Stopping the Barbarian at the Gate

If you are a Christian, you have both an advocate and an adversary as you live out the years God has given you here on earth. 1 John 1 tells us that our advocate, our attorney so to speak, is Jesus Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. But we also have an adversary who wants to destroy everything important to us. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be sober in spirit, be on the alert for your adversary, the devil, who prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Furthermore, the Bible says that Satan not only has the power to destroy us, but he also has a scheme—a blueprint for our destruction—and he is busy working that plan.

How can we ever hope to defeat Satan’s plan to destroy us? In Ephesians 6, Paul describes six weapons—strategies—to win this very real war in which we are all engaged. Paul compares these strategies to weapons a Roman soldier would utilize.

First, Paul urges us to put on the “belt of truth.” Just as a Roman soldier would tuck in a loose-fitting tunic into his belt before going into battle, Paul says we need to grab hold of any loose thoughts and confront them with God’s truth. Our mind is the battleground of all spiritual conflict in our lives. That is why the Bible says, “Guard your hearts—your minds—with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life.” Putting on the belt of truth means recognizing and replacing destructive thoughts.

Second, Paul says we need to put on the “breastplate of righteousness.” The breastplate is a molded piece of metal that protects a soldier’s vital organs. What does Paul mean when he says we need to put on the breastplate of righteousness? Obviously, Paul is not talking about self-righteousness, which is worthless in God’s eyes. Nor is he speaking of imputed righteousness—that’s the righteousness of Jesus Christ that God wraps around us when we trust in Christ for our salvation. He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. If Paul were speaking of that kind of righteousness, he wouldn’t tell us to put it on…If you are a Christian, you are already wearing it.

No, the kind of righteousness Paul says is necessary to put on in order to be protected from Satan’s attacks is “practiced righteousness.” This is the kind of righteousness—or right living— that Christians do, not to earn their salvation, but as a result of their salvation. A good synonym would be “obedience.” This strategy is simply “Doing what you know you should do.”  

Paul says that if you want to be successful in winning your life and death struggle with Satan, obedience is essential to victory. How?

Let me share with you four practical benefits of obedience, which are essential to “doing what you know you should do.”

1. Obedience Protects Us from the Consequences of Sin (Romans 6:16; 21-23)

We often use Romans 6:21-23 in evangelism to teach that the consequence of failing to trust in Christ as our Savior is eternal death or separation from God in hell. While that is certainly true, that is not the primary application Paul has in mind here. He is not addressing unbelievers, but Christians who choose disobedience over obedience. The outcome of such a choice is always destruction. 

Choosing pride over humility destroys our relationships. Choosing adultery over fidelity destroys our marriage. Choosing gluttony over self-control destroys our bodies. Choosing laziness over diligence destroys our dreams. 

Paul was right—the wages Satan offers for disobedience are the death of everything we value.  That is why it is insane to sin! Putting on the breastplate of righteousness protects us from the bitter consequences of disobedience. 

2. Obedience Protects Us from Doubt About Our Salvation (1 John 3:18-19)

Today, it is fashionable in some Christian circles to deify doubt. Adages such as “It is better to debate a question before settling it, than to settle a question before debating it” and “The depth of our doubt is proportional to the depth of our faith” lead some to believe that doubt is natural and even healthy for a Christian. 

Doubt can certainly be profitable if it causes us to honestly examine the authenticity of our faith. Doubt can be useful if it motivates us to further study God’s Word.  

But doubt—especially regarding our relationship to God—is usually more hurtful than helpful. Interestingly, doubt is never presented positively in the Bible, primarily because it usually leads to a half-hearted commitment to God, which the Bible calls being “double-minded.”

The antidote to doubt is obedience. The more you choose to put on the breastplate of righteousness, the greater assurance you will have that you are indeed a member of God’s family. 

Only professions of faith that result in expressions of obedience guarantee that we are truly in possession of eternal life. 

3. Obedience Protects Us from Loss of Heavenly Rewards (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Although our place in heaven is dependent on (and assured by) Jesus Christ, our position in heaven is determined by our obedience to God’s commands. Our entrance into heaven is the result of Christ’s work on the cross for us, but our full enjoyment of heaven is the result of our work for Christ here on earth.

The good news is that there is still time to avoid any regrets in heaven. By putting on the breastplate of practiced righteousness in this life, we protect ourselves against any possible regrets in the next one.

4. Obedience Protects Us from Satan’s Further Entrance into Our Lives (Proverbs 5:22)

Satan does not launch a single assault on your heart and mind, storm into your life, and suddenly claim victory. Instead, he is carefully looking for that one compromise that will give him a toehold that will become a foothold and eventually a stronghold in your life.  

That compromise can be something as seemingly innocuous as (1) allowing a conversation with the member of the opposite sex to cross the line, (2) borrowing an item from the office, (3) participating in a computer chat room just to see what everyone is talking about, or (4) choosing a rerun of “Everybody Loves Raymond” instead of spending time in God’s Word because you’ve had a difficult day and need to unwind. 

The problem with making one compromise is that it makes the next one easier. And the one after that is even easier. Before we know it, we are so enslaved to our wrong choices that we find obedience practically impossible. Putting on the breastplate of practiced righteousness is the first line of defense against Satan’s entrance into our lives.