Take the Sword: A Biblical Call to Manhood
It was Sunday morning on April 19th, 1891. The Prince of Preachers, as he’s often known, Charles Spurgeon, climbed the stairs to his pulpit on that Lord’s Day morning to preach a sermon from Ephesians 6:17, which says: “and take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Just nine months before his death, Spurgeon stood before his congregation of approximately 7,000 people at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, and he spoke these words, specifically exhorting the men of his church:
The one note that rings out from the text is this:— TAKE THE SWORD! TAKE THE SWORD! No longer is it, talk and debate! No longer is it, (conversation) and compromise! The word of thunder is— Take the sword. The Captain’s voice is clear as a trumpet— Take the sword! No Christian man here will have been obedient to our text unless with clear, sharp, and decisive firmness, courage, and resolve, he takes the sword. We must go to heaven sword in hand, all the way…Therefore, if you are going to this fight, see well to your only weapon. If you are to have no other, take care that you have this always in your hand. Let the Captain’s voice ring in your ear, “Take the sword! Take the sword!”, and so go forth to the field.[1]
The field of which Spurgeon was speaking, of course, is the spiritual battlefield of this world. It’s striking to consider the deteriorating health of Spurgeon at the time when these words were spoken. He would preach his final sermon less than just two months later. And yet, with his physical strength rapidly declining, he knew that a spiritual call to arms, particularly for the men of his congregation, was one of the most needful messages of the day. The same is true in our day, but to an exponentially greater degree. If we, as Christian men, want to overcome the temptations that come at us from the world, the flesh, and the devil, in the midst of this spiritual battle, then we must have supreme confidence in the Word of God and a steadfast trust in the goodness of God.
Where the Battle Began
Of course, if we really want to understand the nature of our spiritual battle, we must go all the way back to where it all began, to the book of beginnings and the garden of Eden. Initially, as we open God’s Word, we’re introduced to the God of the Bible. We’re brought face to face with the God of creation. In doing so, Scripture describes how this God created the cosmos–the entire universe, including the earth, and all that is within it. The first two chapters of Genesis declare how this God has created the earth as a kind of divine stage for His glorious grace, with us, as humanity, created in His divine image.
But then, we find the account described in Genesis 3. It begins in the context of a world that is saturated and overflowing with the goodness of God. At that point, creation was perfect and without sin. It was a world that had been designed and gifted to Adam and his newly created bride, Eve, that they might be fruitful and multiply upon it, cultivate it, and exercise authority over it for the glory of God (Gen. 1:28). However, in the first three verses of Genesis 3, we discover the introduction to a cosmic catastrophe:
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
Deception Begins When We Doubt God’s Word
The third chapter of Genesis introduces a new figure, and that figure is a serpent. There are many questions about this creature that are simply unanswered, but Scripture describes him as “crafty.” Not only is that an accurate description of the serpent, but it’s also a play on words. The word translated “crafty” is very similar to the last verse of chapter 2, which says that Adam and Eve were “naked” yet were unashamed. In other words, as the text transitions into the new scene from chapter 2 to 3, while Adam and Eve are both naked and unashamed, the serpent comes along and is naked of any appearance of deception. His craftiness is found in his disguise.
This, of course, should come as no surprise to us, because it is precisely what Scripture says about Satan. In 2 Corinthians 11:14, Paul tells the church in Corinth that when the devil comes to deceive, he does so masquerading as an angel of light. In other words, when Satan engages in temptation and deception, he does not come in his true form. He doesn’t arrive announcing his evil schemes, and he doesn’t show up with horns and a pitchfork. Instead, he comes in disguise.
So, right from the very beginning, we should take note of the fact that Satan’s schemes involve subtle tactics. This is why we must always be on alert! This is why we must always be actively putting on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:10–17). We must always be ready for the devil, who comes in disguise to entice us and lead us astray. There is one way, however, to consistently see through Satan’s craftiness. After all, the devil really is just a one-trick pony. The dead giveaway of Satan’s deception is that he always seeks to undermine the Word of God.
He seeks to undermine the inspiration of God’s Word; that the Bible’s words are God’s Words.
He seeks to undermine the inerrancy of God’s Word; that the Bible is without error.
He seeks to undermine the infallibility of God’s Word; that the Bible can always be trusted.
He seeks to undermine the sufficiency of God’s Word; that the Bible tells us everything we need to know for life and godliness.
And ultimately, he seeks to undermine the authority of God’s Word; that the Bible is our final and ultimate standard for what is true.
We see an example of this consistent scheme in his question to Eve: “Did God actually say?” Did God really say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?” Not only is this a questioning of God’s Word, but the emphasis of the question carries with it an insincere expression of shock and surprise. This is the same type of attitude that we, as Christians who believe the Bible is absolutely true, often encounter in our culture:
“Do you really believe that marriage is between one man and one woman? What kind of narrow–minded bigot are you?”
“How can you believe that God created the world in six, literal days? Don’t you know that modern science has disproved that myth?”
