Be Strong in the Lord
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:11
Ephesians 6:10–24 – Learning to Live Under the Reign of Christ
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Life in the Spirit – September 1, 2024 (am)
We’re coming to the end of Ephesians already, even as we’re coming to the end of the summer. Learning to Live Under the Reign of Christ, that’s been our title. And we can surely see how that is Paul’s intent in this remarkable letter. He tells us how the reign of Christ was established in fulfillment of the mystery of [God’s] will, hidden for ages but now revealed through the church (3:9-10), His purpose and plan to unite all things in [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth (1:9-10)—Jew and Gentile together in one body, both reconciled to God by one and the same means.
He accomplished this by sending His Son into the world as an expression of His saving, cleansing love which He granted in kindness as a gift given by His grace to all who will receive it through faith (2:4-7). And then those so blessed (1:3) can not only be strengthened in faith in their inner being, but can also know the love of Christ so deeply, so fully, that the only way to describe it is that they’re filled with all the fullness of God (3:14-19).
Then came the big transition. All who believe are urged to live in a manner worthy of [this stunning] calling [they’ve received] (4:1), to live in the gift of grace God has given with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (4:1-3), a unity they’ve inherited (1:11), having been joined as family (3:15) through trusting in the cross of Christ (2:15-16), but now develop.
The equipping that comes through the gifts Jesus has given enables this body to grow in a unity that’s marked by doctrinal likemindedness and truthful love spoken and lived out in kindness and tenderhearted forgiveness of one another in imitation of Christ (4:7-5:2). Selfless love is the defining characteristic of this new community; they wouldn’t even consider using one another for personal gratification, but rather, build up one another, encouraging one another with Scripture and song and, serving one another in any and all ways, each counting the others as more significant than [him/herself] (4:17-5:21 [Phi.2:3]).
Within the body, though, are also subsets of relationships that have unique defining characteristics—marriage and family and the workplace (5:22-6:9).
Fallen, sinful wives are called to the seemingly impossible task of submitting to [their] fallen, sinful husbands as an act of obedience to God in Christ, to respect them in their role as head of the home. And then husbands are called to love [their] wives so self-sacrificially in imitation of Christ that their wives actually flourish in their calling, finding it not just pleasant but desirable, and growing in holiness as a result (5:22-33).
Children should obey their parents, and not just because that’s where they best learn to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, but because it pleases the Lord (cf. Col.320), and so much that He rewards it! Fathers, then, should seek to make their children’s calling both pleasant and spiritually productive much as they did with their wives (6:1-4).
Finally, bondservants, slaves (niv), were called to pursue their work as though they worked for Christ. But masters were called to do the same, to stop [any harsh treatment] recognizing that they will answer to the same Master as their slaves do—to God in heaven (6:5-9).
That’s a summary of what Paul’s written in this letter up to this point—the gospel foundation (cc.1-3) and the walk that should result (cc.4-6) as God’s people live into and live out the salvation He’s provided, the new self He enables them to put on in Christ (4:20-24). Now, finally (6:10) is the next word, giving clear indication that Paul’s headed for home in this letter. But also, given where this word appears and what follows it, I believe what he’s intending us to hear in this closing instruction is what’s needful for us to continue walking in a manner worthy of [our] calling (4:1) in all the areas of our lives that haven’t received direct instruction. This is the bottom-line summary. It covers all that’s left. But it also lets us know we’ll get some pushback along the way. Let’s take this closing section in two parts.
Final Charge toward Spiritual Strength, Stability, and Power – 10-20
This feels like such a familiar passage to us, this call to 10 … be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might, to 11 put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil, recognizing that 12 … we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, we can’t see our enemies, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, in summary, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. They’re stronger than us, and also invisible.
You know one piece of really good news that comes to us immediately from this assessment? If we think we can see, point out, the one who’s causing us trouble, the one who poses the biggest problems in our life, we’re mis-identifying our enemy. This is likely true across the board for us mere mortals, but it’s surely true for those of us who’ve trusted Christ as Savior. And this insight should make a big difference in our lives, how we relate.
