A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 32

 

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:14–20 ESV).

 

Paul’s description of the various elements of the armor of God concludes in today’s reading with his references to “the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (v. 17). Yesterday we looked at the helmet as the piece that protects the soldier’s head, the helmet is essential to keeping a soldier alive and conscious, thereby enabling him to continue in his mission. This is a metaphorical reference to the mind (cf. Morning Devotionals, September 2, 2026). Today we see the sword. It is likewise vital, for it is the weapon with which every fighter can defend himself against blows and fight back against his enemies. In this reference we have both an offensive as well as a defensive piece of equipment. This is noteworthy.

 

The Lord’s armor in Isaiah 59:17–19 lies in the background of this passage, for God Himself dons a helmet of salvation in that passage to fight against His enemies. This is an interesting image because the Lord certainly does not need to be saved from sin and death as we do. J. Alec Motyer’s superb commentary on Isaiah indicates that in this passage, God’s donning of various armor pieces indicates who He is and what He intends to do. The Lord put on His helmet of salvation in Isaiah’s day to show both the nation of Israel and the entire world that He is salvation itself and that redemption would be accomplished in line with His purposes. For us to put on the helmet of salvation, then, indicates more than our rescue from sin and death. It also means that we arm ourselves with the ability and desire to proclaim to the ends of the earth that salvation is from the Lord. Furthermore, it demonstrates that we will work to accomplish His purposes for the church, the first fruits of God’s redemption, in line with the instructions of the Lord.

 

Ancient Roman soldiers carried different weapons, and the sword Paul likely has in view is the short-handled sword used in offensive combat against the enemies of the Caesar’s legions. In the Christian life, this sword is the Word of God (v. 17). Interpreters believe Isaiah 11:4 is an important background text here. The Messiah strikes “the earth with the rod of his mouth” in that prophecy, so Paul may be emphasizing the preached Word of God as our offensive weapon against Satan. This makes good sense, for as the Word is preached, sinners are rescued from the Devil’s grip and believers see the sins for which they need to repent.

 

John Calvin states that “by faith we repel all the attacks of the devil, and by the word of God the enemy himself is slain. If the word of God shall have its efficacy upon us through faith, we shall be more than sufficiently armed both for opposing the enemy and for putting him to flight.” As we study and proclaim the Word of God to our friends and neighbors, the kingdom of Satan fails in his work against the Lord and His people. Take up your sword!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 31

 

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:14–20 ESV).

 

Having covered each component of the armor of God, we understand that we cannot succeed against the Devil if we rely on ourselves. We need the belt of truth to keep the daggers of false doctrine from cutting our legs out from under us. Christ’s imputed righteousness gives us ultimate protection from condemnation and accusation, and the breastplate of a Spirit-developed righteous character guards against the powerful blows of sin that try to destroy our hearts. The shoes of the gospel of peace give us solid footing and ready us to fight. Faith acts as a shield that drives us to seek shelter in God against the flaming arrows of enticing temptations. And today we come to the Helmet of Salvation. This part of our battle equipment protects our minds, enabling us to remain focused on the kingdom. We will see tomorrow that the Scripture is our mighty sword, the weapon that brings the Lord’s enemies to submissive repentance and keeps us on the narrow way by forcing us to our knees in gratitude for salvation and sorrow for sin.

 

Our ultimate reliance on Christ for success in spiritual warfare is underscored in today’s passage. The participial phrase used in this verse, “praying at all times in the Spirit” (v. 18), covers everything that comes before it. In so doing, it indicates that we put on the armor of God by consistent, persistent prayer. Praying “at all times” is nothing less than taking every opportunity to be in a relationship with the Lord that acknowledges our weakness and our need for the Lord’s power against all of those principalities and powers that seek our destruction. Prayerful dependence must be the consistent attitude of our hearts, both in difficult times that make us quick to run to God and when prosperous seasons tempt us to forget our need for Him. John Calvin writes, “Paul therefore desires us to allow no opportunity to pass — on no occasion to neglect prayer; so that praying always is the same thing as praying both in prosperity and in adversity.”

 

Prayer is to be made in the Spirit (v. 18), which is not a reference to speaking in tongues. Instead, it refers to petitioning God for specific things (“all prayer and supplication”) through the Spirit, who is the One who prompts us to pray and then takes what we offer and makes it acceptable to the Father (cf. Romans 8:26). The Lord wants us to make specific requests, understanding that they will be granted in accordance with His perfect will (cf. James 4:2; 1 John 5:14).

