Last night we continued looking at Paul’s description of the Armor of God in Ephesians 6. Here’s the outline:
6:13
Paul is drawing on “Divine Warrior” imagery from Isaiah 11:4-5, 59:15-17, 52:7
6:14
“Girded” here is the same word as Luke 12:35, see also Is 11:5. For what Paul means by “truth” here in Ephesians, see 1:13, 4:21-5, 5:9. Satan fights by spreading lies to determine people’s thoughts and decisions. We fight by searching out, understanding, and speaking truth to others, and by letting it shape our thoughts and decisions.
“Righteousness” – This righteousness is God’s own in Is 59:17, and then worked out practically in us in Ephesians 5:9, so it’s part of the new man in 4:24, hence 5:1. (It’s God’s own righteousness given to us, donned and therefore coming out of us outwardly.) Satan fights with sin—he promotes behavior that deviates from God’s good character, we let God’s righteousness, his very character, define and shape us.
6:15
For the idea of having our “feet fitted’ see Paul’s reference in Isaiah 52:7. For the idea of “preparation” or “readiness” see what Peter says about it in 1 Peter 3:15. Notice here Paul calls the Gospel the “Gospel of Peace.” Why “of peace”“? See Ephesians 2:14-17, 3:3,6, 8-10 and 1:7-10 to see this theme in Ephesians. One thing God has done in the work of Christ is begin the total reconciliation of this fractured universe by dealing with the source of the fracture–sin. So Paul is also picking up on Isaiah’s themes here. See Isaiah 52:7, 40:9-11, where the Gospel is the good news of God is doing (will do) to bring justice and reconciliation to the universe, specifically, God and Man. Satan fights by introducing wedges of sin and judgment everywhere, he fractures. We fight by being prepared and ready to bring the news of what God has done to repair all of that.
6:16
Lack of faith is what is killing everyone. Failure to believe God. We fight by constantly, actively trusting God and His word even in dangerous circumstances. This trust in God is the key to not falling when we’re personally attacked.
6:17
For Paul’s idea of the “helmet” see 1 Thessalonians 5:8, where it is the hope of salvation: What God did, has done for us now in the present, and what He will do… (see Ephesians 2:5-6 for our present status in salvation)
Think about the “sword.” Do you know how to “wield” God’s word—how to use it to fight off: temptation, despair, unbelief, distraction, laziness, lies, in yourself and others…?
6:18
We must learn to continually pray, especially for other believers…