Ephesians 6:10-17

Be Strong in the Lord

We are quickly nearing the end of Paul's masterful epistle to you, the glorious body of Christ.  Paul is especially bringing to conclusion his exhortation for you to walk in a manner worthy of the high calling with which you have been called in Jesus Christ.  In the latter half of Paul's letter, he has urged you to live worthily of the lavished grace which you have received from God by walking in faith-union with Jesus Christ into whom you are being conformed more and more through the Spirit's transforming work through the means of grace.  Now that you have been clothed in Christ, Paul calls you to battle as the church militant.  Just as Joshua called Israel to "be strong and courageous" as they prepared to see the hand of God give them the Land of Promise, so now Paul calls you, the church, "be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the strength of His might" as he sends you forth, clothed in God's armor to stand firm in the midst the cosmic, spiritual war that is taking place all around us, yet has been decisively won by Christ and is coming to an end. 

In this last section of Paul's epistle, which indeed occupies a highly significant portion of the letter, Paul wants you to take up the eyes of faith and see the greater spiritual warfare that is currently taking place between the forces of good and evil.  We live in a strange day-and-age in which two predominant world-views rule the day.  On the one hand, we live in a modern, anti-supernaturalistic (or naturalistic) world in which an over-dependence upon the empirical test for truth has ruled out any possibility of a supernatural world, which cannot be measured in a test tube.  Therefore, when an orthodox Christian speaks of devils, Satan, evil forces, etc. they are quickly ridiculed as being lunatics and demeaned as being as old as the dark ages themselves. 

However, on the other hand, we live in the postmodern world of relativism in which the supernatural has become the fad of the day.  However, a postmodern worldview will not permit any absolute statements about the supernatural that would be considered the one and only true understanding of the spiritual realm.  Therefore, an orthodox Christian's understanding of the supernatural world would be quickly rejected as too absolutists.  The only "true" form of the supernatural is everyone's own personal, subjective experience of the spiritual realm which would be true for you while I may have my own personal experience which is true for me. 

Both of these worldviews are completely foreign to Paul's understanding of the spiritual warfare that is taking place in the heavenly places in which a real devil, along with a whole host of spiritual forces of wickedness are scheming to disrupt God's plan of the ages (1:10) by turning all his evil plans against God's elect.  Paul sees a greater, cosmic battle taking place within this world in the invisible realm which stands behind our day-to-day struggles in this life.  Notice that Paul doesn't see this spiritual battle as taking place in the far-off, distant space above us, but rather speaks of our "struggling" (like a wrestler or soldier in hand-to-hand combat) in this battle in the hear and now (v. 12).  Paul doesn't limit this struggle to "only" spiritual forces, but rather he is trying to impress upon our thinking the fact that our flesh and blood (of this world) struggles have behind them a larger struggle between the forces of good and evil.  In v. 12 when Paul says that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood" he doesn't mean that we don't struggle against earthly, fleshly enemies whether outside the faith or more often, inside the church (cf. 4:14; 2 Cor. 11:1-4, 13-15; 2 Pet. 2:1; etc.) but rather he wants us to see "the greater battle" that is taking place behind these struggles and in which these men and women are being used as instruments of evil and destruction.  What Paul is describing for us in this handful of verses, the apostle John takes the entire book of Revelation to explore in greater depth (cf. Rev. 12).  The Revelation is a "revealing" of the spiritual realm describing this spiritual warfare that is taking place within this world in the invisible realm.  Satan's forces are scheming to bring destruction on God's elect and we are often so wrapped up in the here and now/in the material things of this world that we are often completely unaware of this entire spiritual warfare taking place all around us.  In fact, one of the great weapons Satan uses to deceive the church is to cause the modern man to deny his existence and therefore make it absurd to believe in a personal devil and the real spiritual forces of evil.  The result of course is that we do not take this spiritual struggle seriously and therefore we fail to be alert and stand firm against the flaming missiles of the evil one which are constantly be launched against our walk in Christ and against all other fellow members of the body of Christ.  But Paul sees this struggle between the church and Satan's forces as a real, significant, and critical aspect of the Christian life.  Why?  For as Peter says, "Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). 