 

In addition to being specific in prayer, God also wants us to be persistent in intercession (v. 18). This is a good reminder for us today, as we are likely to give up praying when we feel as if we have not received an answer in a timely manner. But we must persevere in asking for God’s help, even if it seems He is delaying His response. It is the acknowledgement that God’s timing cannot always be understood, though it can always be trusted!

 

 

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 30

 

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:14–20 ESV).

 

When the biblical authors wanted to convey a truth about God to His people, they had two basic choices. On the one hand, they could state their teaching plainly in theological propositions; or, they could use metaphorical language to express the reality of His character. Both options have their advantages, but metaphors uniquely convey the fullness of the Lord’s character and what He has done for us. There is a difference, for instance, between saying that the Creator is our protector and asserting that He is our shield. Both statements indicate that God is our defender, but to call Him our shield indicates vividly that He stands between us and our enemies to absorb the worst of their blows and keep us secure. The Apostle Paul uses the latter in this description of God’s protection.

 

Scripture often refers to the God as our shield (cf. Genesis 15:1; Psalm 5:12; Proverbs 30:5), and we must keep this in mind as we consider Paul’s call for us to take up the “shield of faith” (v. 6). Trusting in God — lifting the shield of faith — is to rest in Him as our protector, as the One who keeps the assaults of the Devil from destroying us. He does this for all His people in an ultimate sense, guarding us that we might persevere in faith (cf. Romans 8:30). But the Lord also shields us from temptation as we look to Him daily to help us walk in holiness. When we remember to turn to Him in our circumstances, He will direct us faithfully on the right path and help us make decisions that will honor Him.

 

The shield that Paul’s metaphor would have brought to mind for his first-century audience was not a small disc but a large, body-length shield that a Roman soldier used to shelter his entire body. Soldiers would dampen these shields and otherwise prepare them to put out the flaming arrows and other missiles that were often launched at them from behind enemy lines. Our faith serves a similar purpose in our conflict with Satan, not because faith in itself is a substance that has magical sheltering properties but because it is the means by which we lay hold of God and all His promises. To take up the shield of faith is to rest in Christ Himself, who absorbed the blows of temptation and even demonic attack, finally emerging victorious (cf. Luke 4:1–13; 22:3; 24:1–12). Turning to Him in faith daily is essential for us, as evil forces are too powerful for us to resist on our own (v. 1).

 

An essential part of turning to Christ to resist temptation and other assaults successfully is understanding and appreciating truly His loveliness. When we have a true grasp of His greatness, we will be more encouraged to look to Him in all things and to see the ugliness of sin. Take time today to meditate on the wonder of Christ, His glory, and the beauty of what He has done for us. Let this, in turn, move you to rest in Him in faith each day.

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 29

 

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:14–20 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul was very familiar with the armor of the Roman soldier, as were all the people of the empire. Rome ruled with their military presence in every nation they conquered and occupied. So, when he comes to describe the “armor of God” it is not surprising that he should go into great detail, including the footwear necessary for a soldier. He calls this piece of equipment “shoes for your feet… the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (v. 14).

 

One of the things that has struck me after years of study in the Old Testament is the fact that our Creator is an exceedingly patient God. Israel rebelled time after time, and time after time our Lord forgave His people and stayed His wrath before it could wipe out the nation (cf. Numbers 21:4–9; 1 Kings 21:25–29). But God’s patience with Israel ended, and He finally sent the Israelites into exile on account of flagrant, unrepentant sin (cf. 2 Kings 17:7–23; 25:1–21). It is very difficult to imagine the trauma of this event. Even the faithful remnant wondered whether the Lord’s plan to save the world through Abraham’s seed had gone off course. Since Israel had failed so miserably, how could peace between God and His children ever be restored (cf. Lamentations 5:21–22)? Was the Lord truly sovereign if godless, pagan nations freely ravaged and pillaged Israel (cf. Habakkuk 1)?

 

Through Isaiah the prophet, the Lord answered these questions. He would intervene to cleanse the nation of its uncleanness. He would act to prove His eternal dominion, sending messengers to announce His reign over all (cf. Isaiah 52:1–7). Of course, this prophecy is fulfilled in the coming of the kingdom of God in the person and work of Christ. However, there is still a battle raging. To this end Paul gives us our marching orders. We are to suit up with the armor of God!

