this something God would be angry about?” This woman desires to only be angry when God is and not at other times. She bears up under hardship and is gentle in her responses. She is Christ-like, who was also described as gentle and meek in spirit (Matt 11:29).

She is also quiet. This also looks back at the temptation of the woman to change her husband by her incessant words and probably complaints (1 Pet 3:1). She instead restrains her words. Solomon describes a person who restrains his words as wise. Listen to what he says in Proverbs 10:19: “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” This woman is cultivating the inner man, not only to be beautiful to her husband, but to be beautiful to God. She is gentle and meek--in control of her emotions and especially her anger. She is reserved in the use of her words. This demonstrates her wisdom.

But let us hear these are traits to be practiced not only by the woman but to be practiced by the husband as well. He is meek, in control of his emotions and his anger, and practices restraint with his words.

The Christian home is not superficial, concerned with the outward appearance. They are not consumed with the external appearance in their clothes, makeup, or skin. The godly home is not consumed with showing one’s wealth through the cars or houses they buy. The secular home is consumed with these things, but not the godly home.

Let it be known that this focus on the outward appearance is a major struggle for many families including Christian ones. They are consumed with “keeping up with the Joneses” in having the latest fashions, nicest homes. The number one reason for divorce is finances. A home consumed with showing one’s wealth is often a home that when the money is tight, there is great discord because they have ungodly values when it comes to how to use their finances.

But not the godly home. The godly home is totally consumed with the inside. In fact, they choose not to store up riches because it protects their heart (Matt 6:19–21), for they realize where their treasure is, their heart will be also. The godly home protects their heart from worshiping things of this world by not storing up the wealth of this world because it has a tendency to steal their heart and crowd out the Word of God as Christ taught (Matt 13:22). If their treasure is clothes, cars, phones, electronics, etc., it will detract from the heart that God loves and enjoys. The godly home is all about the inside.

Application Question: How have you observed the woman’s temptation to be consumed with the outward as demonstrated through cultural values and the media? How can she protect herself from being conformed into the value system of the world? How can Christians marriages protect themselves from this shallow focus on the external?

In a Godly Marriage, the Husband Knows His Wife

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 3:7

After talking for six verses about the wife, the last verse is about the husband. Many have wondered if Peter gave so much attention to the woman because the majority of people in these churches were actually women. It is true that women have typically been the most spiritual partners in marriages. They are typically the ones most involved in serving. As pastors, we often watch the wives from the pulpit who are intently watching and listening, while the husbands are struggling to stay awake during service.

This shows part of the reason the church, the home, and our society are in such a poor state. Not many men are willing to step up and lead like Christ in the home and in society by setting a righteous example. There is a tremendous need to restore biblical manhood in the church, where men are assertive in leading spiritually.

I often tell my wife if I was one of the single girls on a college campus these days, most likely I would just stay single. There are so few men who are willing to be spiritual leaders. I remember leading a Lifestyle Discipleship School one semester at the university, which started every weekday morning at 7:00 am. We had like twenty people, and only three to five of them were guys. I pulled the guys aside and said, “Look at this. This is a commentary on the church. It shows the man’s spiritual lethargy.” Let me tell you, we are already praying for my daughter’s husband and she is only a baby. There is a tremendous lack of male spiritual leadership in the church.

With that said, this makes this one verse so important for us to hear, and even though it’s only one and the ladies get six, it is a verse that is loaded, and we need to focus on it. We will actually pull several points out of this one verse. In this verse, he gives men a secret on how to love and better serve their wives. Listen again to 1 Peter 3:7: “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives.”

“Be considerate” in the NIV is better translated “dwell with them according to knowledge,” as seen in the KJV.

What is one of the things a husband must do to develop a godly marriage? He must develop a knowledge base. What is this knowledge base?

Interpretation Question: If “be considerate” in the NIV is better translated “dwell with according to knowledge,” what type of knowledge should the husband cultivate to have a godly marriage, and how should he cultivate it?

There are several types of knowledge the husband must cultivate.

1. The husband must “know” his wife.

Let me first say it’s hard to teach on the role of the husband because I fail at this in many ways. The husband should intently study his wife. He needs to learn her likes and her dislikes so he can better minister to her.

I will share a little about one of the things I have learned about my wife. My wife is a hard worker, and she is very empathetic with people. She cares for others. But because of this, she sometimes takes on too much of a load, whether it is meeting with people or cooking for them. I’ve seen this tendency manifest itself in frustration or weariness.

One of the ways I have learned to love her is by protecting her. I will say, “No, you’re not cooking for small group this week. We are going to order out. You’re getting worn down.” Or as she is the primary caregiver for our daughter, Saiyah, sometimes if Saiyah is having a bad night, I will take care of Saiyah. Why? It’s because I know my wife. If my wife doesn’t get sleep, she doesn’t function well. I’ve had to develop a knowledge base about my wife so I can better serve her. I know she really likes it if I do things around the house. Sometimes, if she’s getting worn out, I’ll help out more.

But when we first got married, I just would watch and didn’t do much to help or serve her. I could see the pattern that would lead toward frustration but never really responded to it, which in turn brought frustration in the marriage. Now I am a veteran of over seven years and I have learned to better understand her rhythms and my rhythm. I do not claim to be good at this, but because I’m studying her, I’m getting better.

How else does the husband dwell with his wife according to knowledge?

2. The husband must “know” Scripture.

I think this is one of the things that is implied by this knowledge the husband must have. If he is going to be godly husband, he must not only know his wife but Scripture as well and relate to his wife on the basis of Scripture. Listen to Ephesians 5:25–27.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless (emphasis mine).
Ephesians 5:25–27

Here in this text, the primary way the husband loves his wife is by washing her with the Word of God. One of the things the husband must do in serving his wife is study the Word of God with her, teach her the Word of God, and also help her apply it so she can be without stain or wrinkle. He needs to wash her blemishes, her insecurities. He must build her up in the inner person so she can fulfill all that God has called her to do. The husband plays the role of Christ. In the same way, Christ equips the church to serve through the Word of God, he calls the husband to do that with his wife.

The husband must dwell with his wife according to the knowledge of Scripture. The husband needs to learn and study Scripture in order to be obedient to God. He may apply this knowledge by leading in family devotions, taking the family to a Bible-preaching church, and simply exhorting the wife and children to daily holiness.

This is very important for young single women to understand so that as they search for a husband, they will look for a man who is a spiritual leader. I know the pickings are slim. The world can give you a husband, but a godly spouse is a gift from the Lord. Listen to Proverbs 19:14: “Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” You need to wait for your gift and not compromise. Look for someone that knows the Word and teaches it not only with their mouths but with their lives.

This is also a call for young men to prepare themselves. Prepare yourself to lead a family by knowing the Word of God and being involved in serving God’s church. What else is the man called to do?

Application Question: What are some unique things that you have learned about your spouse that help you better serve him or her? How can you be more faithful in serving him your spouse? For singles, how is God calling you to grow in your “knowledge” in order to be a godly mate?

In a Godly Marriage, a Husband Needs to Dwell with His Wife

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers (emphasis mine).
1 Peter 3:7 (ESV)

Peter says the husband must “live with” his wife as seen in the ESV. Again, it literally can be translated “dwell together with.” This means that in order to be a godly husband, you must spend time with your wife and in fact be at home. This is very important to say because many homes fail specifically on this issue. The husband is not at home. He is not at home because of work; he is not at home because of pleasure. He is not at home because at home there is stress.

One of the things that is needed for a godly marriage is for the husband to dwell with his wife. Often in our society the job demands have become almost unreasonable. Satan is the ruler of this world, the ruler of this wicked age, and he knows what he is doing.

In some jobs, it is almost impossible for a husband to be at home, and that includes the pastorate. One of the reasons pastor kids and missionary kids have such bad reputations is because many times, the fathers, the pastors, are not around. They are too busy doing ministry. Look, it is impossible to be a good pastor without being a good husband and a father (1 Tim 3:2). And in order to do this, men must be at home. In fact, this is something I have seen a lot in the church, since I served as a youth pastor for seven years. Listen to what Paul said in Ephesians 6:4: “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (or “Do not provoke your children to wrath” in the KJV).

Paul tells the fathers to not push the children to wrath but to train them in the instruction of the Lord. In order to train them in the instruction of the Lord, the father has to be around. One of the main ways a child is provoked to wrath is because fathers are not home. Many of these children grow up not really knowing their father because he was never around, and therefore, they grow up with a tremendous anger. We are raising an angry generation of children. And as you know, children whose fathers are not around are more prone to divorce, crime, abuse, depression, suicide, etc. Why? It’s because they are angry.

Listen, in order to have a godly marriage, husbands/fathers have to be at home. You have to “dwell together with your wife.” You need to be home with your kids. Now practically this may mean changing careers or having a lesser level of living. A lot of these jobs today will not let you be home. That’s one of the things I have to consider when looking at ministry jobs.

Our churches are so far away from God they, in a sense, demand for pastors to not be good fathers or husbands. Look, not me. I want to honor God before I honor any church or job. First Timothy 5:4 and 8 says the first priority of our religion must be our family and anyone who neglects this, is worse than an infidel. Even unbelievers care for their family.

A characteristic of a godly marriage is the husband being home, dwelling with his wife and kids.

Application Question: Do you feel that it’s true that godly male leadership is in high demand but low supply? How do you think godly single women should respond to this drought? What about vice versa?

In a Godly Marriage, Couples Honor Their Differences

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner.
1 Peter 3:7

Next, Peter tells the husband to treat her with respect, or better translated “honor,” as the weaker partner or vessel. What does he mean by weaker vessel?

Interpretation Question: What does Peter mean by the woman being the “weaker partner or vessel?”

He seems to be referring to the physical strength of the woman. In general, men are stronger physically than women and also sometimes emotionally. Because he has made the woman’s body to bear children, there are tremendous hormonal differences in comparison to the body of the man that sometimes affects the emotions.

The husband must honor these differences, rather than beleaguering them, which is very common in marriage. One of the ways this often plays out in marriage is that husbands and wives look upon these differences with disdain. They just don’t understand one another. In one sense, the husband tries to make the woman more masculine like he is. The wife tries to make the husband more feminine.

Interpretation Question: Why does Peter tell the husbands to be more considerate about the wives and not vice versa?

I like to think of the husband’s vessel being like a brick and the wife’s like a delicate vase. If God calls the brick and the vase to dance, which vessel is typically going to get hurt? The vase will. Many times marriage is like this. The brick is constantly hurting the vase. They have a different structure, and therefore, the brick needs to be delicate in how he handles the vase.

This is a shallow illustration of something I’ve learned in marriage. I was raised to be a “man’s man,” or so I like to think, in part because of my athletic background. My wife and I like to banter over stuff like the milk expiration date. My wife likes to throw away the milk the day the milk is past the date. I like to go, “No babe, that is the best sold by date. It’s not necessarily bad. Let’s not throw out the milk.”

One of the ways I’ve learned how to deal with this and, similar issues, is recognizing that we are just different. I want to eat the leftovers that have been in the fridge for a week, and my wife wants to throw them away. But the reality is, most things I eat I don’t get sick over. My vessel is a like a brick; I’m not too concerned about getting sick from food or day-old coffee. My wife’s body is different; some things that I eat she might get sick from. We are different in many ways. I’ve had to learn how to accept these differences, and to honor them as well.

