Study of Ephesians

Week 21

Ephesians 6:10-17

Paul is nearing the end of his letter to the young, mostly Gentile, Christians in Ephesus. He has taught them who they are in Christ and about their new identity in Him. He then proceeded to teach them how to walk as Christ followers.

 

In our focus passage this week, Paul shifts his teaching from a physical earthly kingdom to a spiritual one.

 

He begins with a powerful admonition.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”

Ephesians 6:10-11

 

Be strong in the Lord… in order to stand firm.

 

Paul knew all too well the schemes and attacks of the enemy.

He also knew just how much more powerful his Heavenly Father was and the victory we can all have because of the overcoming blood of Christ. 

 

Paul takes this next verse to teach them about a spiritual world they could not physically see.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

 

The struggle is not against flesh and blood. View the source of the problem for what it is:

“Against the rulers”… of darkness.

“Against the powers”… of darkness.

“Against the forces”… of darkness.

“Against the spiritual forces of wickedness….

 

Sounds pretty ominous, doesn’t it? But Paul then goes on to tell them how they can live a victorious life against this darkness. 

 

Stand firm in the Lord and suit up! Ephesians 6:13

 

Paul uses a natural picture, once again, to illustrate a spiritual reality.

He calls for us to suit up in armor, the full armor of God, full, lacking nothing!

 

First, Paul calls us to “gird our loins with truth.” Ephesians 6:14

“To gird” in this context is to “equip oneself with the knowledge of the truth.” (1) 

The truth, of course, is the word of God. Putting on and surrounding ourselves, as with a belt, in God’s Word provides ultimate protection for the believer.

 

The next component of the armor is the “breastplate of righteousness.” Ephesians 6:14

We know, as Christians, that all of our righteousness is in Him. We bring nothing to the table. His righteousness is the very “breastplate” that guards our heart. I think of this verse also written by Paul. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

The third part of our spiritual armor is the “shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15

 As Christ followers, we are called to walk in peace.  It should be a hallmark of every believer. Paul wrote this to the people of Rome, “How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news to good things!”  Romans 10:15

 

Next, “and take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16 

The shield of faith, pistis, as we have learned, originates with God. “The Lord continually births faith in the yielded believer.”(2)

What flaming missiles have been hurled at you, ones meant to steal and destroy your faith? A divorce, a sudden loss, financial hardship or shattered relationships? We have all experiences their impact, haven’t we? But how grateful I am for a faith that is sure and solid, because it is not based on me. My job is to just yield myself to Him, and He administers the faith needed to extinguish any flaming missile hurled my way.

 

Now, “take up the helmet of salvation…” Ephesians 6:17

As I pray this part of the armor on, I marry it with these two verses. “But we have the mind of Christ” and I “cast down every lofty thought that has raised itself up against the knowledge of Christ.”  1 Corinthians 2:16 and 2 Corinthians 10:5, respectively.

Paul knew all too well how the enemy would use our wrong thoughts as a way to destroy our faith. Guard the mind of Christ.

 

Paul completes his instruction of the armor of God with this, “and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17 Knowing about the Bible will not destroy the works of the enemy. But using that knowledge, His word, however, “is sharper than any two edged sword.”Hebrews 4:12   His word, lifted up, declared to the heavens in worship and in prayer, literally breaks the hold of the enemy. He must flee.

James 4:7

 

What a powerful passage we have looked at today. But what a necessity as Christians to daily stand firm and suit up!

 

Footnotes

(1) Ephesians 6:14 Lexicon, BibleHub.com. Accessed May 2022.  https://biblehub.com/lexicon/ephesians/6-14.htm

(2) Faith, Pistis. Strong’s Concordance. Biblehub.com. Accessed May 2022. https://biblehub.com/greek/4102.htm