Christ Jesus Has Won the War

The apostles are not revealing this spiritual warfare to paralyze us with fear, but rather to remind us of the true nature of the battle and therefore the crucial importance of our dependence upon God's power rather than our own feeble attempts at personal holiness.  As Paul sums up his section on our daily sanctification it is clear that he understands the power of practical holiness as being found in God and not ourselves.  Remember what Paul told the Philippians that they were to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).  Once Paul compared his own personal righteousness to the righteousness of Jesus Christ, he suddenly realized that all his righteousness is but dung and that the great passion of his life was to be found in Christ, "not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith" (Phil. 3:9).

In v. 10, Paul tells us to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."  Paul's command would be better stated, "be strengthened" (like 5:18; cf. 3:16 -- Paul's prayer) in the Lord and in His power.  Your strength and power in this battle comes from without, not within.  You are not told to look within yourself to find the strength and power to walk the Christian walk, or to live the Christian life, but to look outside of yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ into whom you have been united.  He is the sphere of your life and your living the Christian life.  You have died and your life is now hidden in Christ; He is your life. 

The power that sustains or strengthens you is the same mighty power that was mentioned in Paul's prayer in 1:19-20.  Paul prayed that you would understand more and more of the amazing and mighty power that is at work in your salvation.  God is working in you with the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  Therefore, he now tells you to depend upon this exact, same power in your present day-to-day struggles and walk, a power that has been tested by Jesus Himself and has proved sufficient to overcome the wicked schemes of Satan and death itself.  In other words, Jesus Christ has already faced your deadly foe and has won (cf. Matt. 12:29; Luke 10:17-19; John 12:31-33; Col. 2:14-15; Heb. 2:14).  Now, in your day-to-day struggles and in your hand-to-hand combat in the battle with your flesh, the devil, and this world you have at your disposal all the mighty and powerful strength of God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead, to stand firm and completely resist the temptations of the devil. 

We are Engaged in the Final Battles Taking Place

In v. 11, Paul reminds us both "why" and "how" we are to enter this battle.  First, "why."  Satan and his evil forces were defeated decisively at the cross.  Also, as we read in Rev. 20, Satan and his forces are currently bound in that they are no longer able to deceive the nations keeping them from hearing the gospel.  Rather, as Jesus promised, the church will go forth in fulfillment of His commission and the gates of hell will not be able to prevail against them.  However, even though Satan has been defeated, his last hope is to keep as many souls from entering into the kingdom of light by especially crippling the church in her primary mission of the preaching of the simple gospel of Christ.  V. 11, tells us that Satan is scheming to find ways to hinder the progress of the gospel (cf. 6:19) and the fulfillment of the plan of the ages to sum up all things in Christ (cf. 1:10).  Satan's great desire is to do anything and everything necessary to keep the church from pursuing the cause of Christ and achieving this glorious goal which has been set before the foundation of the world.  The schemes of Satan include everything that Paul has addressed in this letter, whether your own doubting of your salvation or all the different ways in which we can slip back into walking as we used to walk in the futility of our minds (cf. 4:17-5:5).  One writer describes:

Mention of the "schemes" of the devil reminds us of the trickery and subterfuge by which evil and temptation present themselves in our lives.  Evil rarely looks evil until it accomplishes its goal; it gains entrance by appearing attractive, desirable, and perfectly legitimate.  It is a baited and camouflaged trap (see Snodgrass quote in O'Brien, 464).

We are Armed with God's Own Armour

But what are we to do in the face of such an invincible foe?  Certainly not look to our own power and strength!  To take on such a formidable foe simply with one's own resources would be to invite disaster.  By ourselves we would be completely and fatally unprotected and exposed.  Rather, we are to depend upon the power and might that has already won the victory and continues to cripple and overthrow the powers of darkness as the church moves forward in the proclamation of the gospel of Christ.  As the gospel takes new ground, both in gathering the elect into the kingdom of God and into every area of your life as you are being transformed by the renewing of your mind in Christ, God is bringing to completion the plan of the ages to sum up all things under Christ.