We even see this in parenting styles. My wife is a woman and is very delicate with the baby, delicate with her eating, and of course, I am not. I was throwing Saiyah in the air the first week she was born. I was doing flips with her. I am male. We have learned to respect and honor our differences. I like to sneak Saiyah ice cream when Momma is not around.

These may be bad illustrations that show how crazy I really am, but God has given males and females different vessels, and it affects how we interact with other people and our environment. For many marriages, these differences are a source of constant conflict. We need to honor the delicateness or the strength of the other vessel. Some things that would not bother you emotionally will probably bother your mate. Males and females are different, and these differences must be honored.

It should be noted that the word respect in the NIV is not strong enough. Most commentators would argue for the word honor as in the ESV. Husbands must not only respect their wives but honor them.

Application Question: The word respect is not a strong enough word in 1 Peter 3:7. It is better translated “honor.” What are some practical ways spouses can honor one another?

1. Listen to them.
2. Take time to enjoy the activities they enjoy. Sometimes the woman will honor the husband and their differences by enjoying certain sports or shows with him that she wouldn’t normally enjoy. Maybe the husband will go shopping with the wife or watch the Home TV Network.
3. Praise them. Thank them for what they do. We need to show appreciation daily for our spouses and their differences.

Application Question: What type differences commonly cause conflict between males and females, especially in marriage? How have you dealt with these differences in the past?

In a Godly Marriage, Couples Experience Unhindered Powerful Prayer

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers (emphasis mine).
1 Peter 3:7

One of the things that is interesting about this text is the your in “hinder your prayers” is actually plural. Though some commentators believe this is referring to the husbands’ prayers, many believe Peter is referring to the couples’ prayers being hindered. If this is true, the implication is that the husband and wife are expected to have a corporate prayer life. They are praying individually and praying corporately. And when they are walking in unity with one another, God is answering their prayers. They pray for souls to be saved together, people to be healed, finances to come in to help people, and this godly couple is seeing answers to their prayers. This should be what we see in the life of a godly couple all the time.

The godly couple’s life of unity makes their prayers powerful. Listen to what Christ said:

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
Matthew 18:19–20

Christ taught there was a great power in corporate prayer as people come together and agree with one another. This is one of the greatest things I have found about marriage. It has increased and strengthened my prayer life. Marriage is a powerful union, in part, because of the power of corporate prayer that comes with it. I have no doubt this is one of the reasons Satan works so hard against unity in the marriage because he knows it is a powder keg in getting God’s will done on the earth.

For that reason, Peter warns that strife in a relationship actually hinders the prayers of a couple; it makes their prayers ineffective. We see this principle generally taught throughout Scripture. Listen to what David said in Psalms 66:18: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

We also see specifically that living in anger with someone actually opens the door for the evil one in our lives. Look what Paul said in Ephesians 4:26–27: “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold (emphasis mine).”

Many couples, by their disputing, not only close the door to their prayer life and make it unprofitable, but they give the devil a foothold, which is a war term. This means that the discord gives him an area to wage war on the marriage and their lives in order to bring destruction to it. Many couples live with a war going on that has been embellished by the work of the devil, and there is no help for them. God doesn’t hear their prayers because they refuse to forgive one another or give grace. Therefore, the devil continues to war. Godly couples live in prayer, and God answers their prayers.

Application Question: Do you find your prayer life more effective by yourself or in a group of two or more? Why or why not? What ways have you seen discord hinder your prayer life?

Conclusion

What are characteristics of a godly marriage?

1. The wife submits to the husband, and it’s transformative.
2. The wife has a focus on the internal instead of the external.
3. The husband is growing in knowledge of his wife and the Word of God.
4. The husband dwells together with his wife.
5. The couple honors their differences.
6. The couple has unhindered powerful prayer.

Application Question: What ways has this study challenged you or changed your mind about marriage?

Chapter Notes

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Copyright 2014 Gregory Brown

Unless otherwise noted, the primary Scriptures used are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

¹ Teacher’s Outline and Study Bible – Commentary – Teacher’s Outline and Study Bible – 1 Peter

² MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments (A. Farstad, Ed.) (1 Peter 3:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

³ Grudem, W. A. (1988). Vol. 17: 1 Peter: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (148). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

⁴ Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (Third Ed.). The New Daily Study Bible (111). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.

August 10, 2014

There is a familiar saying, “Seeing is believing,” but in spiritual matters that is not necessarily true. Sometimes skeptics will say, “Show me a miracle and I’ll believe.” But even if they saw a genuine miracle, they’d still doubt it or look for a naturalistic explanation and find other reasons to continue in their unbelief.

As we’ve seen repeatedly, John wrote his Gospel, and especially the seven miraculous signs that Jesus performed before His death, “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (20:31). But not all who saw Jesus’ miracles in person believed in Him, just as not all today who read the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ miracles in the Gospels believe in Him. The barrier to faith is that we love our sin. As Paul points out in Romans 1:18-20, all people have adequate evidence of God’s eternal power and divine nature through creation, but they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. If God exists and created all things, then sinners know that they’re in big trouble. So they invent myths, like evolution, to dodge the reality of God so that they can continue in their sin.

If any miracle should have resulted in every person present falling on his face and worshiping Jesus as God, it would have been the raising of Lazarus from the dead. He had been dead four days, so that his body was beginning to decompose. But when Jesus cried out (11:43), “Lazarus, come forth,” life returned to his dead body, he was completely restored, and he walked out of the tomb, still bound with the grave wrappings. As a result, many did believe in Jesus, but in an amazing display of the hardness of unbelieving hearts, others went to report to the Jewish leaders what had happened. And, rather than acknowledging their mistaken views of Jesus, they intensified their efforts to kill Him.

In the narrative, Jesus tells Martha (11:40), “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” Believing would result in seeing. But (in 11:45-46) others who saw this stupendous miracle did not believe, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Rom. 1:21). The lesson is:

If we believe in Christ, we will see the glory of God; but if we see miracles without believing we will be hardened in our sin.

1. If we believe in Christ, we will see the glory of God.

Jesus’ comment to Martha (11:40) that if she believed, she would see the glory of God, probably refers to His earlier comment (11:4), which would have been reported to Martha and Mary, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” Jesus’ aim in all that He did was to glorify the Father (17:1-5). Jesus is the revelation of God’s glory to us. As John said (1:14), “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In heaven, we will see Jesus’ glory in all its fullness (17:24).

God’s glory is His essential and intrinsic splendor. The Hebrew word has the notion of weight or heaviness, and thus refers to God’s worthiness, reputation, and honor (M. R. Gordon, Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible [Zondervan], ed. by Merrill C. Tenney, 2:730). The emphasis in the Bible is on glory as the manifestation of His attributes. Thus Calvin wrote (ibid. 2:732), “The glory of God is when we know what He is.” He also observed (ibid. 2:733), “We never truly glory in Him until we have utterly discarded our own glory … whoso glories in himself glories against God.”

In this case, Martha’s faith would result in her seeing God’s glory as seen in Jesus’ intimacy with the Father and in His power to call Lazarus from the tomb. This miracle validates Jesus’ astounding claims in John 5:21, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.” He added (5:28-29), “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; …” Because Jesus raised Lazarus, we can know that He will make good on His promise to raise all the dead someday, either for eternal life or for judgment. So this miracle should result in our seeing the fact that Jesus is the author and giver of both physical and eternal life and that He has all power over death.

We should apply Jesus’ words to Martha (11:40), “if you believe, you will see the glory of God.” First, we should always join Moses in his prayer (Exod. 33:18), “I pray You, show me Your glory!” That was a bold prayer! Moses had already seen the Lord at the burning bush. He had seen God’s power in the ten plagues on Egypt. He had seen the Lord deliver His people through the Red Sea, provide water from the rock, and manna from heaven every morning. I’d be satisfied to see any one of those displays of God’s glory! But, Moses wanted more, and so should we! As we see more of God’s glory, it transforms us into His image (2 Cor. 3:18). So, always pray that God will grant you more faith so that you will see more of His glory.

Also, C. H. Spurgeon (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit [Pilgrim Publications], 59:87) applied this verse by challenging his congregation to believe God for the conversion of sinners who were as corrupt in their morals as Lazarus was in his body. We sometimes see people who are debauched sinners and think, “There’s no way that that person could ever get saved.” If salvation comes from human will power, that’s true. But if salvation is of the Lord, then He is mighty to save the chief of sinners.

John calls Jesus’ miracles “signs” (11:48). Signs point to something beyond themselves. The physical miracles point to deeper spiritual truth. As a dead man whose body was undergoing corruption, Lazarus is a picture of sinners who are dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1), cut off from the life of God, and morally corrupt in His holy presence. As a dead man, Lazarus had no power to raise himself from the dead. He needed the new life that comes only from God (John 6:63). It required the life-giving word of Jesus to call him from death to life. That’s true every time a sinner is born again.

You may ask, “Doesn’t the sinner have to choose to believe?” The Bible is clear, yes, the sinner must choose to believe. But no one who is dead in their sins is able to choose to believe until the Spirit of God quickens them from the dead. We saw this in John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Those who believe didn’t do so because of their will (which is not “free,” but bound in sin), but rather because God caused them to be born again (1 Pet. 1:3).

So go to the Father in believing prayer and ask Him to save those who are so dead in sin that they stink! And, Jesus’ words apply to any who have not yet trusted in Him for salvation: If you will believe in Him, you will see the glory of His love, grace, and justice at the cross. If we believe in Christ, we will see the glory of God.

2. Jesus’ miracles should result in faith in Him as Savior and Lord.

First, we need to affirm that…

A. Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead.

John reported this miracle so that you would believe in Jesus and have eternal life in His name. But Satan always attacks essential truths. So, it’s no accident that liberal critics dispute that this miracle really happened. They argue that John presents the raising of Lazarus as a crucial event that precipitated Jesus’ death at the hands of the Jewish leaders. If this is so, they say, why do the other three Gospels omit this important event? They conclude that John fabricated this story to illustrate some spiritual truths about Jesus. For example, William Barclay concludes (The Gospel of John [Westminster Press], 2:103), “It does not really matter whether or not Jesus literally raised a corpse to life in A.D. 30, but it matters intensely that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life for every man who is dead in sin and dead to God today.” Strange reasoning!

That’s like saying that it doesn’t really matter whether Jesus was raised bodily from the dead, as long as we learn the spiritual lessons from the story. Paul refutes that nonsense by arguing that if Christ is not literally raised from the dead, our faith is worthless (1 Cor. 15:1-19). If Jesus did not literally raise Lazarus from the dead, then John’s credibility as an eyewitness of Jesus’ glory is worthless. His entire Gospel becomes just a clever fable, alongside Aesop’s fables, but not worth staking your life and eternal destiny on.

It’s clear that John is narrating an event that he saw take place in actual history. The story does not read as a concocted fable or myth. It is straightforward and realistic, with many factual details. Even Jesus’ enemies acknowledged that He was doing many miracles (11:47). They couldn’t question that Lazarus had been dead and now was alive. So Jesus’ critics who lived at that time didn’t doubt the fact that Lazarus was raised from the dead, but modern critics, living 20 centuries later do doubt it!

