Wednesday, November 28, 2012

We Are At War


Introduction

            We’ve just gone through an extremely contentious election here in America that has left the country quite divided. This is nothing new, of course, when there is a two-party or multiple-party political environment. However, I sensed something very different taking place even before the highly publicized campaign season hit its stride. I sensed that there was a calculated effort to divide the country. Not along the lines of political ideology but along lines where division is unnatural and destructive. Some political leaders along with their political operatives recognized that it was easier to consolidate their power within smaller groups than it was within the larger populous. How was this accomplished? Division! Women were pitted against men with the “war on women” offensive. All non-whites where turned against whites with the liberal use of the “racism” card. The rich, pejoratively described as the “millionaires and billionaires,” were demonized consistently as victimizing the poor by building their wealth on the backs of the poor. Toward the end of the campaign, even children were shamefully used to blame their parents for all the ills of our country. Anyone who wasn’t supportive of the gay-rights agenda and same-sex marriage was labeled a “homophobe.” The elderly were constantly warned that those who were younger believed they were a strain on the financial system and might have to forfeit their social security and medical benefits. Union bosses fanned embers of hatred always present between its unionized constituency and management. And these were just a few of the divisions that were identified and manipulated. Political strategists might look at this and see an effective strategy but I see something deeply troubling and evil. We were not meant to be divided along any of these lines. This is not division based on ideas which might be natural since we are uniquely created individuals. This division is unnatural and evil with the final result being hatred of one another. And who benefits most when people hate each other? Temporally, people seeking power and fame might benefit by peoples’ hatred for one another but ultimately, Satan benefits when humanity is divided and bathed in hatred. We think that our difficulty is with people who have different ideas than we do. But differing ideas doesn’t create hate. As I said before, differing ideas are the result of uniquely created human beings. Instead, We Are At War against the Devil who uses sinful humanity to advance his cause of leading as many people away from God as possible. It is an age-old, yet brilliantly devious, strategy of turning humanity against one another. Hatred and division are the great obstacles to being in relationship with God. One cannot love God yet hate humanity (1 John 4:20; 21). Paul spoke of the unity of the Church in his letter to the church in Ephesus—the unity between all people: husbands and wives; children and parents; masters and slaves (See previous post—Title: The Power of Love and Submission; Label: Pastoral Care; Date: 11/14/12). In the context of Paul’s teaching about unity in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul uses a military illustration to make the point that We Are At War and that is the basis of this week’s lesson.

Subject Text

Ephesians 6:10-18

            10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Context

            Everything about Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is about unity. The language of unity permeates the entire letter from the very beginning. Paul tells the Ephesians that it is God’s will that all things in heaven and earth are to be brought together under the lordship of Christ (Eph. 1:10); that God has removed the division between Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:12; 13); that Jews and Gentiles are now members of one body through Christ (Eph. 3:6); that God has provided apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to build up the body of believers to complete unity (Eph. 4:12; 13); that husbands and wives are to live in unity with one another (5:22-33); that children and parents are to live in unity with one another and slaves and masters are to live in unity with one another (Eph. 6:1-9). This leads us right into our subject text. Although Paul’s instruction in our subject text is certainly applicable in all areas of life, let’s make sure to remember that Paul is using it in the context of his instructions to the Ephesians on unity. Let’s now take a close look at our subject text.

Text Analysis

            Paul’s instruction in v. 10 is to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. We are never expected to fight spiritual battles with our own strength. Instead, “Paul emphasizes the superiority of the power of God and the supremacy of Christ. He demonstrates that believers have access to this power by virtue of their union with Christ, thereby enabling them to resist the vicious attacks of the hostile powers.”[1] The Greek word for “be strong” is translated in the middle voice here in the NIV but it is best read in the passive voice so that it reads “to be made strong.” “The power does not come from the believer but from an external source. This usage is similar to that in Paul’s prayer that believers might be strengthened with power and might through his Spirit (Eph 3:16) and his final exhortation to the Corinthian believers to be strong (1 Cor 16:13).”[2] Now that Paul identifies what we must do, he continues on to tell us how we are to do it.

            In v. 11a Paul tells us that we are to be strengthened by putting on the “full armor of God.” It is interesting imagery Paul uses but perhaps not irrelevant considering Paul is writing this letter while he sits in a Roman prison being guarded by armed guards in full armor. Technically, the text could be understood as armor provided by God, armor worn by God himself or armor that is God himself. However, an argument could be made that it might be any of the three depending on need. “The context clearly implies the first, namely that God provides weaponry for believers. At the same time, in light of the description of armour of Yahweh and his Messiah in Isaiah 11:5; 52:7; 57:19, which stands at the centre of Paul’s sustained imagery throughout the passage (esp. vv. 14-17), it is important to recognize that the armour given to believers is God’s own. The Isaianic references depict the Lord of hosts as a warrior fighting with his own armour in order to vindicate his people. Further, some of the weapons believers are to don, namely, truth, righteousness, and salvation, suggests that we put on God himself, or at least his characteristics…Accordingly, we can conclude that ‘in the end all the armor language is a way to talk about identification with God and his purposes.’”[3] Now that we know the what and how of Paul’s instructions, we can move on to the why.

