Introduction:

Introduction:

     Four segments are covered in this chapter. The range is from Tender to Tough, as each section details interpersonal relationships: first, dealing with children; then, slaves and their masters; then, battling evil by donning the whole armor of God and concluding with a personal appeal from Paul.

Honoring Father and Mother:

The loving, caring, husband of chapter five is now shown as the tender-hearted father, interacting with obedient children. His interest is in, "what is best for the child," and it affords a reverence and respect from his off spring (Unlike the lineages of I, II Kings and Chronicles, where child after child, "did evil in the sight the Lord in the steps of their fathers.").

Here, the admonition is to honor the believing father and mother - in that sequence. Like the heavenly order of Father and Son, the Christian Family is to be a reflection of divine transmission.

Notice this text is directed to the father. Paul is not commenting on non-believing fathers or mothers. He is not considering a pagan parent who leads a child astray or demands an action counter to the Word of God, for Deuteronomy 13:1 takes precedence in those matters. Paul is also assuming a resident father, not an absentee one. (This remains the Christian order, even though today's society is filled with single mothers and their children, many of whom are the result of broken marriages.)

A father is to be a role figure responsible for the children he spawns. In the Lord's eyes, he is to be the person who supplies security and well-being for his sons and daughters.

Paul opened chapter six with an admonition to children which had three aspects.

1. Children are to obey their believing father.


2. Children are to honor their father and mother.


3. Children are to expect long life on earth because their heavenly Father has said it!

Paul, then, quickly turns to the father's responsibilities. He is to be careful not to breed resentment, by provoking a child to wrath. (The question of the day is, "how many children fit this category?")

Anger and frustration, whether displayed or internalized, mars the countenance of thousands of youngsters. (The antidote is to, "bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.") It is the father's knee that must be a safe haven. It is the father's hand which must steady the walk of an ever changing dependent. It is the father who leads his family to worship. It is the father's voice that calms fears of the unknown. His reassuring presence resembles the heavenly Father.

Notice verse four speaks of training the child. Solomon wrote:

(In Northwest Arkansas, there is a community of saints who take seriously these admonitions. The families who live there home school their children. They use the Bible as the principle text, along with Christian views of history, science, math and all other curriculum considerations. The children are taught Hebrew and Greek, as well as other languages. Each of them plays a musical instrument and also sings. Their countenances are pure and clear. This community focuses on family and the place of the father in the home, proving that Paul's invective can be accomplished today.)

Sadly, public education is devoid of Biblical principles, in that they teach a social agenda which is counter to the Bible and often is reinforced by errant parents. Hence, there is a generation of rash, self-centered children who do not honor their parents.

Godly training involves correction, guidance and example. The believing father corrects his children while nurturing their self-image and directing them towards proper behavior. The Christian father steers the family toward unity and inter-investment among siblings.

Alas, the public of today is the result of failure in the home to follow Paul's model. Churches, too, have failed to address these issues with rancor. Hence, there is a voting population that finds no difficulty supporting abortion, gender neutrality and leftist ideology. Many are the victims of the massive assault on children in this society.

There has been an assault on children through the public schools for a long time, espousing a bent curriculum sanctioned by teachers' unions. Increasingly, there is the absence of classical literature, national history, as envisioned by the founding fathers, and the fact students are being brainwashed against Christian principles and practices.

Children are being overwhelmed by the onslaught of sex, drugs and societal pressures. They deal with issues beyond their years and wrestle with problems which stack up as high as mountains. What is the solution? It is believing fathers! It is fathers who must take their sacred places in homes and exercise their God-given duties. It is fathers who are not the bumbling idiots characterized by mass media, who must rise up. It is fathers, trusting in the living God and following the Spirit, who must be central in the rearing of their children. It is fathers, supported by mothers, who are the epitome of chapter five's admonition.