Thus what we have here is not a parable or a fable making some moral point. Rather, it is a historical account of Jesus raising a decomposing corpse to life. But John wants us to apply this actual miracle to our lives:

B. This miracle should cause you to believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord; and if you already believe, to increase your faith in Him.

John views faith in Christ as both initial and ongoing. The disciples believed in Jesus in chapter 1, but in chapter 2, after Jesus turned the water into wine, we read (2:11), “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” In 6:69, Peter affirms, “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” But here in chapter 11, Jesus tells the disciples (11:15), “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there [before Lazarus died] so that you may believe.” Martha clearly confesses her faith in Christ (11:27): “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” But (in 11:40) Jesus still challenges her to believe.

Apply this to yourself: If you have never repented of your sins and put your trust in Christ as Savior and Lord, that’s where you begin a relationship with Him. That’s when you move from spiritual death to eternal life. If you do not believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are still under God’s wrath (3:36). The Bible commands you to believe in Jesus and be saved (Acts 16:31).

But, you don’t stop with that initial belief. Your faith in Christ needs to grow and it will grow as you see more and more of who He is. This miracle shows that Jesus is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. He is, as He told Martha (11:25), the resurrection and the life. He is the eternal Son of God who took on human flesh and laid down His life willingly on the cross so that whoever believes in Him has eternal life (3:13-17).

This miracle shows that Jesus can do what mere men cannot do. Religion could not raise the dead. All that the Jews could do was offer consolation to Mary and Martha. The scribes and Pharisees could not raise the dead. Even modern medicine, with all of its advanced knowledge, cannot raise to life a body that has begun to decompose. But Jesus could do what no mere man could do. He spoke the word and Lazarus instantly came to life.

This miracle illustrates our insufficiency and Christ’s all-sufficiency. One reason that we don’t trust the Lord in our daily lives is that we feel sufficient or adequate in ourselves. We may ask Him for a little help now and then, but we don’t acknowledge what He told the disciples (15:5), “apart from Me you can do nothing.”

In commenting on Jesus’ prayer life, Paul Miller observes (A Praying Life [NavPress], p. 44), “If you know that you, like Jesus, can’t do life on your own, then prayer makes complete sense.” He goes on to devote a chapter to “learning to be helpless.” When we recognize our own insufficiency and helplessness, then we cast ourselves on the Lord and our faith grows as He answers. As Hudson Taylor, the great pioneer missionary to China, said, “All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them.”

But this story is not just about believing in Christ so that we will see God’s glory, or about how seeing miracles should result in our growth in faith. It’s also a warning against seeing God’s mighty works without believing:

3. Seeing a miracle without believing results in further hardening of heart.

This account of Jesus’ raising of Lazarus is a case study in the frightening nature of unbelief. We can learn three lessons:

A. Unbelief is not based on insufficient evidence.

What further proof of God’s power could you want than to smell the stench of the rotting body as they rolled the stone from the tomb, hearing Jesus’ loud command, and then seeing the formerly dead man stumble from the tomb, still bound in his graveclothes? Yet, some who witnessed this spectacle went away to inform Jesus’ enemies so that they could intensify their plans to have Him arrested and executed!

Of course, this wasn’t the first miracle that these enemies of Jesus had witnessed. They acknowledge that He is performing many signs (11:47). They had seen the man who had been paralyzed for 38 years, who used to beg at the Pool of Bethesda, now walking because Jesus healed him (5:1-14). They knew that the man born blind, who used to beg by the temple gate, now saw because Jesus healed him (9:1-34). But they rejected both of these miracles because Jesus had done them on the Sabbath. And now, Jesus does the ultimate miracle by commanding Lazarus to come out of the tomb. What further evidence could they ask for? But their unbelief was not based on insufficient evidence.

The same is true today. We have the evidence of fulfilled prophecy, including over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. We have the eyewitness accounts of His teaching and miracles. There is the evidence of Jesus’ empty tomb, backed up by the changed lives of the witnesses, who all at first doubted His resurrection, but later were willing to suffer and die because they knew that He was alive. There is the evidence of intricate design in all of creation, from the molecular level up to the global level. But unbelief due to the hardness of human hearts suppresses the evidence.

B. Unbelief is based on selfish interests.

The real heart of unbelief is seeking your own way while you leave God out. There are two groups here, representing two levels of unbelief.

First, we see the unbelief of Caiaphas and the chief priests and Pharisees (11:47-53). The basis for their unbelief is clear (11:48): “If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” They had a vested interest in the system as it was and they were afraid of losing it. If the people believed in Jesus as Messiah, they feared that the Romans would intervene and they would lose their power and their comfortable living through controlling the temple. Ironically, by killing their Messiah, the very thing that they feared came on the nation as God’s judgment when Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 70.

Caiaphas, who was the high priest, was a shrewd, calculating politician. First, he discredits what everyone else had said by flatly stating (11:49), “You know nothing at all.” Then, he postures himself as being concerned for the people (11:50), “… it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” He meant, “If we really care for our nation, we’ll eliminate this rabble-rouser, Jesus.” But he wasn’t really concerned for the nation, but for his own self-interest and power.

But John shows the irony in Caiaphas’ words: as high priest he was unwittingly prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation, and (11:52), “not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” John is referring to all of God’s elect around the world. They were not yet children of God, but as God told Paul in Corinth (Acts 18:10), “I have many people in this city.” They were not yet saved, but they would be saved through Paul’s preaching, because they were God’s chosen ones. As Jesus said (John 6:39): “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”

The lesson that we should learn is that you cannot frustrate God and His sovereign purpose. You can oppose Him and for a time it may seem that you are succeeding. They killed Jesus. But, in the end, God always wins. That’s the message of the last book of the Bible: God is going to win and all who oppose Him will lose.

The second group that did not believe was the common people (11:55-57), who went up to Jerusalem for the Passover. They were not openly hostile toward Jesus, but neither were they committed to follow Him. They were just curious onlookers on the conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. They were content to go on with their religious festival while they discussed whether or not Jesus would show up and what would happen if He did. But they didn’t dare take a stand for Jesus, because that would put them on the bad side of the religious authorities. So their interest in protecting themselves caused them to be passive while the religious leaders murdered an innocent and good man.

The lesson here is that to be neutral towards Jesus is to be unbelieving. Self-centeredness is the heart of unbelief. The result of their self-interest was counter-productive, in that Jesus went away, because His time had not yet come (11:54). To have Jesus withdraw from you is the ultimate tragedy! The third lesson is:

C. Even devoutly religious people can be unbelieving.

Again, there is an ironic warning in 11:55: “Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves.” This refers to the second group of unbelievers that we saw. They weren’t openly hostile toward Jesus, but neither were they committed. They were “good church-goers,” who went through the outward rituals, but they weren’t willing to stand openly for Christ.

I hope that that doesn’t describe you! It is possible to be devoutly religious, to attend church regularly, to partake of the Lord’s Supper, and yet not to be fully committed to Jesus Christ, especially when that commitment might cost you something.

Conclusion

So I conclude with the warning of Hebrews 3:12: “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.” The Jewish leaders asked (11:47), “What are we doing (about this miracle-worker)?” It’s a good question to ask yourself: “What am I doing with Jesus?” The options are: (1) Oppose Him; (2) be neutral toward Him as you practice your religion; (3) believe in Him as Savior and Lord, no matter what it may cost you. If you believe, you will see the glory of God in Christ. But if you see the miracles reported in God’s Word and do not believe, you’ll be hardened in your sin and the Savior will withdraw from you. You don’t want to go there!

Application Questions

1. A skeptic says, “I don’t believe in miracles because I’ve never seen one.” How would you reply?
2. A fellow Christian says, “If those who are dead in sin can’t believe of their own free will, how can God command them to believe?” How would you reply?
3. If unbelief is not based on insufficient evidence, what is the role of apologetics?
4. What are some practical ways to be on guard against “an evil, unbelieving heart” (Heb. 3:12)?

Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2014, All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition © The Lockman Foundation

14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Introduction

“Roll Freddy Roll” is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Tim Conway stars in this story about a father who tries to impress his son by getting into the Guinness World Book of Records. “Freddy” is played by Tim Conway. Through a sequence of events, he ends up striving to set a record for the longest time on roller skates. This means, of course, that everything Freddy does he does on skates.

Here is where the fun begins. Freddy tries to drive his Volkswagen beetle with skates. His foot becomes entangled with the accelerator pedal, and as a result he exceeds the speed limit. The police officer who happens to cross Freddy’s path at this moment is having his first day on duty. Getting Freddy to pull over is traumatic enough, but then the officer attempts to get him out of the car, insisting that he “assume the position” to be frisked. Freddy cannot lean against the car with his skates, and falls down, taking the police officer with him. A little later, Freddy attends the funeral of a friend, where he must serve as one of the pall bearers. Naturally, there are a number of steps which he must negotiate on the way from the church to the hearse. He looses his footing, clinging desperately to the casket, and causing considerable commotion.

It is not until Freddy is restricted to roller skates that he begins to appreciate the blessings of being sure-footed. One can imagine what it would be like trying to wage war on skates. In his description of the “well dressed soldier” Paul describes the ideal footing for fighting the spiritual war. The footwear which best suits the soldier of Christ is the “preparation of the gospel of peace.” It is this footwear which is the subject of verse 15 and of this lesson.

The New International Version renders our text this way: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the gospel of peace as a firm footing” (Ephesians 6:14-15). Let us listen well to these words, for they speak of a part of the full armor which assures us of victory, and without which we cannot stand in the face of Satan’s schemes.

The Gospel of Peace

Paul does not define peace here, which indicates to us that he expects us to understand what he means from other Scriptures. Our approach will be to trace the theme of “peace” from Genesis to Revelation, and then to focus on “peace” as Paul understands it, based upon his epistles, including the earlier chapters of Ephesians. We will then seek to apply this definition of peace to our spiritual warfare, as found in our text.

Peace in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament Book of Genesis we read of Joseph’s brothers, who had betrayed their brother by selling him into slavery. Eventually, a famine forced them to go to Egypt to buy grain. They found themselves at Joseph’s house, not knowing that he was their brother, whom they had betrayed. Nevertheless, they were frightened, because they believed that this man’s hospitality was but a pretext, and that he would surely bring harm upon them (see 43:18). But when Joseph’s steward saw them and took note of their fear, he said to them, “Be at ease [literally, Peace be to you], do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money” (Genesis 43:23). Comfort comes only from the one true God, the God of Israel. And so this Egyptian steward (likely as instructed by Joseph) spoke to them about their God, informing them that their God had given them the blessing of the money they found in their sacks. They should therefore be thankful and at peace, rather than troubled and fearful.

