Biblically speaking the enemies of Christians are often divided into three categories: the flesh, the world, and Satan. Already in Ephesians, Paul has made mention of these three, “And you were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-3). While in Jesus Christ the power of these three has been broken, there is still a sense in which we “wrestle” against them. For instance, in Romans 7 a post-conversion Paul struggles with a principle of indwelling sin; as Christians we’re not “of” the world, but we’re still “in” the world; and though the heel has crushed the serpent’s head, still the day is coming when we he will crush Satan under our feet (Romans 16:20). As Christians we live within the tension of the already-not-yet. Already these things have been accomplished, though not yet are they fully realized.

So while Christ “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 2:15), we are still in the battle, and the enemy is not yet off the field, therefore Paul tells us to “wrestle” (Ephesians 6:12). And his particular focus in Ephesians 6 is the one enemy, Satan, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). It’s important to see that Paul isn’t here advocating spooky and pagan demonology, but he is dealing with a reality of the Christian life, we wrestle against spiritual forces epitomized in Satan and his forces. An enemy he says, who has “schemes” and is empowered by “cosmic power.” That’s a big enemy! That’s a strong enemy! And Satan is hellbent on destroying bodies and souls, even of the elect if he could (Mark 13:22). So Ephesians 6 calls us to action, to prepare for and engage in an irreconcilable war with those who have made the Lamb, and Him who sits on the Throne, and the seven-fold Spirit before the Throne, their greatest enemy. So in light of this:

1. First, let us examine our own hearts: Many boast of wanting heaven, but few have the resolve to fight for it; many profess the name of Jesus, but few follow him into battle. For too many the Christian life isn’t characterized by struggle, or by resistance, or by courage and striving and contending, it’s characterized by a life of ease. But true saving faith breeds a warlike spirit. The normal posture of the Christian is a battle-stance.
2. Secondly, let us be encouraged to stand fast: Three times in Ephesians 6 Paul says, “stand fast” or rather “oppose and rebel against” (vv. 11, 13). Victory is certain in Christ Jesus, and so we have every reason to oppose Satan and rebel against the powers and principalities of this world, which we do by putting on the full armor of God. The Christian is the warrior who contends, and though he falls, says, “Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise” (Micah 7:8). Jesus says in Revelation that to the one who overcomes he will give a right to eat from the tree of life (2:7). Take your orders then, Christian, and prepare for war.

The Christian life is often defined by different postures: sitting, walking, and standing. In fact, one of the internal structural outlines of Ephesians is based on these postures. Paul tells us that we’re seated with Christ in heavenly places (2:6), that we are to walk worthy of our calling-not as Gentiles, in love, in the light, and in wisdom (4:1, 17, 5:2, 8, 15), and that we are to stand against the wiles of the devil (6:11). It’s this third posture that I’m going to focus on in a series of posts about the armor of God. But before we get to the pieces of armor, we need to focus on the context of the war.

Out of all that Paul has written to the Ephesians he has yet one more thing remaining, “Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might” (6:10). The verb “be strong” is an imperative, it’s a command. To be Christians we need to be strong. That’s kind of hard for us to understand. Our sinful nature is pampered by the culture we live in, a culture that has grown increasingly comfortable; and with great comfort often comes great weakness. A person who seldom exercises his muscles will experience progressive atrophy. So too when we fail to discipline our lives according to grace, we degenerate, we waste away. Ever notice your convictions weakening, your resolve lessening as you yield again and again to temptation? That’s spiritual atrophy. But the default position of Christians is anything but complacency. Paul says we must be strong–strong in conviction, strong in resolve, strong against sin, strong against the world, strong against the devil, and strong in faith.

This command would be altogether useless if we were left to our own strength, but we’re not. Paul doesn’t say, “Be strong on your own,” but, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.” Even this is one of those spiritual blessings wherein we have been blessed in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). Many agree that power here indicates the attribute of God, what we call his omnipotence. That is, he is altogether powerful–he is El Shaddai. In Job 26, Job reflects on that power when he considers all that God has done: how he helps and saves, how the dead tremble, Sheol is naked before him, he sets the boundaries for waters, covers the face of the moon, sets the boundary between light and darkness, stills the sea, etc, etc. And then in verse 14 he says, “Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” That’s his power, but his might is his ability to do. It’s one thing to be powerful, it’s another thing to exercise that power. Simply, God is able to do. The wonderful thing is, God’s power and his might are supremely displayed in the person and work of Jesus Christ, in his becoming man, in his dying on the cross, in his rising in victory, in his exaltation to the right hand of power, and in the saving of his people.

This, the Apostle says, is how we are to be strong. It must be “in him,” but it’s in him who is altogether powerful and able to do all things. As Paul prepares us for the battle, he reminds us that our union with Christ is the only way we can take up this defensive posture of standing. Like Isaiah wrote, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (59:19), but apart from him, we will be slain. Oh to know “what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power” (Ephesians 1:19). What a powerful encouragement for the war!