            In vv. 11b-12, Paul says that the reason we are to be strong in the Lord wearing the full armor of God is so that we can stand firm against the Devil’s evil plans. Paul goes on to explain that We Are At War but not against flesh and blood. Instead, our battle is against a spiritual evil that rules this world by way of rulers, authorities and power as well as spiritual forces from a heavenly realm. It is important to remember that Paul is referring here to a spiritual battle against demonic forces. However, “The devil and his minions are able to rule the lives of men and women who belong to his ‘tyranny of darkness’ (Col. 1:13)—they are called ‘children of disobedience’ at Ephesians 2:2—and the powers exploit culture and social systems in their attempts to wreck the creative and saving work of God.”[4] This concept is often difficult to fully grasp and that’s normal because there is a battle raging in a realm that is visible to the human eye as well as a realm that is only visible to the spiritual eye. Judas is perhaps a good illustration of this. Judas clearly had an expectation of the Jewish messianic figure that Jesus did not conform to. Judas, already inclined toward disobedience and sin, was used by Satan to accomplish what Satan believed was a victory over God’s plan of salvation by betraying Jesus. However, what Satan believed would be a victory turned out to be his ultimate defeat. To the casual observer, none of this was obvious but to those of us who are familiar with the story, we can step back and see how the battle was being waged not just in an earthly realm that involved humanity but how the events were really being directed by the war that was being waged in the spiritual realm between God and the forces of evil trying to subvert God’s plan of salvation for humanity. This earthly realm and spiritual realm make up what is referred to as the “heavenly realm.” “Paul distinguishes between heaven in the ultimate sense of the dwelling place of God, and the heavenly realms which are part of the created order, and which will one day be renewed along with the earth…The heavenly realms, therefore, refer to the spiritual sphere in which God, Christ, the powers of darkness and the believer exist together, and as well as sharing Christ’s reign and receiving the blessings of salvation, the believer is involved in spiritual warfare.”[5] We now understand the what, why and how of Paul’s instructions and so we can move on to the when.

            Paul instructs us that we are to stand strong wearing the full armor of God in order to battle Satan’s forces when the “day of evil” comes. Many have presumed that Paul is speaking in v. 13 of a specific point in time when there will be an ultimate war between good and evil. This is true, but only in part. Paul knows that the “day of evil” is more than a singular point in time marking a cataclysmic event while at the same time including specific events of evil in the life of believers. “Day of evil” might be better understood as the “age of evil.” “It refers to the entire span of the believers’ life or the whole of the present age, which parallels with the ‘evil days’ of 5:16; it refers to critical times in believers’ lives when special diabolical hostility seems strongest.”[6] Combining all these elements, Paul then tells us that we are to take a stand. The force of the text tells us that we are to “dig in our heels” and stand firm.

            Remember that Paul is writing from prison with a personal view of fully armed Roman soldiers. With this imagery so close at hand, Paul begins to use the various components of such armament in vv. 14-17 to illustrate the spiritual weapons at our disposal as we take our stand and dig in our heals against the Devil’s evil assaults. The first article of armor identified by Paul is the belt. This particular belt is not like a belt we would wear today. Yes, it was made of leather that was used to bind loose clothing, but it was not unlike an apron that protected the lower abdomen and thighs of the soldier. This article of the armor provided both protection and made it possible for the rest of the armor to fit more properly—this was an essential element for being prepared for battle. Paul says that we are to put on the belt that is truth. For the believer, truth is an essential element for being prepared for battle. “Believers have girded their waists with God’s objective truth, which in turn has become a part of them. This enables them to be reliable and faithful as God is reliable and faithful. This piece of armor is basic to all other pieces because truth and trustworthiness are basic to all the other qualities that believers need in order to withstand diabolical attacks.”[7] Still in v. 14, Paul describes the next article or armor as the breastplate. It seems pretty obvious that the breastplate covering the vital organs of the soldier is critical in battle as protection against arrows and spears from distant assault and from swords and other lethal blows in hand-to-hand combat. Like the belt, it is a defense part of the armor. Paul refers to the breastplate as “righteousness.” “In this text some regard it as justifying righteousness or a right standing before God, but most regard it as sanctifying or subjective righteousness (1 Cor 1:30), which, of course, has its basis in justifying righteousness. Isaiah 59:17 refers to God putting on his attribute of righteousness as a breastplate. Likewise, in this context believers are, by appropriating God’s righteousness, to act righteously in their daily dealings with God and humankind.”[8] Righteous living with the power of the Spirit’s sanctifying power protects the believer’s heart like a breastplate protects the heart of a soldier.