It’s a type of questioning that is intended to bully us into submission and make us feel stupid. It’s a type of arrogant, intellectual superiority. But, brothers, hear me well: We do not ever need to feel intimidated, because even if we stand alone upon the Word of God, we know we are standing in the confidence of the God of the Word. And not only is that true when it comes to cultural pressure, but it’s even significantly more true when it comes to personal temptation. It’s one thing to stand upon the Word of God when others are watching and standing with you. But the true test of your confidence in God’s Word is how you respond to temptation when there’s no one else around–when the only ones who can see you are the God who loves you and the devil who tempts you. The true characteristic pattern of your life, in private, determines the true character of who you really are as a person.
My friends, the church of Jesus Christ does not need men who are one thing in public but are something altogether different in private. Both the church and the home need men of consistency and integrity–men who genuinely love the holiness of God and who desperately strive to live their lives by the grace of God for the glory of God.
As we consider the encounter with the serpent, we notice how Eve responds to the first temptation in verses 2 and 3. At the same time, I also want us to observe that while Adam was called by God to be the protector, provider, and leader of his family, he stands by idly as Eve is tempted, so much so that we often forget that Adam was even there. Eve responds to the serpent’s question, saying, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
Now, let me ask you: to whom did God give the original command? It was Adam, as seen in the previous chapter (Gen. 2:16–17). Eve was not yet created when God provided Adam with the prohibition. So, then, who’s responsibility was it to teach his wife the words of God? It was the responsibility of the man, Adam. Therefore, what I want us to see, here, is the passivity on the part of Adam, especially in the midst of this temptation. To use Spurgeon’s language, Adam put down his sword.
Men, this is not who we have been called to be. God has not called us to be passive observers or submissive spectators in our homes, no matter how much easier we may think life would be if we were. God has called us to be the spiritual leaders! He’s called us to speak, to speak the truth, and to speak the truth in love. He’s called us to teach our families the truths of His Word. And He’s called us to protect our families from the attacks of the enemy. Men, make no mistake. As the God-ordained leader of your home, husband of your wife, and father of your children, you will be held accountable by God for how well you lead, protect, and provide for your family. So may we take that responsibility seriously, and by God’s grace, take up our sword and lead well.
Disobedience Occurs When We are Discontent with God’s Provision
As we continue in verses 4 and 5, we also see the subtle way in which Satan plants seeds of discontentment. He says there, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So notice that after initially attacking God’s Word, the devil now attempts to attack God’s character. Not only does he imply that God is lying, but he also asserts that God will not actually judge Adam and Eve for their disobedience. In other words, it’s an attack on both God’s truthfulness and His justice. And, finally, he makes the claim that there is something God is withholding from them that would bring them enlightenment, status, and wisdom.
Once again, brothers, I want us to notice that the devil’s playbook never changes. Satan’s scheme against Adam and Eve is the same lie that he temps us with, today. He tempts our flesh with the lie that if we will disobey God, then we will experience some immediate feeling of freedom, happiness, and gratification. Yet, the result is always the same. Apart from God, there is no fulfillment. There is no satisfaction. Just as we see with Adam and Eve, the result of sinning against the Lord is always bondage, guilt, and shame.
So let me ask you, what is it that lies at the very foundation of our discontentment? When we’re discontent with our job, or we’re discontent with our house, or we’re discontent with any aspect of life’s circumstances, is it not the sin of covetousness? It is the sinful belief that God, who is sovereign, wise, and good, and who has promised to give us everything we need, is withholding something from us that will make us happy. And furthermore, we believe that we deserve that unmet happiness. We must understand that discontentment is one of the most subtle and sinister sins we can commit, because it demonstrates that we do not trust the sovereign Lord who has promised to care for our every need.
For Eve, her response to this temptation is seen in verse 6:
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
We can observe that Eve’s compromise happens in three ways:
1. First, she believes the lie of Satan and refuses to believe in the trustworthiness of God. This leads her to begin looking at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, not as a danger to be avoided, but as an object to be desired.
2. Next, she begins to dwell on this forbidden tree and its fruit. It’s something that she desperately wants to have.
3. And thirdly, she begins to imagine the benefits of wisdom Satan deceitfully told her she would receive.
This is how temptation works. Discontentment gives way to sinful desire. And empowered sinful desire leads to disobedience. But, once again, where is Adam? Notice with me that instead of protecting his bride, Adam, who is there beside her, willingly receives the fruit as well; and together, the first image-bearers of God wickedly disobey the Lord’s command. And, in doing so, they put themselves in the place of God. Like usurpers to the royal throne, our first parents arrogantly challenged God’s authority and presumed to be their own masters.
But, of course, because the devil has been a liar from the beginning, verse 7 tells us the true result of their sinful choice:
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
All of a sudden, the man and the woman immediately realize that they have made a horrible mistake, as their reality, and the entire human race, is plunged into total depravity. And, yet, as you and I experience the painful and grievous effects of the Fall, we may shake our heads in disbelief that Adam and Eve would commit such an obvious act of disobedience. But what we need to understand is this:
Every time we sin, we are affirming the original lie of Eden. We are committing cosmic treason against the Lord of the universe. And that treason will not go unpunished. It will either be punished on the Day of Judgment and in hell for eternity, or it was swallowed up and satisfied at the cross of Christ.
