In New Testament times, swords were not intended to dig, scrape, or bone; existed to kill. The only reason Peter cut off Malcon’s ear alone was that he was wrong (John 18. 10).
But Herod was not wrong: “Did He kill James, John’s brother, by sword?(Acts 12,2).
- Many Saints felt all the strength of the sword: “Were they stoned.
- Cut in half.
- Killed by sword?”(Hebrews 11:37).
- So it was and will be 😕 If someone kills the sword.
- Will the sword die?(Revelation 13.
- 10).
That’s what swords are for. So when Paul calls the word of God “the sword of the Spirit” in Ephesians 6. 17, do you mean it?Something has to be killed. And they’re not people. Christians do not kill people to spread our faith; we die to do it.
The bond in Paul’s mind is clarified in Romans 8. 13
If by the Spirit you make the works of the flesh die, you will live.
The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, the sword is to kill. And by the Spirit, we kill our sinful works, so I conclude that the way we mortify our sins is through the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.
All temptations to sin have power through lies. Are these deceptive desires? (Ephesians 4:22). They tell us that the pleasure of sin is worth it. The mortal blow against these lies is the power of God’s truth. Therefore, the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, is the weapon to use.
As John Owen said, “Does sin kill, or will it kill you?” That’s what swords are for, especially the Bible.