Whenever the Israelites went to war, they were to do so without fear or panic, with a deep peace that was rooted in the fact that God was with them, and that He would give them the victory:

“When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. Now it shall come about that when you are approaching the battle, the priest shall come near and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you’” (Deuteronomy 20:1-4).¹⁵⁶

When God commissioned Gideon to lead the army of Israel against their Midianite foes, He knew that Gideon still lacked courage and confidence. And so He provided Gideon with an experience which gave him the peace he needed to wage war:

Now the same night it came about that the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hands. “But if you are afraid to go down, go with Purah your servant down to the camp, and you will hear what they say; and afterward your hands will be strengthened that you may go down against the camp. “So he went with Purah his servant down to the outposts of the army that was in the camp. Now the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the sons of the east were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. When Gideon came, behold, a man was relating a dream to his friend. And he said, “Behold, I had a dream; a loaf of barley bread was tumbling into the camp of Midian, and it came to the tent and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down so that the tent lay flat.” And his friend answered and said, “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given Midian and all the camp into his hand.” And it came about when Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, that he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the Lord has given the camp of Midian into your hands” (Judges 7:9-15).¹⁵⁷

The peace which God promised the people of Israel was conditional. That is, they were promised peace only when they trusted in God and obeyed His word (in particular, the Law). If they failed to trust in Him and forsook His Law, God assured the Israelites that they would no longer have peace, but fear, doubt and dread:

“And it shall come about that as the Lord delighted over you to prosper you, and multiply you, so the Lord will delight over you to make you perish and destroy you; and you shall be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it. Moreover, the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone, which you or your fathers have not known. And among those nations you shall find no rest, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul. So your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you shall be in dread night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life. In the morning you shall say, ‘Would that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Would that it were morning!’ because of the dread of your heart which you dread, and for the sight of your eyes which you shall see” (Deuteronomy 28:63-67).

This theme, expressed by Moses in Deuteronomy 28-32, was taken up by the prophets who followed. They assured Israel that there was no peace for those who disobeyed God, but rather divine judgment:

“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord (Isaiah 48:22; also 57:21).

“On all the bare heights in the wilderness Destroyers have come, For a sword of the Lord is devouring From one end of the land even to the other; There is no peace for anyone (Jeremiah 12:12; see verses 7-13).

“For thus says the Lord, ‘I have heard a sound of terror, Of dread, and there is no peace’” (Jeremiah 30:5).

At the same time, the prophets also warned that false prophets would deny that the nation was under divine judgment, and would assure the people of God’s blessings by speaking false words of peace:

“And they have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14).¹⁵⁸

Peace is first evident in the Book of Genesis, where it is also quickly lost. God created not only the world, but all of the plant and animal life as well. He also created man, and a garden in which he was to live in fellowship with Him. How peaceful it must have been in those days, before the fall. In the evening God would walk about the garden with Adam and Eve, in intimate fellowship with them. But after the fall, all of this changed. The peace was lost. Adam and Eve now tried to hide from God, rather than to walk with Him in the garden (3:8). They were ashamed of the nakedness with which they were created and tried to hide it (3:7). The whole creation was thrown into chaos (see Romans 8:18-23). Peace was forfeited because Adam and Eve did not trust fully in God and obey His one command.

In Genesis chapter 3, where the fall of man is depicted, God not only spelled out the consequences of sin, He also spoke of the ultimate cure, a cure which would once again bring peace. Just as a man had sinned, a man would be the Savior from sin:

“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel” (Genesis 3:15).

Significantly, these words of hope for men were also words of doom for Satan. It is to Satan that these words were spoken. His dominion would be broken by the One who would be born of the woman. The Messiah was to be the one who would reverse the fall, and to bring salvation to many. He would restore this fallen creation and replace discord and chaos with peace.

It is not long in Genesis before we are given further clues concerning the Messiah who is to come. The Abrahamic Covenant, first given to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 and reiterated to him and his offspring throughout this book, speaks of the blessing which is to come to all the world through his “seed,” the Messiah (see Galatians 3:15-16). In Genesis chapter 14, we are briefly introduced to a mysterious king named Melchizedek, who is a prototype of the Messiah to come, a fact pointed out by the writer to the Hebrews:

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, “Blessed by Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tenth of all (Genesis 14:18-20).

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a priest perpetually (Hebrews 7:1-3).

As the promise of the coming of Messiah continued to unfold in the Old Testament, it become increasingly clear to the Old Testament saint that eternal “peace” would come only through Messiah. Just how this “peace” was to be achieved was a mystery, not because there was no revelation concerning this matter, but because there appeared to be a contradiction among the prophecies of His coming.

On the one hand, Messiah was to come as the triumphal king, who would sit on the throne of His father, David, and who would overthrow all his enemies and establish the promised kingdom:

For Thou halt break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:4-6).

On the other hand, the Messiah was to bring “peace” by suffering for the sins of men:

Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening of our well-being [literally, peace] fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us had turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him (Isaiah 53:4-6).

And so the Old Testament closes with the prophets scratching their heads as to how God would bring about peace through both the suffering and the glory of Messiah:

As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow (1 Peter 1:10-11).

Only the fulfillment of these prophecies would solve this mystery.

Peace According to the New Testament

When the Lord Jesus came to the earth as the perfect God-man, He was identified as the One who would bring peace. Zacharias spoke of the peace that was to come with the appearance of the Christ, whom his son John was to precede and introduce:

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:76-79).

At His birth, the angels praised God for the peace He was bringing to the earth:

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 1:14).

When the aged Simeon looked upon the infant, Jesus, he spoke of the peace he had, a peace which enabled him to joyfully face his own death:

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart In peace, according to Thy word; For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, A light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel” (Luke 2:25-32).

In His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke words of peace. The woman who had “stolen” a miracle by touching the hem of His garment came to Him in fear and trembling. He knew what she had done. What would He do?

And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction” (Mark 5:32-34).

Shortly before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus spoke words of peace to His disciples:

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you. If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it comes to pass, you may believe. I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here (John 14:27-31).

“Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:32-33).

After His death, our Lord’s disciples hid out in an upper room, fearful of what the Jewish religious leaders might do to them. When Jesus appeared to these troubled men, He spoke words of peace:

When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained” (John 20:19-23).¹⁵⁹

After Pentecost had come, the disciples began to preach the gospel, which Luke refers to as “preaching peace through Jesus”:

And opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him. The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him (Acts 10:34-38).

In his epistles, Peter would continue to speak of peace as a worthy pursuit:

For, “Let him who means to love life and see good days Refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. “And let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. “For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:10-12)

Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ (1 Peter 5:14).

In his last epistle, Peter urged his readers to be found by the Lord Jesus “in peace,” and not lured away by false teaching which would cause them to fall from their steadfastness:

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (2 Peter 3:14-18).¹⁶⁰

Peace According to Paul

The Apostle Paul was a man who had come to understand and to experience the peace of God. His epistles often begin, and sometimes end, with a reference to peace:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:3).

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:23).

Paul contrasts those who do good and those who do evil, speaking of peace as the outcome of righteousness, and tribulation and distress and the consequence of sin:

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 2:4-10).

He speaks of peace as an outgrowth of salvation by faith in Christ:

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

He also speaks of peace as the fruit of the Spirit:

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:5-8).¹⁶¹

To Paul, peace is not incidental, but fundamental. It is to be a priority for the Christian. The pursuit of peace necessitates avoiding all unnecessary causes for stumbling, dissention and strife. It even governs the way in which men participate in the meeting of the church:

Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another (Romans 14:16-19).

Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace (1 Corinthians 7:15).

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11).

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful (Colossians 3:15).

Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).

While the Christian may experience persecution, adversity, and suffering in this life, he or she should always experience the peace of God in such circumstances. Paul therefore condemns anxiety and commends peace:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you (Philippians 4:6-9).

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Paul also speaks of the false sense of peace and security in which unbelievers will mistakenly take comfort, when the day of their doom and destruction is at hand:

While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Peace in Ephesians

Paul commences and concludes Ephesians with a reference to peace:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:2).

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:23).

Everywhere you turn in this epistle you find teaching or exhortation which is closely related to peace. There is not a chapter in the book which does not have a great deal to do with peace, whether it is identified specifically or not.

In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul begins with a salutation of peace (1:2). He then calls attention to the eternal plan and purpose of God, which is to sum up all things in Christ (1:10). As a part of this plan, God has chosen us to be holy and blameless before Him (1:4). Our destiny was determined in eternity past, we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (1:13), and our eternal future rests in the plan of God and the person of Christ.

Our salvation is as certain and sure as the power of God to accomplish His purposes. Paul’s prayer in verses 15-23 focuses on our grasp of those realities which make our hope for the future sure. He prays that we might be divinely enlightened so that we are able to grasp the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the magnitude of His power, the power which enables God to accomplish that which He purposed to do in eternity past. This power is evident in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and in His consequent exaltation over all other earthly or heavenly powers. The angelic host, along with Satan and his allies, have been subjected to Christ’s authority. Now here is cause for peace.

Chapter 2 is just as full of assurance concerning our peace. In this chapter Paul speaks of two different kinds of peace which are brought about by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The first is “peace with God;” the second is “peace with men.”

Early in Ephesians chapter 2 Paul tells us that through the cross of Christ we are now at peace with God. As unbelievers, we were unwittingly the servants of Satan. We were formerly “dead in our trespasses and sins,” walking not only in the “course of this world,” but also “according to the prince of the power of the air” (2:1-2). We once lived, not by the promptings of the Holy Spirit (5:18), but by the impulses of our own flesh, doing its desires (2:3).

At this time, we were “separate from Christ” (2:12), but even more so we were enemies of Christ. We had no part of God’s blessings and no hope of them in sight:

Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:13).

All of this alienation changed because of the work of Jesus Christ on Calvary:

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:13-22, emphasis mine).

Christ is the means by which we have obtained peace. That peace is both peace with God and the peace of God. Christ’s saving work on our behalf removed the barrier between us and God, which was the result of our sins. We have not only been brought “near” to Him, we have become a part of Him. As believers in Christ we are now a part of His body.

The peace which our Lord has won goes even beyond this. Before we were saved, we were the enemies of the Jews. We had no part of the covenant God made with them, and no hope of receiving His blessings. We had no fellowship with the Jews, and our relationship was clearly adversarial. Before we were saved, we were not only the enemies of God, we were enemies of the Jews. The alienation and separation was not just one-sided. The Jews felt as hostile toward us and we did toward them. There was a dividing “wall” in the temple which separated Jews and Gentiles. This wall symbolized the alienation and hostility which once existed between we who are Gentiles and those who are Jews.

Christ’s work on Calvary changed all this. He broke down the dividing wall which separated Jews and Gentiles. When He became our peace, He made both groups into one. No longer is the “Jew” and “Gentile” distinction valid between those who have come to believe in the gospel. Now, all who believe in Christ are one in Him. He reconciled us to Himself in “one new man.” We are joined together into one body, the church, which is His dwelling place among men.

In chapter 3, Paul focuses on another source of distress, which could give Satan a foothold in disturbing their peace. Paul was writing from prison. He was unjustly suffering for his faith. His incarceration could be the cause of much consternation among the saints. Chapter 3 is written to dispel any fear that the saints might have over his plight, and to show that his suffering is a privilege, and a part of God’s master plan to reveal the mystery of His will, and to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul looks at his ministry, including his imprisonment, as a privilege, which God has graciously granted him:

8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory (Ephesians 3:8-13).