 

Remember, most ancient warfare consisted of hand-to-hand combat between soldiers after long marches to the battlefield. Thus, Roman soldiers required footwear that could sustain their feet as they marched and give them solid footing in a fight. The half boot called the caliga met these very needs. For spiritual warfare, the gospel of peace fulfills the same purposes for the soldier of Christ. The announcement that God reigns and has reconciled Himself in Jesus to believers sustains us in the long march of the Christian life. It allows us to keep going even when things are so bad that we doubt whether the Lord really is looking out for us.

 

This gospel also provides solid footing from which we can grapple with Satan. We easily get discouraged with our own spiritual growth, but the truth of what God has done in Christ readies us to repent when we fall and return to the battle with vigor. The gospel gives us, Matthew Henry comments, “a resolved frame of heart which will enable us to walk with a steady pace in the way of religion.”

 

There is nothing that gives us surer footing than the gospel, the good news that our sovereign, holy God has intervened in history to reconcile His people to Himself. Understanding that we are reconciled to Him through no effort of our own reminds us that we stand firm only in Him and can never lose our footing permanently when we rely on Jesus!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 28

 

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:14–20 ESV).

 

Now the Apostle Paul comes to the second piece of equipment we need to “put on” for the battle in which we are engaged: “the breastplate of righteousness” (v. 14). In a physical soldier’s armor, this is the part of the armor that protects the front and back of the torso. It’s keeping your spine, internal organs, and especially your heart and lungs safe. The reference to “righteousness” is important for us to understand. In a broad sense, the word in the original language is δικαιοσύνης (dikaiosuné). It means being in a “condition acceptable to God.” It also refers to “the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved by God” (Thayer’s Dictionary).

 

Righteousness involves the condition of your heart and state of your character. However, for the apostle his intention is for us to realize this state of being right is not attained through our good work; it comes through the love of God, in that by giving up Christ, his Son, to die as an expiatory sacrifice for the sins of men he has attested his grace and good-will to mankind, so that they can hope for salvation as if they had not sinned. But the way to obtain this hope, he teaches, is only through faith, by which a man appropriates that grace of God revealed and pledged in Christ; and this faith is reckoned by God to the man as δικαιοσύνη. Thus it is "the state acceptable to God which becomes a sinner's possession through that faith by which he embraces the grace of God offered him in the expiatory death of Jesus Christ (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9).

 

This is the protection we need for our heart! God has always been interested in wining His people’s hearts. That desire is at the core of Him asking us to follow Him in righteousness, which is why Jesus didn’t destroy the Law when He came. Rather, He revealed the full expression and intent behind God’s law — that we might develop His character and become like Him (cf. Matthew 5:17-20, 48).

 

Faith then becomes the act of putting on this “righteousness.” It takes us from the doing of the law to the living of our life in Christ. I like to say it puts me in a position where I’ve learned to live in the “third person”. That is to say I depend on God not myself. The moment my mind begins to drift away from the declaration that only God is enough for me is the moment I lose the battle. Trust Him and only Him!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 27

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:14–20 ESV).

 

The belt of truth is the first piece of spiritual armor described in our reading (cf. Ephesians 6:14-29). This ultimately protects believers to stand firm against spiritual deception. This piece of equipment was a foundational part of the Roman soldier’s dress for battle. For a Roman soldier, the military belt (or balteus) gathered up the loose inner tunic so he could move freely and avoid tripping. Spiritually, truth gathers and secures a person's life, preventing confusion from loose thinking or deceit.

 

However, it also served as the anchor for other pieces of armor. The soldier's belt held his heavy sword and was attached to his breastplate. Without the belt of truth, the rest of the spiritual armor lacks structural support. Paul says it should be "girding to your waist." This is a reference to being fully prepared and alert. Embracing God’s truth prepares a believer to respond to daily spiritual challenges.

 

We should remember that the only source of objective truth is the Scripture. Relying on the absolute truth of Scripture and the character of God rather than shifting cultural opinions is the only foundation from which we may fully equip ourselves for battle. This daily consumption of truth allows us to live a life of personal integrity and sincerity. Living an honest, transparent life free of hypocrisy, duplicity, or deception is essential to turning away the attacks of the devil.

  

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 26

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10–13 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul now comes to the conclusion of his letter to the believers in Ephesus. He says to “stand firm” (v. 13). Of course, he goes on to explain both the weapons and strategy in this conflict we find ourselves engaged in. Our strategy is to rely completely on the Lord. It is in the power of his boundless strength that we will be able to capture the victory. He also tells us we are to “put on God's complete armor so that you can successfully resist all the devil's craftiness.” We will examine these weapons in the next few days more.

 

Today I want to concentrate on the truth that our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that roams freely in this dark world. It is for this reason we must learn to use the whole armor of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground.