A second insight that I believe is even bigger and better news is introduced as we read v.13. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God…. This is a key description. Too often we hear that this imagery arises from Paul’s sitting bound in the presence of Roman soldiers dressed for battle, that he builds his illustration using the equipment he sees there. But that point of reference just doesn’t seem best. Each piece of armor had already been introduced in Scripture as truly the armor of God, the armor that God himself dons to rescue his people (Duguid).
14 … the belt of truth references Isa.11 as the Messiah, the branch from the stump of Jesse (Isa.11:1) Who delights in the fear of the Lord (Isa.11:3), is promised to enter Israel’s darkness and deliver them into the blessing of God. Isa.11:5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness (lxx ἀλήθεια) the belt of his loins. These will be the defining characteristics of His deliverance and reign.
14 … the breastplate of righteousness and 17 … the helmet of salvation… both draw from Isa.59, a text where we read that Isa.59:14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; the truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. 15 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil (or wants to) makes himself a prey. Does this sound familiar? Sounds sort of like our days, doesn’t it? The Lord saw [all this], and it displeased him that there was no justice. So, He had to take matters into His own hands to deliver and bless His people. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. He suited up for war to defeat all His enemies (Isa.59:18), to restore righteousness and bring salvation. 19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives. He will get the job done.
As for the 15 … shoes [of] the readiness given by the gospel of peace, in only three texts do these three words feet, [good news] (gospel), and peace appear together: here, Nah.1:15 and Isa.52:7. And the Isa. passage stands behind each of the other two. Because of that, it seems best to read Paul as meaning what Isaiah meant in recording this image: the readiness given by the gospel isn’t referring to some sort of readiness that’s worked within us but a readiness to bring the gospel (Duguid), to proclaim it as Isa.52-type heralds, announcing the peace and salvation it brings.
16 … the shield of faith isn’t spotlighting our faith in God, but God as the Object of our faith, as the One Who is faithful to protect us from every form of attack. This image runs all through the OT (Duguid). Psa.28:5 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped…. Pro.30:5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Gen.15:1 … the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Faith becomes our shield in Paul’s imagery because it is the means by which we flee to God for refuge (Duguid). And He will be faithful.
17 … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God is really sweet. Isa.49 begins the second of four servant songs. As it opens, the servant himself confesses: Isa.49:1 … The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow…. This servant is the promised Messiah Who must come both to bring back Israel [Isa.49:5] (God’s original servant [Isa.49:3] who failed in his calling) and then fulfill that mission, to bring light to the nations, that [God’s] salvation may reach to the end of the earth [Isa.49:6]. Surely, then, the word of God is in view here, but not just the Bible. This sword is the word of God that was in the mouth of Jesus. It was the message of God’s salvation at Jesus’ first coming (Luk.19:10). And when He returns, it will be for judgment (Duguid). Rev.19:15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword (cf. Rev.1:16) with which to strike down the nations…. But surely God is also using this sword today to cut through people’s defences, to prick their consciences and to stab them spiritually awake. Yet he also [gives it to us], so that we may use it both in resisting temptation (as Jesus did…) and in evangelism (Stott 282), that his salvation may reach to the end of the earth [Isa.49:6].
So, there’s the survey. This is God’s own armor that becomes ours in Christ. Through the gospel, the divine warrior gives us his equipment, which he wore first triumphantly in our place in his definitive struggle against the forces of evil (Duguid). Now it’s ours, 13 … that [we] may be able to withstand (stand [our] ground [niv]) in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, Paul wrote, with God’s own armor in place—girded by His truth, protected by His righteousness, bringing His gospel of peace…, even in the day when evil is on the rise, as it is today. Paul changed images from walk to stand here, suggesting stability, firmness, not lack of progress but holding firmly the ground we’ve already gained and 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Therein is our only hope to walk in a manner worthy of [our] calling (4:1), and Paul’s as well (19-20).
Final Greetings toward Peace, Love, Faith, and Grace – 21-24
Now for his closing, Tychicus was likely Paul’s secretary, to whom he dictated this letter, and perhaps was also the one who delivered it (also Colossians [cf. Col.4:7-8]). And he was quite possibly from Ephesus (Stott 288), as a number have observed.