Note that Paul tells you three times that God has given you His power and strength so that you will be able to "stand firm."  This is the language of the defensive position of a soldier who is under attack.  Satan is trying to gain a foothold, both in your personal, Christian walk and in the lives of your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and to keep the gospel from progressing forward in the salvation of God's elect.  Paul tells you that God has given you His resurrection-power to resist and stand firm against the multiple onslaughts of the devil.

But what has God given us that we might be able to stand firm and resist the devil?

Put on the Full Armour of God (v. 11, 13) -- This is how we are to be strengthened in our union with the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 10).  It is only by wearing the full armour of our God that we are properly equipped against the devil's manifold attacks. 

Paul emphasizes the "full" or "whole" armour as a complete set of armour or all the necessary armour to be protected fully against all attacks.

Paul also refers to this as the armour "of God" referring to the fact that this is the very armour that God Himself wears as our victorious champion who has fought and defeated our enemy.  In several places, Isaiah describes the armour of God and His Messiah as He makes war with our enemies:

Now the LORD saw, And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice.  16 And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him; And His righteousness upheld Him. 17 And He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle (Isa. 59:15-17).

We are clothed with the armour of God which was used ultimately in the victorious battle with our greatest foe to conquer him at the cross of Jesus.  But Paul also uses the following pieces of armour to describe the actual characteristics of God (truth, righteousness, salvation, the Spirit, the Word) to describe God Himself.  Paul has already told us to "put on the new man" or to put on Christ and he tells the Galatians that have been clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27).  In other words, Paul is telling us that we have put on Christ as our armour for spiritual warfare.

The Full Armour of God (vv. 14-17)

Stand Firm --

Truth, Righteousness, Gospel, Faith, Salvation, Word of God -- The Gospel/Christ

1.  Having girded your loins with truth (v. 14) -- the leather apron which hung under the armour of a Roman foot-soldier to protect his thighs in battle -- the idea of fastening clothing securely around one's waist signifies preparation for vigorous activity, namely readiness for battle (cf. Isa. 11:4-5).  Isaiah describes the Messiah as wearing the armour of truth in battle over our sins and that piece of the Messiah's armour is now given to you as you engage in spiritual warfare.  As we buckle this piece of the Messiah's armour around our waist we will be strengthened by the truth of the gospel.

2.  Having put on the breastplate of righteousness (v. 14) -- the Roman soldier wore a breastplate which covered his chest to protect it against blows and arrows.  In Isa. 59:17, Yahweh puts on "the breastplate of righteousness" as he comes to deliver his people and to punish the nation's enemies.  The righteousness that Paul speaks of is God's justifying, forensic righteousness which is based upon Christ's meritorious obedience, received through faith alone and results in our perfect, right standing before Him (Rom. 3:21-26).  We therefore, stand firm in our spiritual struggle through God's sovereign verdict of acquittal through Christ's perfect obedience and death on the cross.  

3.  Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace (v. 15) -- the Roman soldiers wore caliga, or a half-boot to protect their feet in battle and as they marched long distances.  Linking it to the "preparation of the gospel of peace," Paul may have in mind an offensive aspect of the armour in the progress of the gospel into all nations.  Isaiah speaks the lone messenger, whose beautiful feet running across the mountaintops, brings good news to Jerusalem and Paul speaks of the beautiful feet of those who preach of the gospel (Isa. 52:7; Song 2:17; 8:14; Rom. 10:15).

The Christian is made ready not only to defensively stand firm against Satan's attacks, but also you are properly equipped by God with readiness to take the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is our peace, to the nations (cf. 2:14, 17; Col. 4:6).