 

We should remember that we are fighting a spiritual war against enemies who are far greater in numbers, intelligence, subtlety, and power than Israel had to wage war against in terms of their contemporary neighboring nations. And, our enemy is invisible.

 

The word Paul uses for "stand" is a military term for holding on to a position. In effect, before one can launch an attack, he must first hold the position he is in. Believers confront something that we simply cannot overcome except that we also have help in this spiritual realm to draw upon as a resource. We should also understand that these enemies should not be underestimated. Our struggle is not merely against human foes, and it is a war to the death. In fact, here in this chapter, this idea is hidden in the Greek. It is a war to the death against supernatural forces. The word "powers" denotes those who aspire to world control, and ancient writers used the term to designate the savior gods of pagan religions. That is who we are fighting against—demons!

 

The great news of the Gospel is that the ultimate war has already been won. These battles we face are those that lead to that final ending God has already planned and promised. They exact serious consequences in our lives and are not to be taken lightly. However, we have this hope of final victory and eternal life to encourage us to persevere! This perseverance is much easier when we put on this full armor!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 25

 

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (Ephesians 6:5–9 ESV).

 

At first glance it would seem that our reading today has little practical application to our time. However, even though these verses apply the gospel to the master-slave relationship of the first-century church, they also frame daily work and authority as service rendered ultimately to Christ regardless of the age in which we live. It is another great example of the timeless nature of the Scripture.

 

The message is quite clear. We are to be worthy of the calling of God into His grace as we “work,” whatever that work might be. You see, it is in gratitude for the benefits granted in our relationship with Christ by faith alone that believers must serve the interests of everyone also united to Jesus (cf. Ephesians 2:8–9; 5:18–21). And as we have seen earlier in this letter (Ephesians 5:22–6:4), our relation to others in the body of Christ determines the practical outworking of our Christian service. Husbands serve their wives through leading them in godliness self-sacrificially. Wives serve their husbands by willingly following their husbands’ leadership. Children serve their parents by honoring them with obedience. Parents serve their children by raising them in their developing faith in the Lord. The same principle now applies to our work relationships.

 

The Book of Philemon is helpful at this point. The context of that letter is within the bonds of ancient slavery. Remember this slavery differed from slavery in the American South, and how God’s regulation of a practice in Scripture does not necessarily mean the practice is His design for humanity. We can all learn from these principles, for we all have authorities over us, and many of us have authority over others.

 

The fundamental tenet Paul unfolds here is that we serve our earthly supervisors with an eye to the Lord. We are servants of Christ before all else (v. 6), and key to serving Jesus well is doing the will of those in authority over us, insofar as that will does not violate God’s law, of course. Our Creator rules His creation through delegated authorities (cf. Romans 13:1–7); consequently, to obey the directives of authorities is to obey God Himself. Simply put, we cannot claim to be Christ’s servants if we do not heed those whom God has put over us. Such obedience must be rendered with respect, not begrudging contempt.

 

There is also an understanding that “work” is what we have been created for in God’s purpose and will. This brings glory to all of creation. Thus we should concentrate on doing whatever our “hands find to do” as if we are doing it to the Lord (cf. Ecclesiastes 9:10). This is how we can work worthy of our calling!

 

[NOTE: For a fuller explanation of work in the plan and purpose of God, please IM me with your email and I will send you an essay I recently wrote on this subject. Of course, there is no cost, nor will your information be shared with anyone.]

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 24

 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1–4 ESV).

 

Today we come to another one of the directives of the Apostle Paul that often raises an eyebrow with some. We should remember that the apostle’s emphasis in Ephesians 5:22–6:9 is on the submission of service and how believers fulfill the call to serve one another in love (cf. Ephesians 5:21; Galatians 5:13). In today’s reading, the apostle addresses Christian children, his main audience consisting of kids who still live under the direct care of their parents. Adult children can certainly draw principles from this passage for their relationship with their parents, but the primary instruction is for those who have yet to reach maturity.

 

Ancient Roman society, like most cultures throughout history, believed that children should listen to their parents and respect their elders. Indeed, no one can escape what the created order tells us about the propriety of kids obeying their mothers and fathers. Yet Scripture uniquely addresses children directly, commanding them as individuals with a moral sense of what they should and should not do. This elevates children from the status of mere possessions to persons, conferring upon them a dignity and worth not always given to them in unbelieving societies. Kids are not chattel who can be treated any way their parents like.

