Meant for More [part 3]

This is the last message in our series on the letter of Ephesians. I have said all along that the Apostle Paul writes this letter with a rather focused idea in mind. He is writing to the church in Ephesus about what the life of faith looks like after accepting and receiving the gospel. He is not trying to convince this church in Ephesus to believe the gospel (they already do believe); he is trying to convince them of the difference their faith ought to make in their lives right here and now because they believe the gospel of Jesus. Paul is saying here in the Bible that our lives are meant for more because of the faith we have in Jesus.

Bible does not talk much about the topic of spiritual warfare

Today’s passage from Ephesians 6 is somewhat curious. It is a passage about battle armor. There are certainly plenty of passages in the Bible that talk about battles and war—that is not unusual. What is unusual about this passage is the way it is framed as a spiritual battle. The Bible does not talk much about this topic. So, even though we are looking at this section of Ephesians today, I want to be careful that we do not overly obsess about the topic of spiritual warfare. If the Bible does not devote much attention to the issue of spiritual warfare, then we probably should not devote too much attention to it as well.

Spiritual warfare can be an interesting and captivating topic. Author Frank Peretti made a bit of a name for himself writing novels like This Present Darkness several decades ago with stories about spiritual warfare. Or perhaps you’ve read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis which is also a story about spiritual activity involving demons. October is the time of year when Halloween movies can sometimes depict stories about demonic activity and spiritual struggles between good and evil. Our world has a fascination with spiritual activity between cosmic forces of good and evil. It is no wonder that a passage in the Bible talking about armor for a spiritual battle might captivate our imaginations.

see chapter 6 within the larger context of the letter of Ephesians as a whole

But there is a key to understanding this passage about spiritual armor in Ephesians that I think fits well. I think the key here is to see these words in chapter 6 within the larger context of the letter of Ephesians as a whole. And since this is the last message in a series on Ephesians, I think we are in a great spot today to hear these verses within the larger message of Ephesians.

Ephesians 6:10–20 (NIV)

Ephesians 6:10–20 NIV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

no secret battle plan power held by each piece of armor

Taking the verses of this passage and looking only at these verses apart from the rest of Ephesians can get us off track rather quickly. In the larger message of Ephesians, it does not seem to make much sense that Paul would suddenly divert the focus of this letter to analyzing and describing the details of spiritual warfare. So, it does not do anything constructive for us to sit with a passage like this and try to figure out exactly what spiritual power is held by each one of the pieces of armor listed here as though there is a secret battle plan hidden in these words that will take ordinary people like us and position us to be spiritual warriors capable of waging spiritual battle with powerful and victorious results. That simply does not fit with anything else that is here in the letter of Ephesians.

Why does Ephesians bring up the topic of spiritual warfare?

But that leaves us with the question of trying to figure out what these words about spiritual armor mean in the larger picture of Ephesians. It might help for us to consider where Paul is getting this imagery from in the first place. It seems that Paul is taking this from the prophet Isaiah, which describes the attributes of God in various places using metaphors of armor.

Isaiah 11:5 (NIV)

Isaiah 11:5 NIV

5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

Isaiah 52:7 NIV

7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 59:17 (NIV)

Isaiah 59:17 NIV

17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

armor is meant to describe the attributes of God

It is not so much that Ephesians is describing the necessary equipment for spiritual battle as it is drawing from Old Testament imagery in Isaiah to describe the attributes of God. But Paul is giving us a new twist on these images from Isaiah. Now it is the church that wears these attributes. We have seen in earlier messages how the letter of Ephesians goes to great lengths describing our union with Christ. Because our identity is now located in Christ, we are clothed in these attributes of God.

three commands in this passage: to stand firm, to be strong, and to put on the full armor of God

We don’t catch it in the English translation of the Greek, but each of these commands in Ephesians 6 is plural, not singular. There are basically three commands in this passage: to stand firm, to be strong, and to put on the full armor of God. The rest of this passage explains how it is that we stand firm, be strong, and put on the armor of God. But it is directed collectively to the church, not individuals. It would be a mistake to read this passage and try to find some individual application of how to stand firm, and be strong, and put on the armor of God isolated apart from the rest of God’s people.

cannot do this apart from the rest of God’s people

This, too, fits with what we have already seen in other places of Ephesians. A few weeks ago I tried to describe for us how the church is kind of like a guacamole using the words from Ephesians 4 about all the different talents and abilities given to different people in the church. Being a Christian is very much a team sport, and these words about spiritual armor are meant for all of us together as a whole, not just a bunch of individuals apart from each other.

how do we reconcile the obvious spiritual tone of this passage (vs 12)

But how do we reconcile the obvious spiritual tone of this passage with the rest of Ephesians? Look again at the words Paul uses to frame this discussion in verse 12.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Where could Paul possibly be going with this? It doesn’t seem to line up with the theme in the rest of this letter; or does it? Maybe that’s the key here—to see this bit about spiritual warfare and armor of God in light of the themes we have already been reading about in Ephesians. Consider with me what this theme in Ephesians looks like. I have been saying all along that Ephesians is about the way we live in response to receiving and believing the gospel. We have been reading over the past weeks in Ephesians about the way Paul tells us that we are meant for more.

Eph 1 — God predestines his people to be his gathered church Eph 2 — God saves his people by grace and unites us with Christ Eph 3 — God includes diverse people in his gathered church (Jews & gentiles) Eph 4 — God’s gives different abilities to build up his people in unity together Eph 4-6 — examples of relationships that display this (all of the above)

Chapter 1 is about the way we are predestined by God to be set apart as his very own, and are then brought together by God to be part of his gathered people. Chapter 2 is about the way God has saved us by his grace so that together we may display the way in which God’s grace unites us with Christ. Chapter 3 is about the way God includes incredibly diverse people in his gathered church—especially in Ephesus this takes shape in the gathering of Jewish Christians together with gentile believers. Chapter 4 is about the way everyone who is a part of God’s gathered people brings different talents and abilities to be joined together. Paul summarizes this theme all together in chapter 4.