            V. 15 seems less glamorous in the discussion about battle armor as Paul identifies proper footwear. But footwear was extremely important for the Roman soldier. Unlike the everyday footwear of average citizens that was more like a sandal, “The Roman soldier frequently wore caliga, a half-boot, which was not strictly a weapon but part of his equipment that was used especially in large marches.”[9] For the Roman soldier, proper footwear was crucial in battle and Paul likewise claims that believers must have their feet properly fitted. But in this case, Paul is not speaking of footwear. Instead Paul says that the feet of believers should be fitted with readiness—a readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. “The language has obviously been borrowed from Isaiah 52:7, ‘How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace’—words which, in a shortened form, are applied by the apostle to those sent to preach the Christian gospel (Rom. 10:15).”[10] It is odd to speak of peace in the context of preparing for battle. But this proclamation for peace is not aimed at the one who wages war against believers. The proclamation of peace is for the benefit of those who are still considered enemies of God because they have not yet accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. “Christ, who is the embodiment of peace, has made peace through his death, and announced this good news far and wide, to Jew and Gentile alike. Those who have appropriated that peace for themselves have their feet fitted with this ‘readiness’, a preparedness to announce the gospel of peace. Paradoxically, they are prepared to announce the gospel of peace as they engage in a spiritual warfare!”[11]

            Paul continues in v. 16 saying that the believer is to take up the shield of faith. This is not the smallish round shield used by gladiators in hand-to-hand combat. Instead, “Paul has in mind the large shield Roman infantry used to protect their whole bodies. Such shields were four feet tall and two and one-half feet wide and were constructed of leather stretched over wood, reinforced with metal at the top and bottom. Especially if soaked in water, they were effective at stopping burning arrows.”[12] The believer’s faith is this shield. The language Paul uses, “take up,” implies that we are to appropriate God’s promises of protection confident that nothing can harm us behind this mighty shield of faith. The flaming arrows of the Devil are a metaphor for all things that the Devil might throw at us—persecution, doubt, fear, temptation, suffering, confusion or anything else that my derail or demoralize us, even the possibility of death. Safely protected by this shield of faith, we can continue to confidently stand firm in truth and righteousness proclaiming the gospel of peace.

            In v. 17 Paul stays with the language of appropriation when he says we are to “take” the helmet and sword. These are the final two pieces of armor necessary for the battle. The imperative mood suggests a sense of urgency and the middle voice indicates that it is the believer’s responsibility to take up the helmet (v. 17a) and sword (v. 17b). Roman helmets were fairly comprehensive, usually made of bronze and near the middle of the first century were designed to cover the back of the neck area as well. Helmets included protection for the eyes, nose and cheeks as well. It seems clear that Paul is again referring to Isaiah 59 where God is referred to as wearing the “helmet of salvation” and bringing wrath and judgment upon his enemies. Just as the soldier feels secure in the face of battle with head protected, the “Believers’ possession of salvation gives them confidence of safeness during the assaults of the devil.”[13] To this point, the parts of the armor that have been described have all been defensive in nature. But now in v. 17b, we get to the all important offensive instrument of a sword. The language in v. 17b changes where previously the belt=truth, the breastplate=righteousness, the shield=protection and the helmet=salvation. Here, however, the sword is “of the Spirit” or “belonging to the Spirit,” the sword is God’s word (cf. Heb. 4:12) made effective and powerful by the Spirit alone. “In their [Christian] warfare with the powers of darkness, they are to take hold of the word of God, the gospel (cf. 1:13; 6:15), and to proclaim it in the power of the Spirit…What is in view here is not some ad hoc word addressed to Satan, as though what we speak against him will defeat him. Rather, it is the faithful speaking forth of the gospel in the realm of darkness, so that men and women held by Satan might hear this liberating and life-giving word and be freed from his grasp.”[14]