 

Addressing children this way presupposes that regenerate young people, especially if they are nearing adulthood, have the duty and ability to obey their parents wisely. No human authority, parents included, deserves absolute allegiance. Abusive, neglectful, and impenitently foolish parents are not to be honored in the same way as good parents. John Chrysostom, the ancient patriarch of Constantinople, addressed this issue, noting Paul’s qualification that youths obey parents “in the Lord.” Chrysostom says, “They [parents] are to be obeyed in whatever way they are not offending against God” (ACCNT 8, p. 191).

 

Obedience “in the Lord” qualifies the child-parent relationship, but it cannot excuse rebellious kids who disobey rules they do not like. God gives us parents for our benefit, and obeying their wisdom, besides being right, brings us many benefits (vv. 2–3). In fact, children who impenitently disobey the godly instruction of their parents mark themselves off as unregenerate (cf. Romans 1:28–32; 2 Timothy 3:1–5). Yet children who profess Christ and render respectful love to their parents demonstrate the reality of their salvation, enjoying many other blessings as well.

 

The Old Testament often speaks of honor for one’s parents by employing language elsewhere associated with the fear of the Lord (cf. Leviticus 19:3, 14, 32). Although no human authority deserves absolute allegiance, we must show proper, biblical reverence to our parents. This applies to us no matter how old we are or how long we have lived outside of our parents’ homes. Let us seek to be models of godliness in how we honor our mothers and fathers.

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 23

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:25–33 ESV).

 

Today’s reading continues the Apostle Paul’s practical instruction of the relationship of the husband to the wife in the family of believers. He says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (v. 25). This is the foundational biblical command. It directs husbands to lead through self-sacrificial service, deep care, and unconditional devotion. It is modeled after Christ in that it should be a love that is sacrificial, active, and protective rather than passive.

 

Martin Luther once said of his beloved Katherine Von Bora, whom called Katie, or sometimes “Mrs. Dr. Luther”. He observed on one occasion, he said, "If God wanted me to be married to a meek woman, he'd have to carve one out of stone." What he was saying was that Katie was beautiful inside and she had a great spirit, but she wasn't a doormat for anybody, or Martin Luther or anyone else that came into the house. God is not calling women to be doormats, to be slavish in the way they relate to their husbands any more than God will ever tolerate a man exercising a tyranny over his wife.

 

Again, one of the great calamities of our day is the epidemic of wife abuse. I'm going to say this to every man in who reads this devotional, there are lots of sins that I can understand, but I cannot for the life of me understand how any man could ever hit a woman. Never let it be said of you that you would ever let your anger, in a domestic dispute, move you to such an action as to actually hit your wife. That's absolutely unconscionable. There are other ways to “hit” your wife. Emotional abuse, demeaning references, or rude remarks cannot be tolerated either. This is simply not the way of Jesus.

 

We must take care to treat our wife as our own body, nourishing and cherishing her. We should show mutual respect, building a unified partnership rooted in spiritual commitment. Some of the ways we can do this is through praying for your wife's spiritual and emotional well-being; listening actively during regular, open, relational communication; serving her daily needs through small, thoughtful acts of kindness; and, prioritizing dedicated time together without distractions.

 

This is the way of Jesus. It ought to be our way as well!

  

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 22

 

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:22–24 ESV).

 

Never let it be said that I refuse to “wade out into the deep water”! Today I come to the deepest water in the Apostle Paul’s letter. In the coming verses he will deal with the God-directed structure of the Christian’s home. It is a complex portion of the letter and has been abused and falsely taught for centuries. However, it is essential to the growth and development of the family. So, let me begin by saying our reading today does teach male headship and wifely submission in marriage, modeled after Christ and the church. This submission means a Christ-dependent disposition to follow the husband’s leadership, but it excludes obeying a command to sin or enduring abuse of any kind.

 

So, let’s take a look at some of the essentials of the characteristics of this “submission.”

Wifely Submission: Paul calls wives to submit to their own husbands as to the Lord. The word “submit” is not actually found in verse 22 as most translations add it as the verb. It is a continuation of the previous verse where Paul says we are to be in a state of “… submitting ourselves to one another in reverence of Christ” (v. 21). However, there is the addition of what this relationship is to look like in marriage. The apostle gives some detail.

 

First, he states the limit of submission. Wives must never follow their husbands into sin or remain in situations involving domestic abuse, as abuse directly violates God's law. And the husband's role as head mirrors Christ's leadership as a protector and provider. Of course, since husbands are finite and sinful, this headship must never be practiced in a tyrannical, domineering, or abusive manner. There is also a mutual imperfection where spouses are called to obey these roles even when their partner fails to act perfectly, pointing back to grace found in Christ.