In verses 14-21 of chapter 3 Paul gives further reason for confidence and courage. He bows his knees before the Father in prayer, the One through whom “every family in heaven and on earth derives its name” (verse 15). From the Garden of Eden onward, the one who gives a name to another is the one who has authority over the thing that is named. Thus we find God not only giving names to His creatures, but also changing the names of men, indicating the fact that he will change their destiny (see Genesis 17:4-7, 15-16; 35:9-12).

If God the Father is the One who gives every family in heaven as well as on the earth its name, then He is in authority over all heavenly beings, including the angelic hosts (so also Ephesians 1:20-22; Colossians 1:16-18). He is all-powerful, in control of every part of His creation, and thus we may experience and enjoy the peace of knowing that His plans and purposes will be achieved, even though we may, like Christ, suffer in the process. Such suffering is worth it, in light of the glory and the joy which our trials lead the way.

In chapter 4, we have yet another evidence of God’s victory over Satan and his fallen allies. The unity of the body of Christ is complimented by the diversity of spiritual gifts He has bestowed upon it. These spiritual gifts are not only the means of our growth and maturity, they are also the evidence of Christ’s victory over Satan in verses 8-10:

8 Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

The remainder of Ephesians—from 4:17 to 6:9—has to do with keeping the peace, especially the peace which God has accomplished between those who have a like precious faith in Jesus Christ. In general terms, one preserves the peace by forsaking the ways of thinking and acting which characterized us as unbelievers (3:17-32). We keep the peace also by walking in love (5:1-7), in light (5:8-14), in wisdom (5:15-20), in the Spirit (5:18), and in submission (5:21–6:9).

From all the references to peace in the Bible, we are able to derive a composite picture of what it looks like. We can define peace in terms of what it is not. Peace is contrasted with fear, faint-heartedness, panic, trembling, despair, doubt, dread, anxiety, and restlessness. It is an inner calm and tranquility, a clear-headed confidence. In relationships, it is the absence of hostility and enmity, and the presence of genuine unity and harmony, whether this is with our fellow-men or with God.

In the end, peace comes only from God. There are false forms of “peace,” which may produce some of the effects of genuine peace for a time, but they are ill-founded and temporary. God is the sole source of peace because He alone has remedied and reversed the fall of man in the Garden of Eden through the work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. In Christ, He has removed the barrier between God and sinful men and brought about harmony among those who believe, whatever their race, sex, or status.

Peace and Spiritual Warfare

At first glance, the subject of peace seems incongruous with that of the spiritual warfare. How can one be “at peace” when one is at war? I believe that the Bible teaches that one cannot wage war without peace. This is why peace is a part of our spiritual armor.

Peace is not the absence of external trials and tribulations. Peace is an internal tranquility which is most evident and necessary when we are facing outward troubles. When Israel went to war, certain people were excluded from the battle:

“The officers also shall speak to the people, saying, ‘Who is the man that has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him depart and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. And who is the man that has planted a vineyard and has not begun to use its fruit? Let him depart and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man begin to use its fruit. And who is the man that is engaged to a woman and has not married her? Let him depart and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man marry her.’ Then the officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart’” (Deuteronomy 20:5-8).

I believe that all of those exempted from going to war are those who do not have the kind of peace that war requires of a soldier. The man with the new house is thinking of his house, and not of war. The one who is engaged to a woman cannot get her out of his mind, and so he is distracted, which is deadly in war. The man who is fearful is also distracted. A man must be at peace if he is to wage war.

One of Satan’s many schemes is to rob the saint of peace, by promoting doubts and fears within and discord without. He sets out to frighten us so that we panic and do that which is foolish and destructive:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you (1 Peter 5:6-10).

I do not think it a coincidence that Peter speaks of Satan as a “roaring lion” immediately after instructing us to cast all our anxiety on the Lord. Satan looks for troubled souls, and then sets out to frighten them, so that they may fall into his hands when they panic. We can resist Satan by pursuing and preserving the peace which comes from God, a peace which is rooted in the knowledge that Satan is a defeated foe, that God’s purposes and promises are sure, and that we are safe when we trust in Him.

The Preparation of the Gospel of Peace

There is considerable discussion over the meaning of the term “preparation” in this verse. Generally, there are two main ways in which it can be understood and applied. On the one hand, it may speak of “readiness” to proclaim the gospel. In this sense, peace is like the starting blocks from which a runner gets his first initial thrust. We should, of course, be ready and willing to proclaim the gospel to lost men (see 1 Peter 3:15). Paul may be referring to a readiness to proclaim the gospel in this verse.

His principle thrust, however, seems to be more in line with the second meaning of the term which is rendered “preparation,” and this is the concept of “steadiness.” A soldier must not lose his footing, or he will surely be defeated in war. The gospel of Jesus Christ produces peace, and this peace gives the Christian warrior a steadiness, a stability which enables him to stand in battle. As strange as it must seem at first hearing, the peace with God gives the Christian is a part of the armor which enables him to stand firm in the spiritual war against Satan and his host.

Conclusion

My Christian friend, I do not sense that believers today experience peace to the full, and thus we are vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. There is great anxiety in the church. Parents are anxious about their children. Families are anxious about their finances. Churches are anxious about their programs or countless other difficulties. We are anxious about crime, and the economy, and the way our nation and the world seem to be headed. Such anxiety is dishonoring to God, who is in control, and it is distracting to our worship and our warfare.

In our text and in many others, God indicates to us that while peace is something which God has accomplished in Christ, it is something which Christians must pursue. How, then, can we regain the peace which we have lost? How do we pursue peace?

We must begin by remembering that it is a provision of God for us, which was accomplished at the cross. We must persistently go back to the cross of our Lord and meditate upon the many consequences of Calvary. We must make peace a priority and a guiding principle which governs our conduct. We must focus on the character of God and of His sovereign plans and purposes. We must recognize that He gives peace in the midst of adversity and suffering. We obtain peace the same way we obtain all of God’s gracious gifts to us—receive them as gifts of grace by faith.

Paul’s text in Philippians 4:4-9 is most instructive in dealing with anxiety and in experiencing the peace of God. Let us take one final look at what Paul tells us here about peace.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you (Philippians 4:4-9).

First, peace comes by delighting in God. He is our salvation. He is our security. He is our victory. He is our joy. Peace is the result of rejoicing and resting in Him (verse 4). Second, peace is promoted by pursuing unity and harmony through graciously enduring the weaknesses of our brothers and sisters in Christ (verse 5; see also Ephesians 4:17-32). Peace comes through prayer, as we petition Him to meet our every need, and then trust Him to do so (verses 6-7). Peace comes when we refuse to allow our hearts and minds to entertain thoughts which fall short of truth and righteousness (verse 8). Peace comes when we put into practice the things which we know to be true, and which we have pondered in our hearts (verse 9).

If you have not yet come to trust in Jesus Christ, the Bible speaks to all who are troubled in heart and promises them peace in Christ. Our Lord Himself offered this invitation:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light” (Matthew 11:28-29).

How often He said to those who were weary, and burdened down with their sins, and with fears, “Go in peace.”

Peace comes from God, God alone. Peace comes through Jesus Christ, who made peace between men and God, and between men at enmity with one another. He gives inner peace, the enables us to stand, even in the midst of Satan’s schemes. May you find peace in Him, by trusting in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and for His righteousness which enables us to have fellowship with God.

And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you (Romans 16:20).

The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:23).

I dare not conclude this message without a word of warning. Peace is not the basis for our confidence. Our confidence in God is the basis for biblical peace. I have often heard people justify their decisions, attitudes and actions with the defense: “I have peace about it.” As both the Old and New Testaments warn us, there is a false peace, which is deadly and destructive. The basis for our peace should be the character of God and the Word of God. Peace must be rooted in God, and thus in righteousness and truth. Inner feelings of peace are not proof that we are in the right, but being in the right is the basis for peace. Let us therefore seek peace as we trust and obey God.

156 See also 31:1-8.

157 Notice that while God gave Gideon “peace” about going to war with the Midianites, God gave the Midianites a fearful and trembling heart. God was to the Israelites a source of peace, and to the enemies of Israel as source of dread. Compare Exodus 15:13-18.

158 See also Jeremiah 8:11; Ezekiel 13:10, 16.

159 See also Luke 24:36-40.

160 The writer to the Hebrews also urges his readers to pursue peace: “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).

161 See also Galatians 5:22.

所以要站穩了，用真理當作帶子束腰…

引言

我經常為福音書記載耶穌禁止鬼說出祂的身份而感到奇怪。讓我們先來看看以下的一個例子：

1:23 在會堂裏，有一個人被污靈附着，他喊叫說：1:24「拿撒勒人耶穌，你與我們沒有相干，你來滅我們嗎？我知道你是誰，乃是 神的聖者。」1:25 耶穌責備他說：「住口，從這人身上出來！」1:26 污靈使那人抽搐一陣，大聲喊叫，就出來了。(馬可福音 1:23-26)

在這裡，耶穌為何禁止污靈說話呢？若他們所說的並非真話，那便不難理解，但耶穌確實是神的聖者，那要來毀滅牠們的。既是這樣，為何祂不容許牠們為祂的身份作見證？我相信可能有多於一個原因，其中一個原因是耶穌不希望由說謊者為祂作見證。耶穌有足夠的見證人，包括：天父、舊約聖經、施洗約翰、祂自己的工作，還有祂的追隨者。誰會希望由著名的說謊者來為自己作見證呢！耶穌對牠們的領袖 — 撒旦說：

8:44 你們是出於你們的父魔鬼，你們循着你們父的私慾行。他從起初就是殺人的，不守真理，因他心裏沒有真理。他說謊是出於自己，因他本來是說謊者，也是說謊者之父。(約翰福音8:44)

讓我們逐一檢視基督徒的屬靈裝備。保羅以真理作為第一件防禦武器，並不讓人感到奇怪。撒旦是說謊者，他透過誤導和詭詐的計劃來攻擊基督徒（以弗所書6:11）。真理是神賜給我們抵禦的軍備，令撒旦的謊言能夠被識破並加以抵抗，以致我們能持守信仰，站立得穩。讓我們留心地細讀保羅有關真理的教導，這對我們的靈性健康極之重要。

帶子束腰

我們穿衣時有一定的次序，首先我們會穿上「內衣」，因為其它衣服會穿在外面，我會最後才穿鞋，因我討厭穿鞋後才穿褲子。同樣地，軍備也要按一定次序穿上。帶子束腰是基督徒為屬靈爭戰作預備的第一步。在聖經裡，帶子束腰是一個準備步驟，為其它行動作準備。

你也知道，以色列古代的衣服和今天的差異很大。他們穿的不是褲子、運動外套或套裝。他們所穿的衣物，並非如今天按身型剪裁；他們的衣服是披在身上，衫長及地。一個人如果要跑而又不希望被絆倒，他需要收攏衣服，用帶子束好。因此，當進行和腳相關的活動時，準備的第一步便是帶子束腰。

以色列人第一次吃逾越節羊羔，為他們出埃及、進入應許之地作準備。因此，神命令以色列人吃的時候，要腰間束帶，為那接著要發生的事情作準備。

12:11 你們吃羊羔當腰間束帶，腳上穿鞋，手中拿杖，趕緊地吃，這是耶和華的逾越節。(出埃及記 12:11 和合本)

彼得寫信給本都、加拉太、加帕多家、亞西亞和庇推尼的信徒時，也要求他們預備和作好心理準備：

1:13 所以要預備心意行動（原文是束上你們心中的腰），謹慎自守，專心盼望耶穌基督顯現的時候所帶來給你們的恩典。1:14 要像順命的兒女，不要效法從前蒙昧無知的時候所服從的惡慾，1:15 卻要效法那召你們的聖者，在一切所行的事上成為聖潔。1:16 因為經上記着說：「你們要聖潔，因為我是聖潔的。」(彼得前書1:13-16).¹

我相信，當保羅在以弗所書第六章談及帶子束腰，他的意思應該和彼得相同，是呼籲信徒作好心理準備。真理將收集得來的零散資料整理，過濾資訊，並且判斷是否符合真理和美善。

真理的重要性

聖經告訴我們為何真理對基督徒十分重要。讓我們簡略地看看真理在基督徒生命所扮演的角色。

(1) 我們因真理而得救：

1:13 你們既聽見真理的道（那叫你們得救的福音），而且信了基督；既然信他，就受了所應許的聖靈為印記。1:14 這聖靈就是我們得基業的憑據，直等到 神之產業被贖，他的榮耀得着讚美。(以弗所書1:13-14).

