2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, There was something soldierly both in the nature and in the life course of the Apostle Paul. His resolution, courage, fortitude, capacity for endurance, fidelity to his spiritual Commander, were all high military qualities. We do not wonder that he made in his writings use so frequent and so effective of the warrior's life. The Christian's career, and much more emphatically the apostolic career, appeared to him one large campaign. Hence his reliance upon "the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left." I. THE CHRISTIAN'S NEED OF SPIRITUAL ARMOUR. 1. His foes are many, active, vigilant, formidable, untiring. 2. The warfare to which he is called is accordingly perilous and serious. 3. His own natural resources are utterly inadequate for his defence. II. THE NATURE OF THE CHRISTIAN'S SPIRITUAL ARMOUR. 1. It is not physical, or carnal, but moral. 2. It is described in one word as "the armour of righteousness," as opposed to fraud and cunning and iniquity of every kind. 3. It is adapted to the several necessities of the welfare. Vide Ephesians 6., where the several weapons are enumerated and described. III. THE PURPOSES WHICH THE CHRISTIAN'S ARMOUR EFFECTS. 1. The right hand of the warrior wields the sword; and this is the emblem of the weapon of attack which the Christian grasps - even "the sword of the Spirit," which is the Word of God. 2. The left hand of the warrior holds the shield, which is the symbol of that mighty principle of faith, which is the defensive weapon used by every soldier in the spiritual warfare, with which he quenches the fiery darts of the evil one. IV. THE RESULTS OF THE WARFARE WAGED BY THE CHRISTIAN THROUGH THE USE OF HIS SPIRITUAL ARMOUR. 1. To himself, security and honour. He is delivered from his foes, and he fights the good fight of faith. 2. To his cause, victory. Righteousness is destined to conquer; there is no uncertainty as to the issues of the holy war. 3. To his Commander, great and growing renown, as his foes are vanquished and his kingdom is consolidated and extended. - T. Parallel Verses KJV: By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, |
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