 

Paul will have much more to say about how this relationship should work. Today, suffice it to say that it should look just like Jesus as relates in grace and love. It should never be positional, but relational. It should never be seen as a competitive relationship; nor should it appear to be a reference to authority or dominance.

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 21

 

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15–21 ESV).

 

Our reading today continues the Apostle Paul’s instruction for believers to live distinct, careful, and holy lives that contrast sharply with the surrounding secular culture. This is one of those verses that the King James Version uses a word that is very interesting in the English translation of the first verse: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (v. 15). In the original language (ἀκριβῶς) it may be translated as exactly, accurately, carefully, or diligently. Helps Word Studies says, “The root of this word (akrib-) refers to gaining exact information with the highest level of accuracy ("exactness") and is acquired by probing investigation to provide a comprehensive circumspect (precise) view in strict adherence to the facts.” I believe the apostle chose this word to emphasize that the life of believers is based on opinion or worse, false teachings. So, he says there are some core themes the apostle touches upon.

 

First, he says we are to look carefully at our choices. Believers must evaluate their choices and consider consequences rather than living carelessly. This is the basis of the often-cited idiom “look before you leap.” Some things often sound so appealing that we are tempted to rush headlong into them only to realize that the consequences are destructive.

 

Second, he says we should make the best use of time. Because the cultural climate is evil and hostile to God, Christians should treat time as a precious, fleeting resource. I often encouraged others to realize that time is the only non-renewable resource we possess. Doing that we can plan the use of our time accordingly. We budget our money far better than we do our time; and, that’s often a mistake.

 

Third, we should understand God's will. Wisdom means grasping God's overarching purpose to unite all things under Christ and applying it practically in daily life. This may be one of the most challenging things about the believer’s life. Since we do not have the same perspective as God, it is often difficult to see purpose in all of our circumstances until much later. This is when we must trust the goodness of God, knowing that His desire is to produce only good in our lives.

 

After Paul writes these larger principles, he says some things that are a bit more specific. He says we are to avoid drunkenness. Drunkenness is a destructive mark of the ungodly world and explicitly forbidden. He also says we should be filled with the Holy Spirit. Instead of being controlled by substances, believers are to be constantly directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This leads us to be filled with worship and gratitude. The Spirit-filled life naturally overflows with communal singing, mutual encouragement, and constant thankfulness to God the Father. And then, he concludes with the admonition toward mutual submission. It is a calling to all church members to put others first out of reverence for Christ. This will set the stage for specific household roles that follow.

 

How does your life measure up against these principles?

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 20

 

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:3–14 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul knew that the Ephesian believers would need some practical understanding of what this new life in Christ should be. A part of that is in our reading today. The context becomes very important today as we seek to understand the message for us. Remember that Ephesus was a very paganistic culture. The believers had come from various religious and cultural backgrounds. Much as we are today. So, he calls them to understand what it means to be a repentant sinner living in grace. John Calvin is very helpful in this truth. He writes:

 

“When men have repented, and thus give evidence that they are reconciled to God, they are no longer the same persons that they formerly were. But let all fornicators, or unclean or covetous persons, so long as they continue such, be assured that they have no friendship with God, and are deprived of all hope of salvation.”

 

There is a difference between those who profess Christ, seek to put to death the flesh, and occasionally sin, and those who profess Christ but celebrate their sin. The latter group — the impenitent — has no share in the Lord’s kingdom. On the other hand, Jesus receives with open arms those who hate their evildoing, even if they sometimes fall (cf. 1 John 1:8–9).

 

We should remember this when we consider Scripture’s teaching on the fate of the sexually immoral. Only “the sons of disobedience” receive the wrath of God (v. 6). Sons typically bear many of the physical and personality traits of their parents; thus, the sons of disobedience have their father’s nature. They reflect their lineage consistently, relishing their sin, even demanding that others approve of it. These individuals show no desire for repentance, and they have no place in Christ’s body. Converted people, however, have “become children of God” (John 1:12). They are “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) and are being slowly conformed to it over their lifetimes. Such individuals resist temptation, hate it when they sin, and never seek approval of their transgressions. We gladly welcome these men and women in our churches, for they are recovering sinners just like us.

 

There are men and women struggling with sexual sin in all of our congregations. They want to please God and are seeking to mortify the flesh, and we should do all that we can to help them. This means creating an atmosphere where repentant sinners feel that they can share their burdens without being seen as unworthy. If we are honest about our own sins without seeking to excuse them, other repentant sinners will feel welcome among us.

