Ephesians 6:13-16

Day 59

“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” Ephesians 6:13-16

Stand Firm
The structure of the book of Ephesians, as succinctly outlined in Watchman Nee’s book “Sit, Walk, Stand” points to the major theological ideas in Paul’s letter.  “Sit” describes our positional status as being in Christ.  We are seated with Christ in the heavenly places.  When Christ ascended back to the Father, after completing His work of redeeming us and making us righteous, He sat down.  “These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:19-21)  He sat down at His Father’s right hand. Completed work and authority both flow from His positional status in the presence of the Heavenly Father.  Not only this, but we also, the moment we believe, we are seated with Him thus demonstrating His completed work in us. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”  (Ephesians 2:4-6)  Right now, God sees us in Christ.  He sees us as crucified, raised, and seated in Christ.  The work of our salvation has been completed.  

How then should we live? “Walk” denotes our relation with one another.   Walk in a manner worthy of your calling, in love, as children of light, in wisdom. “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3) “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”  (Ephesians 5:1-2) We have been seated with Christ forever.  Now that we find our identity in Christ and His completed work, we live a life that reflects that reality.  Our daily and progressive living marks a maturing process of humility and love, wisdom and righteousness.  

The final of these three verbs gives us instruction on how to handle the spiritual battle. “Stand” provides the imperative for the believer in our battle with the devil.   Stand firm against the devil.  “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil…Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore…” (Ephesians 6:11-14)  Three times in this short paragraph Paul told the church at Ephesus to “stand firm.”  Our adversary certainly would overcome us without divine intervention.  We stand firm in His might.  We use His weapons of spiritual warfare in His power.  

The three parts of the believer’s armor in these verses include the belt, breastplate, and footwear.  We bind truth around our waist.  In Roman battle, the clothing would be an impediment to moving.  The belt, like a person would wear a belt today to keep their pants around their waist, kept the clothing firmly in place in order to not hinder or trip the soldier.  Truth keeps us from stumbling.  Jesus said in His prayer to His Father in John 17.  “Father, keep them in Your truth.  Your word is truth.”  The second piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness.  This can be a reference to daily righteousness but more likely refers to the standing of righteousness we have in Christ.  When we believe in Christ, God declares us to be righteous in His eyes.  The devil loves to accuse us and shake our confidence.  The heart can become pierced through with guilt and shame.  The devil will tell us that we are unworthy and therefore we should stop fighting.  The righteousness of Jesus guards are hearts. And finally the Gospel of Jesus Christ carries us along our journey.  We preach this Gospel to ourselves and everyone around us.  It is the Gospel message that declares the devil’s ultimate defeat. God loves exalting His Son through the proclamation of the good news of salvation for all who believe.  It is the Gospel that breaks Satan’s power over sinners.  It is the Gospel that brings captured sinners from his sway and places that believer alongside other believers in our warfare against him.  

Suggested Prayer:  God, help me to stand firm in Your strength.  Use Your truth as revealed in Scripture to stabilize my life.  May the gift of Your righteousness given to us freely through faith in Christ guard our hearts.  Direct my paths by the gracious message of Your Good News.

Ephesians