1:18 他按自己全權的旨意藉着真道生了我們，叫我們在他所造的萬物中，好像初熟的果子。(雅各書1:18)

1:23 你們蒙了重生，不是由於能壞的種子，乃是由於不能壞的種子，是藉着 神活而常存的話。(彼得前書 1:23)

(2) 我們透過真理成聖，並且成長至成熟：

17:17 求你用真理使他們成聖，你的道就是真理。(約翰福音17:17).

4:11 是他（神）賜的，有使徒、有先知、有傳福音的、有牧師和教師，4:12 為要裝備聖徒各盡其職，就是建立基督的身體；4:13 直等到我們眾人在信上和認識 神的兒子上同歸於一，得以成熟，達到基督量度的階段。4:14 我們就不再作小孩子，中人的詭計和欺騙的手法，被他們所教導的風浪吹蕩翻騰。4:15 惟用愛心實踐真理，凡事在元首基督裏長進。4:16 全身都靠他聯接成長，百節彼此相助。各節既各盡其職，身體就在愛中長大。(以弗所書4:11-16).

(3) 真理給我們帶來心意更新。從未得救前的無知與虛妄，到心志按神的話語和祂的道更新：

4:17 所以我說，且在主裏堅持的說，你們不要再像外邦人虛枉的生活。4:18 他們心地昏昧，與 神的生命隔開，都因自己心裏剛硬，以致一無所知。4:19 他們既然麻木，就放縱自己，貪行種種的污穢。4:20 你們學的基督，卻不是這樣。4:21 如果你們真的聽過他，在他裏面受教，學了裏面的真理，4:22 你們所學的就是脫去從前生活方式的舊人；這舊人是因私慾的迷惑漸漸變壞的；4:23 又要在靈裏將你們的心志改換一新；4:24 並且穿上新人；這新人是照着 神的形像造的──有真理的公義和聖潔。(以弗所書 4:17-24)

12:1 所以弟兄姐妹們，我以 神的憐憫激勵你們，獻身體為祭，是活的，是聖潔的，是 神所喜悅的；這是你們合理的事奉。12:2 不要與現今的世界同流，而要心意更新改造，去察驗 神的旨意，就是那善良、完全、十分可悅的旨意。(羅馬書 12:1-2)

(4) 真理是基督徒合一的基礎。 (參以弗所書4:5, 13)

(5) 真理造就和建立教會。(以弗所書4:15, 25, 29)

(6) 真理是真正敬拜神所不能或缺的：

神是靈，所以拜他的必須用靈和真理拜他。(約翰福音 4:24)

(7) 教會是神膏立去宣告和展示真理的途徑：

3:14 我指望快到你那裏去，但先將這些事寫給你。3:15 倘若我延了期，你也可以知道在 神的家中當怎樣行，因這家就是永生 神的教會，真理的柱石和根基。(提摩太前書3:14-15)

3:8 我本來比眾聖徒中最小的還小，然而他還賜我這恩典，叫我把基督那測不透的豐富傳給外邦人；3:9 又使眾人都明白，這歷代以來隱藏在創造萬物之 神裏，奧秘的計劃，3:10 就是要藉着教會使天上執政的、掌權的，現在得知 神百般的智慧。(以弗所書3:8-10)

(8) 真理是我們不可缺少的知識；然而若非神主動成就，我們無法在祂以外自己得到。永恆的事，若不是神透過超自然的方法給人啟示，人無法知曉。以弗所書所說的真理包括神永恆的計劃。這計劃包括我們被揀選、得救與及屬靈的恩賜（以弗所書1:3-14），也包括撒旦和他的黨羽終極被殲滅（6:10-20），並且一切在基督裡同歸於一（以弗所書1:10）。真理也啟示了教會的奧秘是透過基督的寶血，神和以色列人與及外邦人和好（以弗所書2-3章），藉著教會使天上執政的、掌權的得知神的智慧（3:1-10）。真理給基督徒一個全新的思維和行為表現，和我們仍未信前顯著不同（4:1–6:9）。

真理是我們從未想象過的，因為它並不屬於世人的，而是從神顯明出來的；它是智慧，超出人類的智慧，故此我們不能預期，我們若沒有神的啟示和聖靈的幫助，我們甚至不能相信：

11:33 深哉， 神豐富的智慧和知識！他的判斷何其難測，他的動向何其深奧！11:34「誰知道主的心？誰作過他的謀士呢？」11:35「誰是先給了他，使他後來償還呢？」11:36 因為萬有都是本於他，藉着他，歸於他。願榮耀歸給他，直到永遠！阿們。(羅馬書11:33-36)

2:6 然而在成熟的人中，我們也講智慧；但不是這世代的智慧，也不是這世代必要傾滅之執政者的智慧。2:7 我們講的乃是從前所隱藏的奧秘，就是 神在萬世以前預定使我們得榮耀的智慧。2:8 今世的執政者沒有一個明白這智慧，他們若明白，就不會把榮耀的主釘在十字架上了。2:9 就如經上所記：「 神為愛他的人所預備的，是眼睛未曾看見，耳朵未曾聽見，人心也未曾想到的。」2:10 神藉着聖靈向我們啟示了這些事，因為聖靈瞭解萬事，包括了 神深奧的事。2:11 除了在人裏頭的靈，誰知道人的事？同樣，除了 神的靈，也沒有誰知道 神的事。2:12 我們所領受的並不是世上的靈，乃是從 神來的靈，叫我們能知道 神白白賜給我們的一切。2:13 並且，我們講說這些事，不是用人智慧所教導的言語，乃是用聖靈所教導的言語，將屬靈的事講與屬靈的人聽。2:14 不信的人不領會神聖靈的事，反倒以為愚笨，並且不能明白，因為這些事惟有屬靈的人才能瞭解。2:15 屬靈的人能瞭解萬事，卻沒有一人能明白他。2:16「誰知道主的心而作他的顧問呢？」但我們是有基督的心了。(哥林多前書 2:6-16)

(9) 耶穌基督是真理，故此離開真理便是離開祂：

8:31 耶穌對信他的猶太人說：「你們若繼續遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒。8:32 你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。」(約翰福音8:31-32)

14:6 耶穌說：「我就是道路、真理、生命；若不藉着我，沒有人能到父那裏去。 (約翰福音4:6)

2:1 我願意你們知道，為了你們和老底嘉人，並一切沒有與我見過面的人，我是何等的盡心竭力。2:2 他們既已用愛心彼此連繫，我的目標是要叫他們得勉勵，豐豐足足在悟性中徹底認識 神的奧秘，就是基督，2:3 在他裏面蘊藏着一切的智慧和知識。2:4 我說這話，免得有人用似乎有理的話欺騙你們。2:5 我身子雖與你們相離，靈卻與你們同在，見你們循規蹈矩，在基督裏的信心堅定蓬勃，我就歡喜了。

2:6 你們既然接受了基督耶穌為主，就當繼續在他裏面活着；2:7 在他裏面生根建造，信心堅固，正如你們所學的，滿溢着感謝的心。2:8 你們要謹慎，不要被人用虛空的哲理，不照着基督，而是照人間的傳統和世上的小學問，把你們擄去。.…

2:16 所以不可讓人在飲食，或節期、月朔、安息日等各樣事上判斷你們。2:17 這些原是將來的事的影子，那實體卻是基督。2:18 不可讓人憑着重視謙虛和敬拜天使來判斷你們。這人拘泥在所以為見過的，隨着自己血氣的思念，無故的自高自大，2:19 不緊接於元首，靠着他與全身筋節得以相聯，而有從 神而來的長進。(歌羅西書2:1-8, 16-19) ²

(10) 真理告訴我們撒旦的詭計和欺瞞方法，並且他的暴露錯誤和欺騙手段。

2:11 免得撒但有機可乘（因我們並非不曉得他的詭計）。 (哥林多後書2:11) ³

撒旦敵擋真理

按本質，撒旦是個說謊者，我們可以肯定地說他是個病態的說謊者（約翰福音8:44），就是在無需說謊的時候，他仍會說謊。他不但自欺，還會迷惑人（啟示錄12:9）。從起初，撒旦已透過敵擋真理來敵擋神和屬祂的子民。在歷史長河裡，撒旦使用的戰術就如聖經所顯示的，讓我們一起來看看。

(1) 撒旦的工作是使人無法接觸真理，或不讓真理傳給人。

4:15 那撒在路旁的：就是人聽了道，撒但立刻來，把撒在他們心裏的道奪了去。(馬可福音 4:15 15)

4:3 即使我們的福音被蒙蔽，也是蒙蔽在滅亡的人身上。4:4 此等不信之人，被這世界的神弄瞎了心眼，叫他們看不見基督榮耀福音的光。基督本是 神的像。(哥林多後書4:3-4) ⁴

(2) 撒旦否定真理，他常以「新真理」來取代真理的位置。

3:1 那時，蛇比耶和華 神所造的一切動物更狡猾。蛇對女人說：「 神真的有說『你們不可吃園中任何樹上的果子』嗎？」3:2 女人對蛇說：「園中樹上的果子我們可以吃，3:3 惟有園當中那棵樹上的果子， 神曾說：『你們不可吃，也不可摸，否則你們就要死。』」3:4 蛇對女人說：「你們一定不死，3:5 因為 神知道你們吃了以後，眼睛就打開，你們便如神明，知道善惡。」3:6 女人見那棵樹的果子好作食物，也吸引人的眼目，而且渴想它能使人得智慧，就摘下果子來吃了；又給她丈夫，她丈夫也吃了。 3:7 他們二人的眼睛就打開了，才知道自己是赤裸的，便拿無花果樹的葉子，編縫以蔽體。(創世記3:1-7).

