Jesus told His disciples that they would indeed face persecution because people had persecuted Him (John 15:20-21). Many people would view this as a battle and some would assert that this is really the only type of adversity and persecution that Christians will face, but the Apostle Paul goes to great lengths to explain to the Ephesian church that the Christian life is not only a battle between forces that can be seen, but it is more importantly a spiritual battle. In the conclusion of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul urges them to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” and to “put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10, NIV).” It is here that the reason for Paul’s advice can be seen. The strength Paul talks about in this section is not one of human capabilities, but rather one that is derived from God. As a Christian, strength to live the Christian life cannot be found within oneself. If a Christian is depending upon their own strength, they are sure to fall, but one who is relying upon God for their strength will be able to stand even in the harshest of circumstances. Not only does Paul speak of the strength of God, but also the armor of God in this passage. His reasoning for this advice is so that they will not fall for the schemes of Satan. But exactly to what kind of schemes is Paul referring in this section?
It is here that the essence of the battle to which Paul is referring is illustrated and described. This battle is not one of physical or military strength that is so often portrayed in the present-day world, but rather one that is of spiritual proportions. As a Christian, the Devil is the ultimate foe, whom the Bible describes as “a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44, NIV).” John Phillips notes that Satan is our adversary and “the one who opposes God and constantly seeks to prevent us from entering into our birthright as children of God (see Exploring Ephesians and Philippians, p. 186).” In Ephesians, Paul recognizes the power and the craftiness of the devil.
In addition to the devil as the adversary, Paul points out that “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 (Ephesians 6:12, NIV).” This statement by Paul gives insight into the fact that human beings cannot see all of the forces that are at work in the universe. It is easy to think of life only being made up of things that can be seen, but throughout Scripture, it is evident that there is something more at work. The prophet Daniel experienced a spiritual battle of sorts when the answer to his prayers was delayed by “the prince of the Persian kingdom (Daniel 10:14, NIV).” Although on the surface, this does not appear to be referring to anything more than another human being, it seems as though this was some sort of demonic force at work.
Paul counters the idea of the Christian standing in the strength of God with the explanation of the four different demonic forces at work in everyday life. He speaks of (1) rulers, (2) authorities, (3) the powers of this dark world, and (4) spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. It is a common misconception that the devil is the only adversary that Christians face from day to day. Numerous passages throughout the Bible—including this passage in Ephesians—make mention of different evil forces at work along with the devil. Paul’s differentiation between the types of forces that are at work show that the devil and his fellow demons participate in different aspects of the spiritual battle that affects Christians everywhere. Paul’s portrayal of the Christian life at this point may seem quite bleak and discouraging if the description of the battle and the enemies were where it all ended, but the church at Ephesus was not left without hope, because Paul introduces a turning point.
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