Deflection Takes Place When We Deny God’s Justice
After Adam and Eve attempted to cover their guilt by their own effort, verse 8 says:
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
The response from Adam and his bride, here, is not one of joy in the Lord’s presence. Rather, just the mere sound of His arrival fills them with absolute fear and dread. They experience a newfound shame in their nakedness that cannot be solved with fig leaves. This is the same reaction that sinful humanity has in response to its disobedience. We try to cover our sin, we are filled with the fear of God, and we foolishly think we can hide from His presence. What we notice, however, is the gracious character of God. Like the Good Shepherd, He comes looking for His lost sheep.
I also want you to pay special attention to whom the Lord addresses in this encounter; because while Satan, who is a coward, targeted his temptation at the woman, we discover that God addresses the man. We see it in verse 9:
But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?
Why does God specifically address Adam? He obviously knows where he is. It’s because God has given men the responsibility to lead their families, and therefore like Adam, it will be you to whom He will call for an account on the Day of Judgment. With great privilege comes great responsibility. For Adam, he initially answers the question honestly:
And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself” (v. 10).
How does God respond? Like a gracious Father, who is full of justice and mercy, the Lord continues to ask questions, seeking to lead Adam to a place of transparency and confession. This leads to verse 11, as the Lord asks a couple of questions, more penetrating than the first:
“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
And how does Adam now respond? He says to the Lord:
“The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate” (v. 12).
Rather than humble contrition, repentance, and confession of sin, Adam responds to the Lord by deflecting the blame and shifting it to someone other than himself. And notice the outrageous cowardice of this action. Not only did Adam fail to lead and protect his bride, but instead of taking responsibility, he blames her. But even more disgraceful than that is the fact that he actually blames God. He said, “…the wife that you gave me.” The audacity is remarkable. This is the same Adam, from the previous chapter, who was singing God’s praises for the gift of his wife (Gen. 2:23).
This is the blinding nature of sin. Adam is now singing a different tune, because he has disobeyed the Lord. Instead of taking responsibility for his sin, he is blaming both his wife and the Lord. And, of course, the pattern of deflection continued with Eve as well, as she sought to shift the blame to the serpent (v. 13).
What an accurate depiction of the sinful human condition. Instead of taking responsibility for our sins, we try to find others whom we can blame. We say things like: “I wouldn’t have acted that way if he or she wouldn’t have said what they did” or, “The situation is like this because of what they did or what they failed to do.”
Ultimately, even if it’s subconscious, we often blame God. We may not verbalize it, but if we’re not careful, we can allow bitterness and resentment to fester in our hearts. We can allow our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions to become ungodly and profane. And when we do, we seek to justify them because of the circumstances of our life.
Brothers, what we must understand is that salvation and confession are inextricably linked. Likewise, without confession, there is no sanctification. We must stop the excuses, act like the men we’ve been called to be, and recognize that biblical masculinity finds its true strength in humility and dependence upon the Lord.
Not only does the church need men like this–men of courage, character, and consistency, but this is also why we, as men, need the church. We need the love, encouragement, and support from our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need the fellowship of the saints, the preaching of God’s Word, and the prayers of God’s people. And we need the accountability of other faithful brothers in Christ who love us enough to tell us the truth; especially in those instances when we have become entangled by the desires of our flesh or blinded to a particular pattern of sin. The call to arms is both a call to take up our sword and to lock arms with our brothers, with whom we are battling in the trenches against the enemy.
Deliverance Comes When We Depend Upon God’s Salvation
As the antithesis of Adam, Jesus provides a perfect example of how we are to take up the sword, especially in the midst of temptation. Just to summarize, in Luke 4:1-13 we find Jesus being tempted by the devil. But unlike Adam, who allowed God’s Word to be undermined, each of the three times Jesus is tempted, He responds to the temptation with the Word of God. In other words, He takes up His sword! And the result of the sword being unsheathed is that the enemy flees. As James 4:7 exhorts:
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
And yet, not only is Jesus our perfect example of how to fight temptation, but He is also the one who has purchased our salvation. Our salvation is completely and totally found in and through the person and work of Christ, and Christ alone. Therefore:
He is the example of our faith.
He is the perfector of our faith.
He is the captain of our faith.
Unlike the first Adam, who failed to defend his wife, and was deceived by the serpent, Jesus, the last Adam, fights valiantly for His bride, and victoriously purchases her redemption on the cross. And through His finished work upon that cross—a work that does not leave us cowering in the garden like Adam and Eve, we are given the confidence to stand before God, because we are now dressed in the robe of His righteousness. We are rescued and redeemed.
And therefore, because of what Christ has done, as the perfect Adam, if we will humble ourselves before Him, accept the responsibility for the sins we have committed against Him, and express our dependence upon Him, we can receive the forgiveness of our sins, experience the blessings of His salvation, and be equipped for the warfare of the spiritual battle.
My brothers, may we hear loudly and clearly the voice of our Captain: “Take the sword!”
References:
[1] Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. “The Sword of the Spirit.” The Spurgeon Center, April 19, 1891. https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-sword-of-the-spirit/