在亞當和夏娃受試探而失足的個案中，撒旦斷然否定神的真理。神說若亞當和夏娃吃了禁果必死；撒旦大膽否定，並且保證他們不會死。你可曾想到撒旦在這裡稱神為說謊者？撒旦否定了神向亞當和夏娃啟示的真理，並告訴這對夫婦吃禁果是最有益的行為。

(3) 撒旦企圖透過撒播錯誤的教導和教義來取代真理，以此來迷惑人。

4:1 聖靈明說，在後來的時候，必有人離棄真道，沉迷在那引誘人的邪靈，和鬼魔的教導。4:2 受了說謊之人偽善的影響；這等人的良心已經被烙了。4:3 他們禁止嫁娶，又禁戒食物，就是 神所造，叫那信而明白真道的人，感謝着領受的。4:4 凡 神所造的物，都是好的，若感謝着領受，就沒有一樣食物是可棄的，4:5 都因 神的道和人的禱告，成為聖潔了。(提摩太前書4:1-5).

這篇經文最有趣的地方，是它告訴我們一些超出我們的期待的事情。撒旦的手段通常是間接地使人犯罪。他的方式是那麼含蓄，表面看來那麼好、那麼公義；但他實際上是促使人犯罪，他從我們的盲點進行襲擊；他的手法是透過假教師指婚姻生活應禁慾，又或許是禁止吃用某些食物。這些原是神賜給我們，給我們享用和使生命更豐富的東西，但撒旦卻企圖阻止我們從中得益處。更壞的是他這樣做是埋下陷阱，以下的經文告訴我們撒旦怎樣進行他的計劃：

7:3 丈夫當用合宜的婚姻生活待妻子，妻子待丈夫也要如此。7:4 妻子沒有權柄主張自己的身子，乃在丈夫；丈夫也沒有權柄主張自己的身子，乃在妻子。7:5 夫妻不可彼此拒絕，除非雙方同意，才可暫時分房，以便專心禱告，以後仍要同房，免得撒但趁着你們情不自禁引誘你們。(哥林多前書7:3-5)

5:14 所以我寧願年輕的寡婦嫁人，生養兒女，治理家務，不給敵人毀謗的把柄；5:15 因為已經有轉去隨從撒但的。(提摩太前5:14-15)

一對夫婦為了能更屬靈，他們決定禁戒房事。他們並非如保羅的指示作短暫的分房，而是長期性的。撒旦知道人缺乏自制力，早晚會導致不道德行為。保羅支持正當的性行為，因為這不單是美好的，讓人享受（但這必須在婚姻的框架下進行 — 參希伯來書13:4），而且還可避免不道德行為（哥林多前書7:2-5）。

有些人認為年青寡婦喪偶後守寡更為屬靈，過獨身生活提供專心服侍神的機會（哥林多前書7:25-35）。然而，若寡婦沒有委身的心志和缺乏自制力，不再結婚而維持單身，使她們陷入網羅；她們轉去隨從撒旦，她們懶惰、說長道短或做了一些更不道德的事情。⁵

(4) 撒旦歪曲真理。他加添或刪除部份內容，或謬誤地應用以致事情變了樣。撒旦試探我們的主時（馬太福音4:1-11；路加福音4:1-13），他引用聖經來達到他的目的，而不是建立敬虔的行為。撒旦透過斷章取義，企圖扭曲經文；不過主耶穌透過指出聖經更廣泛的原則來糾正他。撒旦尋求「蚊蟲濾過來」，但主耶穌卻指出「駱駝」（參馬太福音23:23-24）。撒旦的目的是扭曲聖經的教導，從而產生罪；並把神聖恩典，曲解成為藉口，甚至授權犯罪。

1:4 因為有些人溜進你們中間，他們就是自古被定罪受這刑罰的，是不敬虔的，將我們 神的恩典作為放縱情慾的藉口，並且不認我們獨一的主宰和主耶穌基督。(猶大書 1:4) ⁶

(5) 撒旦的工作是使人違背真理。撒旦知道叫人違背真理，好像不讓他們認識真理一樣好。

7:24「凡聽見我這些話又去行的，就好像一個聰明人把房子蓋在磐石上。7:25 雨淋，泛濫，風吹，房子屹立不倒，因為根基立在磐石上。7:26 凡聽見我這些話卻不去行的，就好像一個愚蠢人把房子蓋在沙土上。7:27 雨淋，泛濫，風吹，房子就倒塌了，並且是完全的毀壞。」(馬太福音 7:24-27)

2:4 人若說「我認識他」，卻不遵守他的誡命，便是說謊話的，真理也不住在這人心裏了。2:5 凡遵守他的道，愛 神的心在這人裏面是完全的，憑此我們知道我們是在他裏面；2:6 人若說自己住在神裏面，就該照耶穌所行的去行。(約翰壹書2:4-6) ⁷

(6) 撒旦激勵人的好奇心和自我（ego），以致他們拋棄神的真理，而去追求「更高」的真理。神把「分辨善惡樹」栽在伊甸園中，亞當和夏娃被禁止食用那樹的果子，其它樹上的果子他們可以隨便吃。撒旦不單引導亞當和夏娃注意這棵禁樹，並引導他們留意到那樹的果子可以給他們「知識」，我們知道這「知識」並非如撒旦所呈現的那麼好，我們現在明白為何神要禁止吃用這果子。不過，亞當和夏娃本要做的，是基於信神而服從神，而不是基於撒旦所承諾的知識。他們追求被禁的知識而導致全人類陷入困境。

這情況在今天仍然發生，撒旦仍煽動人的自我和好奇心。神已在基督裡賜給我們真理，但撒旦卻企圖透過誘使我們尋求基督和聖經啟示以外的知識，將我們的焦點轉離真理和基督。經文一遍又一遍地警告基督徒不要追求被禁止的知識：

4:6 弟兄姐妹們，為你們的緣故，我將這些事應用在自己和亞波羅的身上，叫你們效法我們，「不可過於聖經所記」，免得你們自高自大，看重這個，看輕那個。 (哥林多前書4:6)

6:20 提摩太啊！你要保守所託付你的。避開褻瀆的閒言，和那無稽的所謂「學問」！6:21 已經有人自稱有這學問，偏離了真道。願恩惠常與你們同在！(提摩太前書6:20-21) ⁸

(7) 撒旦甚至在信徒中工作，使他們離開真理和煽動他們成為虛假的。（參馬太福音24:24; 使徒行傳20: 29-30; 5:1-11）。

撒旦成功的關鍵

撒旦敵擋真理，到底他怎能蒙混過關呢？當我閱讀創世記第3章人的墮落時，我不禁猛然一驚，撒旦竟能說服亞當和夏娃神是騙子，而他說的卻是真話！一條蛇竟能說服牠的看守者那創造萬物的創造主說謊，也不值得他們順服！讓我嘗試解構撒旦為何如此有效地敵擋真理。

(1) 在整本聖經中，撒旦的欺哄手段都和傲慢和教條主義緊密相關，他以這方式提出他的謬誤。我用了很長的時間才識別出這關連，我經常見到它，而現在我已經有所警惕。我向自己詢問，為甚麼亞當和夏娃寧可相信一條蛇而不信神呢？按創世記第三章撒旦試探始祖和他們墮落的描述，我們可以看到他以傲慢無恥的態度來試探這對夫婦，他竟敢駁斥神，並告訴夏娃神所說的並不真確，他暗示神是騙子而他卻不是。

在約伯記首兩章，撒旦以同樣囂張氣焰的語氣來回應神。在兩卷福音書關於撒旦試探我們的主的記載，他勸告我們的主要獨立於神，並且聲稱他擁有地上萬國，他愛給誰就給誰。他竟敢在神的兒子面前引用經文，並告訴祂如何應用在祂的生命和事工上，他並且膽敢要求耶穌向他下拜、敬拜他！他是那麼傲慢、那麼自信，就是今天，我們也會傾向相信他所說的是真理，賜予萬國的權柄屬他。

那些假教師可能發出傲慢天使的語言，也可能和撒旦較量。「特別是那些放縱肉慾、輕慢權柄的。他們膽大任性，毫不畏懼毀謗那尊貴的。」（彼得後書2:10）這正是教條主義導致許多人聽從了假師傅所傳播的不實之辭，有些被鑑定為「魔鬼的教條」：

2:17 我們不像那許多人，為利販賣 神的道，而是出於真誠，出於神的差遣，在 神面前藉着基督講道。(哥林多後書 2:17)

1:6 有人偏離這些，轉向空洞的議論。1:7 他們想作律法的教師，卻不明白自己所講說的，所肯定的，所堅持的事。(提摩太前書 1:6-7)

2:1 但是從前在百姓中有假先知起來，將來在你們中間也必有假師傅，將秘密引進導致滅亡的異端，甚至連買他們的主也不承認，帶來速速的滅亡。2:2 將有許多人隨從他們邪淫的行為，便叫真道因他們的緣故被毀謗。……2:10 特別是那些放縱肉慾、輕慢權柄的。他們膽大任性，毫不畏懼毀謗那尊貴的；2:11 即使是天使，雖然力量權能更大，也不用毀謗的話在主面前告他們。2:12 但這些人好像沒有理性的畜類、憑本能的動物，生來就是為被捉拿宰殺的；他們不知道自己所毀謗的，後果是敗壞人的時候，自己必遭遇敗壞；(彼得後書 2:1-2, 10-12) ⁹

有些時候，撒旦竟冒充「基督」：

24:23 那時，若有人對你們說『基督在這裏』，或說『基督在那裏』，你們不要相信。24:24 因為假基督和假先知將要出現，大顯神蹟和奇事欺騙人，甚至選民也可能被騙。(馬太福音 24:23-24).

(2) 撒旦向我們的罪性和叛逆本質發出引誘，他為我們提供一些我們寧可相信的謊言而不相信真理。在羅馬書第一章，保羅論及人的罪，他說人選擇「用虛謊取代了神的真理」（新譯本）（參羅馬書1:18-25，特別是第25節）。假教師為「不敬虔」的人提供更佳藉口，和更具說服力的「謊言」來取代真理：

當他坐在審判席的時候，彼拉多的夫人打發人來說：「不要管這無辜人的事，因為我今天在夢中，為他受了許多的苦。」(馬太福音 27:19)

假教師不會將他們的謬誤教導強加在他人身上，他們只是巧妙地調整他們的教導，為人提供他們寧可相信的謊言。撒旦能夠成功是因為墮落的人希望得到他所提供的。

(3) 撒旦透過弱者的弱點捕獲他們。撒旦以那些充滿罪疚感的人為首要目標。

3:6 那竄進人家，籠絡不智婦女的，正是這等人。這些婦女擔負重罪，被各樣的私慾牽引，3:7 雖常常學習，卻永不能明白真道。(提摩太後書3:6-7)

(4) 撒旦提供吸引人肉慾的信息來增強他的效率。撒旦那糟糕的虛謊不實教導，並沒有非凡的智慧。那驅使聽者接受的原因是因為這些教導為不敬虔和自我放縱的人提供理論基礎：

2:18 他們大言不慚，說空洞的話，用肉身的情慾和邪淫的事引誘那些剛脫離妄行的人；2:19 他們應許人得以自由，自己卻作了敗壞的奴僕，因為人被誰制伏就是誰的奴僕。(彼得後書 2:18-19)

(5) 撒旦利用不同的方法吸引人的肉慾來增強他的效率。不論是撒旦提供的信息或他使用的方法，都以說服力為基礎，吸引墮落和充滿慾望的人，並不是倚靠真理的力量。讓我們看看保羅教導真理的方法和那些假師傅如「麥迪遜大道」不費氣力的推銷術之間的分別：