4.  Taking up the shield of faith (v. 16) -- the shield Paul describes was not a small round one that left most of the body unprotected.  Rather, Paul uses the word that describes that large shield carried by Roman soldiers that would be used to completely protect the body against every assault of the enemy.  The OT often speaks of Yahweh as the shield of His people into whom they take refuge (Ps. 18:2, 30, 35; 28:7; Prov. 30:5).  Paul speaks of the shield of faith which refers to faith itself as the shield of the believer.  Faith is the means of laying a hold of God's faithful promises of the gospel of Christ in the field of battle.  Peter says:

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (1 Pet. 5:8-9).

Paul attaches the promises that this faith "will be able" to extinguish the burning arrows of the evil one.  The Roman soldiers would soak their shields in water so that arrows that had been dipped in pitch and set on fire would be immediately extinguished upon impact.  Paul uses the language of "burning arrows" to speak of every kind of attack launched by the devil and his minions against the people of God -- every kind of temptation to ungodly behavior, doubt, despair, false teaching, etc.  If we were left to our own strength and power we would have no hope in such deadly attacks.  But we are called to take up faith, which really means to rely upon Christ's strength with absolute trust and confidence that His mighty power is able to cause us to stand firm.  

5.  Take the helmet of salvation (v. 17) --  the helmet of Roman soldiers was made of bronze and had cheek pieces to give protection to the head.  In Isaiah, God wears the helmet of salvation as he saves his people and judges their enemies (Isa. 59:17).  Again, the salvation of God is the helmet the believer wears.  God has made us alive in Christ, raised us up and seated us in the heavenlies all by the grace that He has lavished upon us according to His kind mercy.  Salvation is of God alone and as we contemplate more and more what God has done in Christ we will be able to stand firm in bold confidence of the outcome of the battle. 

6.  (Take) the sword of the Spirit/word of God (v. 17) -- Finally, the sword that Paul mentions here is a short-handled sword which was used by Roman soldiers in hand-to-hand combat.  Here Paul emphasizes the fiery, close combat into which we will experience by the powers of darkness.  Paul speaks of the "sword of the Spirit" which he then explains is the "word of God."  The author of Hebrews describes the word of God:

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb. 4:12).

The soldier's sword would not only be a defensive weapon, but it would also be used offensively.  Paul often uses the phrase, "the word of God" to describe the gospel which is proclaimed by the power of the Spirit of God.  The believer, in union with Christ, is to take the sword of the Spirit into the Satanic kingdom of darkness and proclaim it in the power of the Spirit, conquering new territory and securing the elect into the kingdom of God's marvelous light.  As the sword of the gospel goes forth in the realm of spiritual darkness, men and women who are held by Satan's sway will be set free through the Spirit's life-giving transformation through the word of Christ. 

When the apostles speak of this spiritual warfare and how it is most often manifested in the life of the church they see the spiritual forces of wickedness and evil as using men and women to spoil and contaminate the truth and the simplicity of the gospel of Christ (cf. 4:14; 2 Cor. 11:1-4, 13-15).  Those who would add any kinds of works to the gospel of the absolute sufficiency of Christ are being used in Satan's deceitful schemes to try and thwart the plan of God in summing up all things, whether in the heavens or on the earth, under Christ.  To add even one work to the gracious gift of salvation is to deny all glory to God by declaring man's work as sufficient and necessary to complete what is lacking in Christ.  Even those who would add "faith" as man's work or his own ability to believe is one of Satan's deadly weapons used to attack the bride of Christ.  In other words, anything that takes your eyes off of Christ and puts them on anything else surely finds in origin in the kingdom of darkness and therefore can only be destroyed by the power of the gospel of grace.

Why Is God Doing All of This Through Us?

(God's Armor is Both Defensive and Offensive)

Finally, we must ask why (or for what ultimate end) is God working in us in this way? 

First, defensively . . . 

Second, offensively . . .  (to make His name great among the nations). 

Finally, and ultimately, to make His name great even among the spiritual forces of evil as they are brought in complete subservience to Christ (cf. 3:8-10).  God wants to display his incredible and manifold wisdom for all to see, even those who have been opposed to him from the very beginning.

Amen!

-SDG-