Ephesians 4:12–16 (NIV)

Ephesians 4:12–16 NIV

12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Then from the middle of chapter 4 through all of chapter 5 and into chapter 6 we see how Paul provides snapshots of this theme of unity in Christ using everyday examples in a variety of relationships—family relationships at home, and workplace relationships in society. These are examples that highlight for us the way in which our faith shows up in everyday life by the way we live together with one another.

spiritual battle echos contrast already displayed in Ephesians — ch 2 - dead in sin vs alive in Christ — ch 4 - drifted apart vs united together

So, what about this spiritual battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil which shows up in chapter 6? Consider the other places in Ephesians we have already seen contrast between the world of faith in Christ, and the world apart from faith in Christ. We first saw that contrast introduced in chapter 2 as a description of a world in which we were dead in sin, but have now been brought into a world of being alive in Christ (remember I illustrated that using two overlapping hula-hoops). This contrast shows up again in the way Paul summarizes the theme in Ephesians 4:12-16. Do you see the forces of good vs forces of evil contrast in those verses? Look at the contrast between verses 12-13, and then verse 14, and then back again in verses 15-16.

God pulls us together in Christ so that his people may have unity together in Christ

The point that Paul is making in Ephesians is that God pulls us together in Christ so that his people may have unity together in Christ. But here in chapter 6 we are reminded that our unity together in Christ is under attack. There are spiritual forces of evil who relentlessly try to make our unity in Christ a battlefield. When our faith is strong, it produces the good fruit of the gospel and results in exactly what Paul says in Ephesians—that the body of Christ is built up together and grows in love and unity. The good fruit of the gospel always brings people of faith closer together in unity as we are united with Christ. While it can never break the bond that Christ has made with us through the cross, the spiritual attack against the gospel can and does go after our unity with one another. This is the description of spiritual warfare that Ephesians 6 wants us to see.

it is our unity in Christ that is under attack — God gives protection (spiritual armor)

belt of truth | breastplate of righteousness | feet fitted with the gospel of peace | shield of faith | helmet of salvation | sword of the word of God — gifts from God are given that our union together in Christ may be protected

What’s our takeaway from a passage like this? If we can recognize that the spiritual battlefield of our faith is one in which our unity together in Christ is the thing being attacked, then these attributes of God himself given to the church do, in fact, form the armor that protects us. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the word of God. These gifts from God are given that our union together in Christ may be protected. Paul says stand firm in that union we have together in Christ, be strong in that union we have together in Christ, ensure that we are surrounded by the protection given to us so that we may remain in our union together in Christ.

I think the takeaway for us here today is to recognize two things coming from these closing words from Ephesians. It is to recognize the nature of the attack against our faith, and it is to recognize where the attack against our faith is coming from.

nature of the attack against our faith

attack of evil against God’s people is going after the unity we have together as God’s people

First, the nature of the attack against our faith. Paul does not seem overly concerned in the New Testament about people reversing course of what they believe. It is not an attack on the gospel itself or the message about faith in Jesus. Paul is not concerned that people will somehow stop believing in Jesus. That is not the nature of spiritual attacks against God’s people. The attack of evil against God’s people is not going after what you believe about Jesus. The attack of evil against God’s people is going after the unity we have together as God’s people. The devil and his forces of evil know that the way to inflict spiritual harm is to go after our union together with Christ.

I wonder if this passage in Ephesians might be a helpful lens through which to see all the ways that division and disunity is so abundantly evident in our world, and may have connections to the spiritual attack taking place against God’s people. If the devil can infiltrate the world around us with so much division and hatred among one another, that division and hatred will work its way into the people of God’s church and break away at the unity which Paul states so strongly as the outcome of our faith to be pursued and protected.

division and disunity in our world ought to be recognized as an attack against our faith in Jesus

Could it be that trends towards division and disunity in our world ought to be recognized as an attack against our faith in Jesus? I think Paul’s framing of the issue here in Ephesians helps us to see the nature of spiritual attack through that lens. And I think Paul’s description of battle armor reminds us that we are not defenseless against such attacks. God equips his church to stand strong together when we recognize that our union together in Christ is being targeted.

source of the attack against our faith

sin is the enemy of God’s people

And secondly, a takeaway about recognizing where the attack is coming from. It would be good for us to recognize that the attack against our faith is spiritual. We should acknowledge who the enemy against our faith really is. The enemy that Christ took to the cross and defeated there is the enemy of sin and death. Sin is the enemy of God’s people. While our victory over sin is assured in the victory of Jesus over sin, you and I are still people who are been into a sinful world and born with a sinful nature. Sin is our enemy.

our battle is not against flesh and blood—people are not the enemy our battle is against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms—sin is the enemy

I think it is good to recognize that because I wonder sometimes if we misidentify the enemy. We live in a world that tries to identify certain other people as being the enemy. Today’s passage reminds us that our battle is not against flesh and blood—people are not the enemy. Our battle is against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms—sin is the enemy. As people of faith who acknowledge that all humans are made in the image of God and all life has value because we bear God’s image, we need to stop identifying people as enemies, and start identifying sin as the enemy. People are not the problem; sin is the problem. So, stop trying to fight against other people; that only tears our unity further apart. And start fighting the battle where the enemy is attacking, the sin which seeks to grab hold of your life and tear you away from our unity together.