Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Paul has just written of the implications of the gospel for several different relationships. Now, Paul, once again, exhorts the believers, in Ephesus, and Christians today, to prepare for the enemy’s attacks, no matter their station in life. His teaching on God’s armor simply advances his outline of the gospel’s consequences. Though Ephesians was written as a summary of Christian doctrine, theological knowledge is never intended merely to satisfy our intellectual curiosity. Paul did not tell us about the gospel and the church’s purpose so that we could sit back and relax. No, Paul taught these things that we might obey God’s will in the power of the Holy Spirit as we participate in the kingdom’s expansion. As we know the enemy we face and learn how to defeat him, our efforts to live out the gospel will not be for nothing. New Testament Scripture lists our main enemies as the world, the flesh, and the devil, all of whom are formidable indeed. These enemies are under the control of the prince of the power of the air and to fight any of these is to fight Satan himself. Paul it says this way, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” To stand against the world, to fight our sinful nature and, to stand against the Evil One, is to stand against Satan directly. God’s armor is the only equipment that can be used in the fight against Satan. This armor God supplies to His people, for He strengthens us to live for Him as the psalmist writes in Psalm 18. Our Lord wears such armor to battle His foes, according to Isaiah 59. This armor is God Himself through such terms as truth and righteousness, which we “wear” as armor. The Armor of God encompasses all these for they make up the whole armor of God. God strengthens us against Satan. Standing in Christ, we can live out the gospel. John Calvin comments, “There will be no danger which may not be successfully met by the power of God; nor will any who, with [the whole armor of God], fight against Satan, fail in the day of battle.” Daily, we must remember our identity in Christ, put on His graces and cast off our rebellious impulses. In so doing, we are guaranteed success in our spiritual conflicts and are assured of a hero’s welcome in Glory.
Source: S C Ball February 11, 2024
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