Consider this Nineteenth Century message from C.H. Spurgeon:

Superiors and subordinates:

Slavery (bondservants)was a fact in Paul's day, and it was not condemned by his society. His epistle of Philemon is a perfect example of what is being taught in these next verses. Onesimus, the runaway slave, ministered to Paul and thus proved his Christian embodiment. He was to be welcomed when he returned to his Christian Master and treated as a brother, although it did not change the fact he was a slave.

Today, we still have those whose rank make them superiors in companies, industry, military, government and society. There are still subordinates who are under their command. Christians are to treat each other with mutual respect as believers, no matter what their station. Note: this was an extremely sensitive subject during Paul's day. Here is how Paul addressed the matter.

This brief, but concise, teaching cut across social boundaries and plainly prescribed a formula for treating one's neighbor and fellow Christian. Bondservants were to reverence (fear) and be in obedience to their masters (trembling at the thought of the consequences for not obeying). They were not to take the course of many, who half-smilingly went about their duties cursing their plight and their masters under their breath. Eye service and men pleasing does not relay what must be the Christian worker's attitude. His service is to be unto Christ, while doing the will of God from the heart. He or she must keep in mind their reward comes from higher up, even though their master gives no accolades.

How does this affect the modern workplace? There are instances where superiors, or even other workers, make it difficult to be a Christian in their presence. Bad attitudes and poor work ethics make employment conditions untenable. However, Christian workers should give their best as workers for Christ and realize there is reward for such service.

Woe to those who are in leadership and are employment superiors who do not appreciate or treat well their underlings. Here is what James writes:

Again, Paul is addressing only Christian bondservants and masters, while James is addressing the general public. Nonetheless, there are applications in modern society which approximate both scenarios.

The two Scriptures have a central theme; they both ultimately are reminding their constituents about their responsibility to God. It is a marvelous thing to see businesses who operate using Christian principles and who display the harmony realized in believer interaction.

Battling in God's armor:

Moving from the tender perspective of a loving family and mutually respectful work places, Paul turns to the tough-minded soldier, battling spiritual darkness. What he is describing here is an evil empire, a kingdom of darkness, which is behind all the evil which individuals and groups employ. Our weapons are not carnal. Christ had no use for Simon's ear directed sword. Jesus did approve an hour-long prayer meeting in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before Simon's earlobing incident. This should have been a time when the disciples were battling the forces of evil (who were nigh at hand) through fasting and prayer. They slept. Their Master sweat great drops of blood as He confronted the evil which lay ahead.

It helps to dissect what is said in these verses:

Who is the real enemy of the believer? Is it governmental coercion? Is it religious persecution? Is it social pressure? Is it castigation by individuals and/or groups? No, it is principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of the age and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.

Again, it helps to dissect what is being said, by taking it in sections.

No wonder Paul addressed the Ephesians as lights in the darkness. We are to remember the power of God is greater than the combined power of the dark evil empire. The strength of the Lord to deliver his own out of the hands of the enemy and bring victory to them is real and active; but the child of God must be equipped so he does not become a casualty. Our job is to put on the whole armor and stand!

This message is not just for the individual warrior. Oh no, this is the way the church of the Lord Jesus must look. This is the formidable army of the Lord. I believe Paul saw the Roman troops on parade. I believe he understood the reason for their battle attire. I believe he beheld their training for an army with what was called, "the Roman Phalanx."

The church is to declare the grace and power of God to the heavens, where the gates of hell cannot prevail against it! Paul is not describing a symbol; he is describing what God expects to see when His people are viewed - clothed and standing, ready for battle.

It is time to marshal the troops; it is time to fall into ranks and be determined to win. When one sings the old song, "Onward Christian Soldiers, marching out to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before," he or she is not speaking about a symbol but an occupation. We need to be that kind of Christian soldier, fighting back against the field of moral and spiritual degradation that rises against all that we believe. Instead, the church acquiesces, sleeping with the enemy, hoping all will turn out well.

The Uniform (the whole armor):

The whole armor of God is not exclusive to this passage-take the following for instance.

Salutation:

Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD.