Attention is now turned to the single offensive weapon listed by Paul for the Christian soldier, "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). The sword was the ancient soldier’s weapon for defeating the enemy. Several parallels exist between the physical sword of the ancient soldier and the spiritual sword of the Lord’s soldier.
First, the ancient soldier needed training to properly use the sword in battle. If used in battle without training the result would be disastrous, injury to, or death of, the soldier. The Christian needs some training in the proper use of the word of God. Paul advised Timothy to "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). The ASV translates study as "give diligence" which involves the idea of constant, earnest effort. Effort alone is not enough; effort must be put forth to "rightly divide" which literally means "cut straight." The idea is diligent study of the word of God to arrive at a proper understanding of its teaching. Peter, writing about Paul’s teaching on the end of times, mentioned "in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16). The result of wresting the scriptures is destruction, spiritual destruction. The elders offer Bible classes twice a week along with special studies during Vacation Bible School, and gospel meetings. A special weekend marriage seminar was conducted this last January, and there are plans for other special seminars in the future. All this is so the members of Warners Chapel can better learn the scriptures and be diligent students rightly dividing the word of God.
Second, all the knowledge and training in the use of the sword does no good if it is never drawn in battle. The soldier who never uses the sword to engage the enemy is doomed to defeat, no matter how well prepared he may be. We must be willing to take what we learn and use it to defeat the enemy, Satan. May we always remember the battle is for the souls of men and women, not the winning of an argument. The enemy is not another human being, it is Satan (the men and women we meet may serve Satan, but we seek to persuade them to change allegiance). So we must exercise caution in how we use the sword. It is for Satan’s defeat and the winning of souls, not defeating others in argument. Does this mean we ignore false teaching? No! It means we defeat false doctrine to lead others to saving faith in Christ.
Another point along this line involves the use of science and philosophy in our warfare. Paul is not saying we can not use materials from other sources than the Bible in our battle. We may need to use scientific evidence and philosophical arguments to help people see the reality of God, inspiration of the Bible and other important truths. Many honest people today do not know the over-whelming evidence that supports biblical truth. But once people see them, these truths will not bring about conversion to salvation, only the gospel message of the Bible will do that. Thus we need the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.
Denny