Ephesians 6:10-17 Full Armor of God

Review

Paul’s Purpose in 1st Three Chapters:

God’s Greatness, Power and Love: Throughout this letter Paul has pointed the thoughts of the Ephesians to the greatness, power and love of God.

Full & Correct Understanding of Salvation: All of the truth that Paul has set forth in these first three chapters was meant to give the Ephesians a correct understanding of their salvation and their standing in the church.

The first three chapters should have led us to a deeper understanding of our salvation, of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Those truths that we covered are a great comfort and encouragement and should lead us to stand in awe of God, to praise Him for Who He is and thank Him for what he has done.

Chapter 4

Because of these great truths of our salvation, Paul has called for radical changes in the life of the believer because the believer has been radically changed.

And in chapters 4-6 Paul gives explicit instruction for how believers are to live and how they are not to live. He calls believers to put off the old life and to put on the new. All of which is in the context of our relationships with others.

Paul has called for humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, love, unity and peace.

He has called us to lay aside falsehood and instead to speak truth, to be angry and yet not sin. He has called for bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and all malice to be replaced by kindness, tender-heartedness and forgiveness.

Chapter 5

The worthy walk is a life of imitating God, walking in love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.

The worthy walk is a walk of self-sacrifice for the sake of others.

It is walking in the light rather than in darkness, it is a life that rejects immorality of every kind, but instead exposes the unfruitful deeds of darkness.

Submission - Paul calls believers to be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. That is, out of reverence, respect for Christ, believers are to put themselves under other believers. They are not to demand their own ways but look out for the interest of others.

The chapter finishes with Paul begining to show how submission works on the life of the believer. He begins to explain submission in the various relationships. In chapter 5 he explains submission in the context of the family, Husbands and Wives. In doing so he compares the relationship of husband and wife with the relationship of Christ and the Church.

The marriage relationship is a Picture of the Gospel!

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 begins with a continued explanation of what it means to live a life of submission. Paul moves on to Children and Parents and then to Slaves and Masters.

In all of this submission, Paul makes it clear that it is to be done “In the Lord” or “as to the Lord”. Submission must always be in the context of Christ! Our submission is motivated by our submission to Christ and never goes beyond what Christ would allow.

Introduction

Ephesians 6:10–17 NASB95

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Spiritual Battle

Ephesians 6:10–12 NAS

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

Strong in the Lord

The strength comes from the Lord. It is His strength and not ours.

Charles Hodges s

Therefore, whoever rushes into this conflict without thinking of Christ, without putting his trust in him, and without continually looking to him for strength and regarding himself as a member of his body, deriving all life and vigor from him, is demented

Armor of God

Paul was likely chained to a Roman soldier and was looking at his armor when penning this letter.

While the strength is the Lords, we still need to put on what God has provided, the full armor of God.

We are to put it on before the battle comes so that we will be able to stand firm in the face of the schemes of the devil.

The Real Enemy

Ephesians 6:12 NAS

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.

Who is the real enemy?

It is the devil and his demons.

It is a spiritual battle.

If the battle is spiritual and the enemy the devil and his demons, how does this fit into the context of the letter? Why does Paul bring this up here?

Context: Unity In the body of Christ. Unity between Jew and Gentile

Walking worthy of the Calling with which you have been called

Immediate Context: Authority and Responsibilities in the Christian’s Relationships

Paul’s point Is that there is going to be challenges in relationships: in the home, in the workplace and in the church body.

But the battle, while manifested in this life with these people, is ultimately not with them, but with the devil and his demons.

And the battle goes beyond those relationships with other believers.

Paul will continue on and request prayer for himself in verse 19 that he would be bold in his proclamation of the Gosepel in spite of his circumstances.

Standing Firm in the Full Armor of God

Ephesians 6:13 NAS

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Put on the full armor, not just parts of it.

Resist in the day of Evil:

Day of Trial: The day that the enemy attacks. Not some future, end times day, but a definite day. a day in the daily life of the believer.

Belt of Truth

Physical:. A belt was used to pull up the robe and secure it out of the way so that the soldier could move freely.

Spiritual:. Truth

What is truth that is mentioned here?

Word of God - not exactly.

Word of God considered, known and believed

Hodge says: But it means truth subjectively considered—that is, the knowledge and belief of the truth. This is the first and indispensable qualification for a Christian soldier. To enter this spiritual conflict ignorant or doubting would be to enter battle blind and lame.

Knowledge and belief of the truths in Chapters 1-3. Just as the belt gives freedom to the soldier, the belt of truth, the knowledge and belief of the truths of the gospel as applied to us, gives us freedom for the spiritual battle.

Hodge continues, Truth alone, abiding in the mind in the form of divine knowledge, can give strength of confidence even in the ordinary conflicts of the Christian life, and much more in any really evil day.

Breastplate of Righteousness

Physical: Covered front and back of a person - Neck to thighs.

Spiritual: Righteousness

What is this spiritual righteousness?

Our own righteousness? Can our righteousness protect us fully? No because we are not fully righteous.

Christ’s Righteousness?

Philippians 3:8–9 (NASB95)

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

and may be found in Him, 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,

Paul was not relying on his own righteousness but the righteousness of CHrist.

Christ’s righteousness guards us against the accusations of the enemy - you are not good enough, you are not righteous, you sinner!. Yes, you are right, I am not good enough, but Christ is!

Shoes - Gospel of Peace

Ephesians 6:15 NAS

and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Physical: Shod your feet. Swiftness of foot,

Spiritual: Gospel gives us security and peace knowing we have the favor of God.

*****ADD MORE*****

We have the peace of God

We are firm and sure footed, immovable in the face of the enemy.

Ready to joyfully preach the gospel.

Romans 10:15 NASB95

How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6:16

Ephesians 6:16 NAS

in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Physical: Shields were very tall and covered the whole body.

Spiritual: Faith protects the believer in battle.

This is referring to our faith in Christ that saves us.

Flaming Arrows

Physical: Not only pierced what they hit but also caught things on fire

Spiritual: The devil attacks - temptations

Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians 6:17 NAS

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Physical: Helmet - most ornamental part of the armor.

Spiritual: Salvation is what adorns the Christian and allows him/her to hold their head up with confidence and joy.

Sword of the Spirit

Physical: Sword

Spiritual: The word of God is what the Spirit uses to fight the battle.

The only offensive weapon.

Hebrews 4:12 NASB95

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.

The Word of God is powerful. It is the wisdom of God.

Application