EPHESIANS: ETERNALLY ENCLOSED IN GOD’S PLAN

Part XXI: Putting On God’s Armor For The Angelic Conflict

(Ephesians 6:14-24)

I. Introduction

A. Paul wrote Ephesians to encourage believers of God’s work to edify the Church regardless what happened to him in his imprisonment (Ryrie St. Bible, KJV, 1978, p. 1672: “Intro. to the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians”).

B. Ephesians 6:14-24 shows how we are to put on God’s armor for the angelic conflict, and it gives Paul’s example of doing so in the conclusion of the epistle. We view this passage for our insight and application:

II. Putting On God’s Armor For The Angelic Conflict, Ephesians 6:14-24.

A. In Ephesians 6:14-18, Paul taught us believers how to put on the full armor of God for the angelic conflict:

1. Paul wrote to believers in this epistle (Ephesians 1:1), so every piece of the armor noted in Ephesians 6 does not refer to the salvation of the unsaved, but to the believer’s walk relative to the angelic conflict!

2. We thus note the following pieces of God’s armor for believers in facing the angelic conflict in their walk:

a. First, the believer must put on the belt of truth, that is, practice truth in his Christian life with complete “integrity and faithfulness.” (Ephesians 6:14a,b; Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 643)

b. Second, the believer must add “the breastplate of righteousness” (Eph. 6:14c), “the sanctifying righteousness of Christ . . . practiced in a believer’s life” by relying on the Holy Spirit, Gal. 5:16; Ibid.

c. Third, the believer must have his “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace,” Eph. 6:15 NIV. This phrase cites part of Isaiah 52:7 in the Septuagint (cf. U. B. S. Grk. N. T., 1966, p. 679), the Greek translation of the Old Testament in Paul’s day, and that passage praised the beauty of the feet of those who proclaim God’s salvation. Satanic attacks often occur around the time a believer is given an opportunity to witness, so with such attacks, a believer should be prepared to evangelize.

d. Fourth, the believer must take up the shield of faith by which he can extinguish all the flaming arrows of Satan, Ephesians 6:16. “The shield” was “made of wood, was about 2 ½ feet wide and 4 feet long. It was overlaid with linen and leather, to absorb fiery arrows. Thus it also protected the other pieces of the armor; hence Paul used the phrase, ‘In addition to all this.’” (op. cit., p. 643-644) The phrase, “‘Of faith’ is a genitive of content; the shield consists of faith. The idea . . . is that a Christian’s . . . faith in the Lord can stop and extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one . . .” (op. cit., p. 644; cf. 1 Peter 5:8-9a)

e. Fifth, the believer must receive the helmet of salvation (Eph. 6:17a), and since the believer is already justified, the “salvation” in this verse refers “either to present safety from the devil’s attacks or to a future deliverance, ‘the hope of salvation as a helmet’ (1 Thess. 5:8).” (Ibid.) A believer must then trust in God’s Scripture promises of victory in the angelic conflict (1 Peter 5:8-9a; James 4:7b et al.) and his coming deliverance from God’s wrath in hell (John 3:16 ) and the Tribulation Period (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11).

f. Sixth, the believer must take up the sword of the Holy Spirit, which is the Word of God, the Scriptures, Eph. 6:17b. This is the believer’s only offensive weapon in the angelic conflict, and Jesus used it in His temptation by Satan as Christ cited Scripture to thwart Satan, Matt. 4:1-11 (cf. 1 John 2:14b for believers).

g. Seventh, though Paul does not name a piece of armor for his last directive, the “manner in which a soldier takes up these last two pieces of armor is suggested by two Greek participles: ‘praying’ and ‘being alert,’” Eph. 6:18; Ibid. Thus, we treat these activities as if they were part of the armor, noting how we must pray continually in the power of the Holy Spirit with all kinds of prayers, keeping alert to Satan’s movements.

B. Then, in the conclusion of the epistle at Ephesians 6:19-24, Paul exampled how to put on God’s armor:

1. Moving smoothly from his call for his readers to pray for God’s intervention in angelic conflicts, Paul asked his readers to pray for him that whenever he spoke the gospel, words might be given to him that he might fearlessly clarify the gospel’s truths for which he was an ambassador in chains, Ephesians 6:19-20.

2. In his final greetings, Paul shared how he was sending Tychicus, a dear and fellow servant of the Lord, to report on Paul’s welfare in prison that his readers might be encouraged, Ephesians 6:21-22. Paul wanted to set his readers at ease lest Satan upset them about his circumstances to the harm of their faith!

3. In closing, Paul called for peace to his readers, and love with faith from God the Father and Christ, hoping that the grace of God might supportively be with them in God’s undying love, Ephesians 6:23-24.

Lesson: Believers must always wear God’s full spiritual armor to resist Satan’s attacks in the angelic conflict.

Application: May we put on and keep on the full armor of God to resist Satan’s attacks in the angelic conflict.