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 19

 

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul now turns to a more general result of the grace of God. We are enjoined to “walk in love” (v. 1). In response to the free gift of salvation that God offers us and enables us to receive, Christians are called to live a life of gratitude that displays itself in good works (cf. Ephesians 2:8–10; 4:17–24). Paul paints the contours of this life in broad strokes in yesterday’s reading (Ephesians 4:25–32), emphasizing the importance of truth-telling, purity in speech, restraint, kindness, and forgiveness. Today’s passage describes life in Christ even more succinctly. Simply put, we must “be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

 

It should be noted that the first verse of today’s reading is the only verse in Scripture to command us explicitly to imitate the Lord. Nevertheless, throughout the Bible we find passages from which we may deduce our Father’s desire that His people would copy His character, insofar as creatures are able. Leviticus 19:2, for example, calls us to model our holiness after the holiness of God: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Jesus also tells us to be kind, for that is the way in which our Creator treats His creatures, even those who are ungrateful (cf. Luke 6:35–36). Since we are made in God’s image, all human beings have the capability to imitate Him. Due to the fall, however, only those who belong to Christ — the perfect representation of God (cf. Colossians 1:15) — can now put this imitation into practice.

 

Of course, being creatures, we cannot imitate the Creator in every way. We cannot make something out of nothing, nor are we sovereign over all. The ways in which we imitate God are primarily ethical in nature. The church father Jerome comments: “Admittedly much that God has done we humans can hardly be said to imitate. But in the way he is merciful to all and rains on good and bad, so we may pour out mercy upon all we meet” (ACCNT 8, pp. 172–173).

 

That our imitation of the Lord is chiefly ethical is confirmed in the second verse of our reading, where we are commanded to “walk in love, as Christ loved us.” This love was supremely demonstrated in His willingness to give Himself up for our sake, to pay the price necessary to save us. God’s love cost Him much — the death of His only begotten Son — thus, costly love is what pleases Him most. Imitating our Creator means that we will pay a price — that in love we will have to surrender our own well-being at times in order to advance the good of others.

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 18

 

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:25–32 ESV).

 

Today we will examine one of the most important passages in Scripture on Christians and anger. I must confess this passage is one of the most challenging for me to apply practically and consistently. I have often told people that I do have a “long fuse” but the explosion at the end of it is like that which took place in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WW2! It is not pretty, nor is it Biblical. Even after five decades of personal work, it still presents itself from time to time.

 

We do have an incredible model in the life of Jesus. He has shown us that being angry, in itself, is not evil. The Apostle Paul takes this idea a step further. Paul tells us not only that we are permitted to be angry, he also says there are times when we must be angry. That the Lord would command us to be angry at times is understandable when we consider biblical ethics. In the same letter Paul summarizes what we need to know about Christian virtues by telling us to be “imitators of God” (cf. Ephesians 5:1). Our Father in heaven can only be perfectly holy if He gets angry when His righteous standards are violated (cf. Deuteronomy 32:4; Isa. 6:3). If we are to imitate Him, we too must get mad at those things that make God angry. We must grow incensed when we see the weak and helpless exploited, because the Lord’s wrath is kindled against the oppressor (cf. Exodus 22:21–24). Hypocrisy in our lives and in the church must disturb us because of Jesus’ anger at those who honor Him with their lips only (cf. Matthew 15:8; 23).

 

Yet we are imperfect, and while we must sometimes get angry, we must also take care that we do not sin in our anger (v. 26). Every time we are mad, we should check ourselves to see if we are upset at the things God hates. Otherwise, we may be angry without just cause and give opportunity to the Devil (v. 27). Anger is the emotion most prone to sinful abuse, and this is why Paul also tells us to put anger away in this same passage (v. 31). This is not a contradiction of earlier verses. Paul is only recognizing that our anger, even if it is godly at first, is too often perverted into feelings of malice instead of a longing to see offenders repent. When this happens, we are in danger of giving root to the bitterness that destroys (cf. Hebrews 12:15).

 

Finally, though evil should anger us, we should not pour wrath on others. Jesus castigated the Pharisees because of their hard hearts (cf. Matthew 23), but He was kind and gentle to the adulterous woman because she was humble and contrite (cf. John 7:53–8:11). We cannot condone sin, but we must also imitate our Savior and seek to restore the repentant in lieu of showing wrath.