But more edifying here in Paul’s final words to this church is the prayer-wish he expresses for them, likely in his own handwriting (cf. Gal.6:11; 2Th.3:17; 1Co.16:21; Col.4:18). There are two distinct prayer-wishes, the first in v.23 and the second in v.24, but they can be expressed in summary, and I would say: May our Father answer them here as well. Paul is expressing to them what only God could bring about, namely, that the members of [this] new [community] may live in harmony as brothers and sisters in God’s family, at peace and in love with him and with each other, together with a recognition that only by his grace can this dream come true (Stott 291).
Conclusion
So, what is our takeaway today? I think the key word from this text that we should take with us today toward helping us, as we’ve said, to live into and live out the rich content we’ve heard in this letter is, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. The presentation of the mystery of the gospel (cc.1-3), the instruction toward a worthy walk (cc.4-6), and this rich closing imagery on the armor of God (6:10-20), practical and helpful as all these are, theologically deep and wide, our only hope of experiencing the fullness of this teaching here in our body, or the outworking of it in our lives personally, is for us to grasp and embrace the core importance of v.18 and to press into all that it’s calling to understand and to do.
That old self which needs to be put off (4:22) is just too stubborn and entrenched for us to turn away from it out of sheer love for the beauty of the truth we encounter here. But all that we need is right here. All those spiritual blessings in the heavenly places with which we’ve been blessed in Christ (1:3) and just keep discovering in greater, richer depth as the letter progress, our only hope of experiencing them in this life is to 18 pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Our only hope as a church is for each of us, in increasing number, to … keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
That’s how Eph. will come alive among us and become a faithful description of our life in Christ and our Christian walk in Him and with one another. So, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called (4:1), praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication (6:18).
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Resources
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Bruce, F. F., Gordon D. Fee, & Ned B. Stonehouse., gen. eds. 1984. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians, by F. F. Bruce. Ephesians, 227-442. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Calvin, John. 1854. Commentary on the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians and Ephesians, trans, by William Pringle. Ephesians, 189-344. Logos.
Carson, D. A., ed. 1999. Pillar New Testament Commentary. The Letter to the Ephesians, by Peter T. O’Brien. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
, gen. ed. 2002. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary. Vol. 3, Romans-Philemon. Ephesians, by Clinton E. Arnold, 300-340. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Isaiah, by Derek Kidner, 629-670. Ephesians, by Max Turner, 1222-1244. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.
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Duguid, Iain. 2019. Sacred Weapons for Spiritual War. Desiring God, desiringgod.org/articles/sacred-weapons-for-spiritual-war.
Gasque, W. Ward, NT ed. 1993, second printing. New International Biblical Commentary. Vol. 10. Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, by Arthur G. Patzia. Ephesians, 121-294. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
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Hubbard, David A., & Glenn W. Barker. 1990. Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 42, Ephesians, by Andrew T. Lincoln. Dallas: Word.
Hughes, R. Kent. 1990. Preaching the Word. Ephesians: The Mystery of the Body of Christ, by R. Kent Hughes. Wheaton: Crossway.
Lloyd-Jones, D. Martyn. 2003, third printing. Ephesians, eight volumes. Grand Rapids: Baker.
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Keskin, Nancy. 2004. Ephesus, trans. by Anita Gillett. Istanbul: Keskin Color Kartpostalcilik.
Moule, H. C. G. 1977. Studies in Ephesians. Grand Rapids: Kregel.
Osborne, Grant R. 2017. Osborne New Testament Commentaries. Ephesians: Verse by Verse. Bellingham, WA: Lexham.
Sproul. R. C. 1994. The Purpose of God: An Exposition of Ephesians. Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus.
Stott, John, NT ed. 1979. The Bible Speaks Today. The Message of Ephesians, by John Stott. Downers Grove: InterVarsity.
NEXT SUNDAY: New Series: The Gospel of John, That You May Believe
And the Word Became Flesh, John 1:1–18