            Paul completes his instructions in v. 18 by admonishing believers to pray in the power of the Spirit. The grammar makes clear that the instruction to pray is not a singular event but a continuous process of praying. Furthermore, Christians are to be attentive to the needs of other Christians and pray for them continuously as well. And why are we to pray continually? Because Satan’s evil schemes and plans are a never ending assault. Therefore, the battle never wanes or ceases. Satan is always on the prowl like a lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8) and all the better if it is a Christian! We must remember that the armor of God is not something one retrieves from some kind of armory. Instead, these tools for battle are acquired through prayer and faith. “Satanic wars cannot be won by human energy. Thus, Paul has warned the saints to constantly pray and remain alert, ready to don the helmet of salvation and grasp the sword of the Spirit in order to do battle at a moment’s notice. Neither of these pieces of armor, nor all other pieces, are available as the result of human endeavor.”[15] Prayer is the currency with which we acquire the armor needed to be victorious in our battle against Satan and his hordes. We Are At War! Therefore, do not forsake the admonition to pray for yourself and for all others. Dig in your heels and stand firm with the belt of truth wrapped tightly around your waist; with the breastplate of righteousness always guarding your heart and your feet always ready to advance the gospel of peace to the battlefield of a broken and dying world; hidden behind an impenetrable and indestructible shield of faith; always protecting your mind with the security of a helmet that is your salvation and finally, confidently brandish the Spirit’s razor-sharp sword of God’s word—a sword sharp enough to cut the Devil’s plans into pieces.

Application

            I know this lesson has been detailed and complex with many elements. However, I want to bring us back to the overall theme of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians-unity. Is it really so hard to imagine Satan creating division in order wage a more effective battle? It is a well known military strategy known as “divide-and-conquer!” A single wolf or a pack of wolves will not try to devour an entire herd. Instead they will divide the herd until an opportune victim presents itself. Satan, like the wolf, is an opportunity feeder ever dividing in order to expose the weak. To advance that strategy, he uses men and women, much like he did Judas. Do not be deceived Church! Satan will use men, women, blacks, whites, rich, poor, old, young, parents and children and anyone else in any way necessary to create division. And what is the natural consequence of division? Hatred! Division inevitably spawns hatred and when we hate each other, we cannot love God and when we cannot love God we are separated from God and when we are separated from God we cannot stand against the Devil’s attack. Division will be our ultimate destruction, unless, that is, we take a stand and dig in our heels with God’s strength and reject division, and unless we take our stand using the truth to shine a bright light on the liars who would divide us in any way. However, our lives must reflect the righteousness that comes from God if we hope to have any credibility when we speak the truth. Our feet must always be prepared to advance the gospel of peace that will trample the lies that create division and hatred. We must use our faith as the shield that deflects the lies that are thrown at us—lies that say if we are men then we hate women, lies that say if we are white then we hate blacks, lies that say if we are poor we hate the rich, lies that say if we are old then we hate the young or lies that say if we are children then we hate our parents. These lies are simply Satan’s flaming arrows intended to destroy us. We must lean into the certainty of our salvation with the knowledge that nothing can separate us from God unless we ourselves turn our backs on him through our hatred for one another. We must skillfully wield the sword of the Spirit for it is the word of God that will break down all the walls that divide us. It is interesting to note that during the years when East Germany and West Germany were divided by the Berlin Wall, the respective governments of the two countries, and to some extent its citizens, at best mistrusted one another and at worst disliked one another. However, when the wall was destroyed in 1990 and East Germans and West Germans danced arm-in-arm, a stranger to the scene would not have been able to discern which person belonged to which country. Mistrust and hatred flourished when the wall created division, but when the division was destroyed, mistrust and hatred was defeated.

            Some think that human legislation can remove division from humanity and force people to love and accept one another but this is not possible. Satan is far too powerful to think that some human institution could marshal the strength to wage war against anything that is conceived in the spiritual realm. To complicate matters, many don’t accept the reality that Satan exists, many don’t care that Satan exists and many have no idea what Satan’s warfare even looks like. What combination could be more lethal than unbelief + complacency + ignorance? It is the perfect combination to feed Satan’s insatiable appetite to divide and conquer. We cannot battle Satanic forces with human institutions because We Are At War but not against flesh and blood and the sooner we face that reality, the sooner we will begin to pray continuously that we would be fitted with God’s armor to be able to stand our ground, withstand the assault and fight back with confidence and strength knowing the battle has already been won—Satan was defeated when Jesus’ grave was empty on the third day! Nevertheless, daily we hear the battle cry when Satan uses sinful humanity to created division. Until Jesus’ return, the battle rages on—We Are At War!


[1] Gerald F. Hawthrone, Ralph P. Martin, Daniel G. Reid, eds., Dictionary of Paul and his Letters, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 247.
[2] Harold W. Hoehner, Ephesians, An Exegetical Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), pp. 820-821.
[3] Peter T. Obrien, The Letter to the Ephesians, (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), p. 463.
[4] Ibid., p. 468.
[5] Hawthorne, et al, eds., DPL, pp. 382-383.
[6] Hoehner, Ephesians, p. 833.
[7] Ibid., p. 840.
[8] Ibid., p. 841.
[9] O’Brien, Ephesians, p. 475.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid., p. 479.
[12] Klyne Snodgrass, Ephesians, The NIV Application Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), p. 343.
[13] Hoehner, Ephesians, p. 850.
[14] O’Brien, Ephesians, p. 482.
[15] Hoehner, Ephesians, p. 859.

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