 

We can too easily fall back under the sway of sin, which makes our hearts “deceitful beyond all things” (cf. Jeremiah 17:9). We can trick ourselves into thinking our anger is godly when it is not pleasing to the Lord. Being honest with other Christians is essential in differentiating between godly and ungodly anger. If you are mad today, confess this anger to the Lord and seek the wisdom to know whether it is justified. Then, seek the good of the person with whom you are angry.

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 17

 

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17–24 ESV).

 

I have often heard people exhort believers to “let go and let God.” There is a great danger in this advice. It can lead to an entirely passive belief for their sanctification (growth in holiness). The best intentions lie behind this advice. After all, we know that our works contribute nothing to our righteous standing before the Lord (cf. Galatians 2:15–16; Ephesians 2:8–9); thus, many people think that giving ourselves a role in sanctification comes perilously close to denying grace.

 

Certainly, it is easy to confuse the process of sanctification with the once-for-all declaration of justification. Even Protestants might believe, implicitly, that our works secure our place in heaven or make God love us more than believers who are “further behind” in their sanctification. To avoid this problem, we simply need to maintain the biblical distinction between justification and sanctification. It is unnecessary to deny our role in sanctification altogether. God’s justification of a person, the starting point of Christian living, relies solely on the work of Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21). Sanctification, as our reading explains, requires cooperation between the Lord and individual believers.

 

God’s “job” is to renew our minds. Note the passive voice (v. 23): we are to “be renewed [by the Lord].” He performs the work of inward transformation, renewing our affection for Him and giving us an ever-deepening understanding of His ways. The Lord works through the circumstances of life and the path of our journey to accomplish this, but only He can perform the work of transformation. The Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to be grateful for the Lord’s work, for His power guarantees that we will fulfill our role and advance in holiness (Philippians 2:12–13).

 

Our job is to live out God’s transforming work and “put on the new self,” which means putting His ways into practice. In other words, it is to live in conformity to Christ. Gregory of Nyssa was one of the fourth-century Cappadocian Fathers who helped codify the language of orthodox Trinitarianism. He comments on Ephesians 4:24: “There is but one garment of salvation, namely, Christ. Hence the “new man” created in God’s likeness is none other than Christ. One who has put on Christ has thus put on the new person created in God’s likeness”. That is how we achieve balance in our sanctification!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 16

 

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV).

 

Having referred in the abstract to the gifts that Jesus has given to His people, in today’s reading the apostle Paul identifies several of these gifts specifically. Actually, he does not refer to what we ordinarily consider spiritual gifts but rather spiritual offices. Yet this is not unusual, for he also mentions specific offices when it discusses the giftings of Christ through His Spirit to His church (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:27–30). The lists in these two passages, along with the lists of gifts found elsewhere in the New Testament, are representative and not comprehensive. They are given to indicate the types of blessings Christ gives to His people, not to define every grace Jesus might give to the covenant community.

 

Today we see five specific offices (v. 11) — apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. We should remember that these two groups constitute the foundation of the church laid in the first century. Since the foundation has already been established, some theologians believe there is no longer any need for apostles and prophets as in the early church. As far as an “officer of the church” these interpreters may be correct; however, I believe that a part of the problem of some denominations is that there is no sense of administration in the use of these giftings. My good friend and mentor, Bill Shamburger, said many times that “anything with more than one head is a monster, and anything without a head is dead.” There is great wisdom in that statement. I believe there are those in our community that are gifted to be such leaders.

 

He also mentions evangelists. These are those who are especially gifted to proclaim the gospel persuasively and intelligibly. Although they carry out their work primarily among unbelievers, there is an ongoing need for believers to hear the message of the evangelists. Timothy, after all, was exhorted to do the work of an evangelist even though his ministry was primarily to an established church (cf. 2 Timothy 4:5). We do not lose our need for the gospel at conversion; rather, we must hear it repeatedly so that we might turn daily from our sin and rest on Jesus alone for forgiveness.

 

Lastly, the apostle mentions shepherds (or pastors) and teachers. They are mentioned side by side because both types of officers provide instruction. Yet while all pastors are teachers, not all teachers are pastors. Teachers and pastors alike clarify and apply Scripture to their hearers (cf. 2 Timothy 2:2), but pastors have more of a leadership role than teachers, especially in soul care. Imitating the Good Shepherd, pastors guide us through hazardous terrain to green pastures (cf. Psalm 23:1; Peter 5:1–3).

 

Notice the reason for these giftings: “… for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (v. 11). Every child of God is gifted with the Holy Spirit and though Him we find that specific part of the entire body that is essential to wholeness. Far too few people today recognize how important they are to the health of the community of faith!