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The Battle


Ephesians closes with some of the most vivid and wonderful imagery regarding how we must protect ourselves against the weapons of the adversary. It has long been one of my favorite passages and it goes thus (Chapter 6):

10Finally, my brethren, be astrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11Put on the whole aarmour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. UAdd a Note

12For we awrestle not bagainst cflesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the drulers of the edarknessof this world, against spiritual fwickedness in high places.

13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14Stand therefore, having your loins agirt about with btruth, and having on the cbreastplate of drighteousness;

15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of apeace;

16Above all, taking the shield of afaith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery bdarts of the wicked.

17And take the helmet of asalvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18aPraying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all bperseverance and supplication for all saints;

It seems almost superfluous to add commentary to something that is already so clear. I would simply like to point out that we must put on the whole (!) armor of God if we are going to go out and do battle. We cannot take the helmet and assume our feet will be protected. We cannot take the shield and neglect the sword. I think it is also instructive to note what protects each part of the body.

One of the things that gets neglected in this passage is in the beginning, when he notes that we're not battling against flesh and blood, but against "powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Thus, the armor we are to put on is not the shining armor depicted above. Rather, it is the spiritual armor with which we prepare ourselves to do battle on the spiritual battlefield. The adversary wants nothing less than the destruction of our souls. We must not afford him any quarter.

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