On their own, the instructions in these epistles are far more convicting than the Ten Commandments. Paul's epistles are a wonderful balance of doctrine and practice. Doctrine must lead to practice and practice has no basis if not for doctrine.
We now continue with Part three of this parallel study, Ephesians 6:
- Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
- fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
- Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
- And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
- be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
- Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
- we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
- Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
- having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
- above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one
- take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
- praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