1:17 基督差遣我不是為了施洗，乃是為了傳福音，不是用花言巧語，免得基督的十字架成為空談。(哥林多前書1:17)

2:1 弟兄姐妹們，從前我到你們那裏去，並沒有用高言大智對你們 見證神。2:2 因為我曾定了主意，在你們中間不關心別的，只關心耶穌基督，並他被釘十字架。2:3 我在你們那裏時又軟弱，又懼怕，又甚戰兢。2:4 我說的話和講的道，不是用智慧勸服的言語，卻是引證了聖靈和大能，2:5 叫你們的信不在乎人的智慧，只在乎 神的大能。(哥林多前書2:1-5)

3:14 若人建造的工程經得起考驗，他就要得賞賜。3:15 若人的工程被燒毀了，他就要受虧損。自己可以得救，卻要像從火裏經過的一樣。3:16 豈不知你們是 神的殿， 神的靈住在你們裏頭嗎？3:17 若有人毀壞 神的殿，神必要毀滅那人。因為 神的殿是聖的，這殿就是你們。(哥林多前書3:14-17)

4:1 人應當以我們為基督的僕人，為 神奧秘事的管家。4:2 所求於管家的，是要他有忠心。(哥林多前書4:1-2)

「穿上」真理

真理是寶貴的屬靈軍備，這是顯而易見的。撒旦的手段是欺詐和謊言，而真理則是我們的防禦武器。假如我們「穿上神所賜的全副屬靈軍備」，那麼，我們不單要知到甚麼是真理；還要知道怎樣「穿上」真理。這是我們在這篇研讀的重點──為真理下定義、探討如何「穿上」真理：

彼拉多很久以前詢問：「真理是甚麼？」（約翰福音18:38）。他的話某程度上反映犬儒主義（cynicism）對能夠認識真理的否定態度。在我們這個時代，有些人認為能夠認識真理是無望的。在大選年，候選人每日都在互相質疑，我們也不禁質疑我們是否能夠知道孰真孰假。聖經保證我們能知道真理，而真理必叫我們得自由。（參約翰福音8:32）

數個世紀以前，先知以賽亞描述以色列墮落的悲慘狀態。在以色列的眾多毛病中，真理極其稀有，甚至看似不存在。沒有人能把這個國家從罪中拯救，故此，主親自帶來真理和公義給那些信靠順服的人：

59:1 耶和華的手並非軟弱，不能拯救，耳朵非聾，不能聽見。59:2 但你們的罪行使你們與 神疏遠；你們的罪惡使他拒絕你，不聽你們的禱告。59:3 因你們的手被血沾染，你們的指頭被罪孽沾污；你們的嘴唇說謊言，你們的舌頭出惡語。59:4 無人關心公正，無人憑誠實呈案。他們都倚靠假話，說謊言；他們所懷的是壓制，所生的是罪孽。59:5 他們菢毒蛇蛋，結蜘蛛網。人吃這蛋必死，這蛋必孵出毒蛇。59:6 他們的網不能成為衣服；不能用所做的遮蓋自己。他們的行為都有罪；他們犯了殘暴的罪行。59:7 他們一心行惡，急速流無辜人的血；他們的意念都是罪孽，他們打碎毀滅。59:8 平安的路，他們不熟悉；所行的事沒有公平。他們用詭詐的方法，凡和他們交易的都不熟悉平安。

59:9 因此，救贖離我們遠，救恩不臨到我們。我們指望光亮，卻只見黑暗；等待光明，卻行在幽暗中。59:10 我們沿牆摸索，好像瞎子；我們摸索，如同無目之人，我們晌午碰撞，如在黃昏一樣；別人強壯，我們卻像死人。59:11 我們咆哮如熊，哀鳴如鴿；指望救贖，卻是沒有；指望救恩，卻遠離我們。59:12 因你曉得我們許多叛逆的行為，我們的罪作見證告我們。是的，我們曉得自己的悖逆，非常清楚自己的罪。59:13 我們悖逆又想欺騙；轉去不跟從我們的 神。我們攪起欺壓和叛逆；心懷謊念，口裏說出。59:14 公平被推走，神性站在遠處。是的，誠實在街上碰撞，道德根本不得進入。59:15 誠實消失，想離惡的人被搶劫。那時，耶和華因看見沒有公平，甚不喜悅。

59:16 他見無人代言，無人干預，甚為驚動。就親自動手，他對公平的願望催迫著他。59:17 他以公義的意願為鎧甲（註：或作「護心鏡」），以拯救的心願為頭盔。他以報仇為衣服，以熱心為外袍。59:18 他必按人的行為施報，分發惱怒的審判給他的對頭，懲罸他的仇敵，向眾海岸施行報應。59:19 西方的人必敬重耶和華的名；東方的人也必認出他的榮美。因為他來好像急流的河水，被耶和華差派之風驅動。59:20「必有一位保護者來到錫安，到雅各族中從悖逆行為悔攺的人那裏。」這是耶和華說的。59:21 耶和華說：「至於我，我對他們的應許是這樣：從今以後，我加給你的靈，傳給你的話，必不離你的口，也不離你後裔與你後裔之後裔的口。」這是耶和華說的。(以賽亞書 59:1-21)

沒有人會質疑保羅那基督徒軍備的意象是出於以賽亞書（參以賽亞書11:5）。當基督把墮落的人從罪中拯救出來時，祂自己也穿上了這些軍備。從羅馬書第13章我們認識到「穿上我們的軍備」就是「披戴基督」：

13:11 我們這樣行，因為曉得現今就是早該睡醒的時候，因為我們的得救比初信的時候更近了。13:12 黑夜已深，白晝將近。我們就當放下暗昧的行為，帶上光的兵器；13:13 行事為人要端正，好像行在白晝。不可荒宴醉酒，不可好色邪蕩，不可爭競嫉妒。13:14 反要披戴主耶穌基督，不要為肉體安排去惹動私慾。(羅馬書 13:11-14)

神是「真理的神」，祂不能說謊（參詩篇31:5；以賽亞書65:16；提多書1:2）。祂差遣自己的兒子來到世上，一次就完成了將祂的真理傳給人（參希伯來書1:1-2; 2:1-4）。主耶穌來臨不單傳遞神的真理（參約翰福音8:40），祂就是真理，那叫人得自由的真理：

1:14 道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿的有恩典有真理。我們見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。1:15 約翰為他作見證，喊着說：「這就是我曾說『那在我以後來的，要比我更大的，因為在我之先，他已經存在了』的那一位。」1:16 我們都從他的豐滿領受了恩典，而且恩上加恩。1:17 律法是藉着摩西傳的，但恩典和真理是藉耶穌基督來的。1:18 從來沒有人見過 神，只有與父最親近的獨生子將 神表明出來。(約翰福音 1:14-18)

耶穌說：「我就是道路、真理、生命；若不藉着我，沒有人能到父那裏去。」 (約翰福音14:6)

「 ……你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。」 (約翰福音8:32)

真理是：耶穌就是神所應許的彌賽亞，祂是神的羔羊，被派遣來到世上除去世人的罪孽（約翰福音1:29）；祂在各各他為我們的罪背負刑罰而被釘十字架，被埋葬，從死裡復活，證明神悅納祂的救贖。透過相信耶穌，人不單得救，並且得到真理。就如保羅的教導：「你們學的基督，卻不是這樣，如果你們真的聽過他，在他裏面受教，學了裏面的真理」（以弗所書4:20-21）

祂是真理，祂把「真理的聖靈」差來（約翰福音15:26; 16:13），並賜給我們聖經，那就是「真理的道」（哥林多後書6:7；提摩太後書2:15；雅各書1:18），因此我們能認識全部的真理；那是生命和敬虔不能或缺的（彼得後書1:3-4；另參提摩太後書3:14-17）。

穿上真理的起始點是相信主耶穌基督，因祂是真理。由這起點，我們踏上那終身的成聖天路；真理使我們成聖（約翰福音17:17, 19）。成聖是當我們脫去從前行為上的舊人，透過神的話語幫助，我們就會產生心意更新而變化（以弗所書4:17-24；羅馬書12:1-2）；在真理的薰陶下，基督徒放棄虛謊，用愛心說誠實話（以弗所書4:15, 25, 29）；這也包括保守我們的意念，不受任何不正確的影響（腓立比書4:8），並避免各種形式的「知識」把我們擄去，轉離基督（歌羅西書第2章）。這意味著我們不再說三道四，不傳流言蜚語、不作無謂猜測、不倚靠神話和人的傳統而轉向基督和祂的話語，這代表我們要按世界的實況認清楚這個世界（箴言）。我們不單是作出表白，而要遵行真理（希伯來書5:11-14；約翰壹書2:4; 約翰二書1:1-4）。那就是擁抱聖經那明確和強調的啟示；而那些純粹來自人的「真理」卻要遲疑。這是說我們要自己學習真理，而不應倚靠別人告訴我們甚麼是真理（使徒行傳17:10等；約翰壹書2:26-27）。

數個世紀以前，先知阿摩司曾預言饑荒：

8:11 主耶和華說：「日子將到，我必命饑荒降在地上—我不是說水和餅的短缺，而是聖啟示的終結。 (阿摩司書 8:11)

我恐怕我們是活在大饑荒中，並不是因為我們無法接觸聖經，而是我們被禁止閱讀它；並不是沒有好的書和輔助工具，而是欠缺一顆愛真理的心，那根源是不愛主自己。讓我們穿上真理作為我們軍備；議我們像大衛一般渴望透過神的話語更深地認識神（詩篇119）；讓我們日夜都思想祂的真理；讓我們的禱告符合祂的真理；讓我們行在真理中，為神帶來榮耀，也為我們的益處。

譯者註：除特別標示的地方，中文經文採用NET（中文版）

Translated by: Jenny Pao 鮑婉玲譯

¹另參列王紀上18:46; 列王紀下4:29; 9:7; 約伯記40:7; 耶利米書1:17; 以賽亞書45:1.

²另參哥林多後書10:5-6; 11:3; 加拉太書1:6-9.

³另參馬太福音 4:1-11; 路加福音4:1-13; 以弗所書6:14.

⁴另參使徒行傳13:6-12; 比較帖撒羅尼迦後書 2:7-12.

⁵ 我的一位朋友向我指出，撒旦撒播「獨身」和「禁止食用某些食物」的方法十分巧妙。對那些未傾向過屬靈生活的，撒旦採取不同的策略欺哄他們。在我們這個愈來愈不敬虔的文化，人們已傾向結婚不可取，而「同居」是「較佳的方法」。有些食物被禁止食用，並非因神稱那些是不潔的食物，而是為了環保或動物的權益。撒旦恨不得讓我們「按我們的方式而行」，只要最終我們的思維和行動按他而行。

⁶ 另參羅馬書 5:18–6:14；彼得後書 2:18-19.

⁷另參馬可福音4:24-25；雅各書 1:21-27; 2:14-26; 約翰二書1:1-4.

⁸另參提摩太前書1:6-7; 6:3-5；提多書3:9；提摩太後書4:4；啟示錄2:24.

⁹另參彼得後書 2:18; 3:3-4; 約翰壹書 2:26-27.