Ephesians (Robertsons Notes Book 49)

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See The New Bible Dictionary, ed, s. To be strong in the Lord Ephesians 6: He supplies it for the believer cf. Some Christians are so self-confident that they think they can manage by themselves without the Lord"s strength and armour.

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Others are so self-distrustful that they imagine they have nothing to contribute to their victory in spiritual warfare. Paul expresses the proper combination of divine ennabling [ sic ] and human co-operation. The purpose of accepting the equipment that God provides for waging spiritual warfare is essentially to withstand all of Satan"s attacks.

In the context of this epistle the aim of Satan in view primarily has been the disunity of the body of Christ. However what Paul said here doubtless applies to all of Satan"s aims and attacks. These offensives come to us from a very intelligent and experienced strategist, and they are frequently deceptive cf. From other Scripture we know that Satan is behind many of our temptations, having received permission to assail us from God e.

He uses the world system and our flesh sinful nature as his tools. He also attacks us directly himself and through his angelic emissaries. God has given us specific instruction in Scripture about how to combat these attacks. We are to resist the devil 1 Peter 5: How do we know the source of a given temptation so we can respond to it appropriately? Satan has consistently aimed his personal attacks at getting people to doubt, to deny, to disregard, and to disobey the revealed will of God cf. Genesis 3; Matthew 4. The world system seeks to get people to believe that they do not need God but can get along very well without Him 1 John 2.

The flesh tempts us to think that we can find satisfaction, joy, and fulfillment on the physical, material level of life alone Romans 7. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, for further insight into the devil"s strategies. Similarly, if we underestimate our spiritual enemy, we shall see no need for God"s armour, we shall go out to the battle unarmed, with no weapons but our own puny strength, and we shall be quickly and ignominiously defeated. If we want to obey God and resist the devil, we are in for a struggle.

It is not easy to become a mature Christian nor is it automatic. It takes diligent, sustained effort cf. This is part of our human responsibility in progressive sanctification. This struggle does not take place on the physical level primarily, though saying no to certain temptations may involve certain physical behavior.

It is essentially warfare on the spiritual level with an enemy that we cannot see. This enemy is Satan and his hosts as well as the philosophies and feelings he promotes that people implement. Stott refuted the view that the principalities and powers are only structures of thought, especially embodied in the state and its institutions. Some commentators believe that Paul described four different orders of angelic beings here. Probably the four terms used of our spiritual enemies in this verse do not identify four separate kinds of adversaries as much as they point out four characteristics of all of them.

They operate in the heavenly realms Ephesians 1: Presently Satan and his hosts have access to God in the sense that they can communicate with Him but not in the sense that they can coexist in fellowship with Him cf. The idea that certain demons have special authority over specific territories comes from Daniel Clearly some demons have territorial assignments, but it seems unwarranted to conclude that all of them do.

Jesus never casts out a territorial demon or attributes the resistance of Nazareth or Jerusalem to such entities. Paul never refers to territorial spirits, nor does he attribute power to them-despite the paganism of cities where he established churches. Gerry Breshears, "The Body of Christ: Prophet, Priest, or King? See also Robert A. John Armstrong refuted from Scripture several of the teachings of some modern deliverance ministries. He wrote the following. As the church, in response to various culture wars, increasingly turns to numerous battles "with flesh and blood" rather than to the primary battle with "the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" Ephesians 6: This verse summarizes what has just preceded.

It does not describe the Christian standing in victory after his or her conflict, as is clear from Ephesians 6: Probably Paul repeated himself here because of the urgency of taking up God"s provisions in view of the serious struggle we face. The evil day in view probably describes any day in the present evil age in which the evil forces attack. A less likely possibility is that it is some day yet future that is more evil than the rest, such as the day of the Lord. Every day of temptation is an evil day for the Christian. This verse begins the eighth long sentence in this epistle, and it runs through Ephesians 6: The main verbs in this sentence are "stand" Ephesians 6: They are imperatives denoting urgency cf.

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Four participles follow in Ephesians 6: Isaiah described God as a soldier cf. Paul may have had these descriptions in mind, but he probably used this figure to describe God"s protection because armored Roman infantrymen were commonplace throughout the empire. One may have been guarding Paul when he wrote this epistle cf. Everyone knew what they looked like. Paul described the items that the Roman infantryman wore in the order in which he would have put them on.

He first put on, over his short tunic shirt , a belt that would hold both the breastplate and scabbard in place. The "truth" could refer to both God"s revealed truth that the Christian has believed and the Christian"s own truthfulness, specifically a lifestyle that reflects the truth. Full truth is the only adequate basis for a defense against Satan cf.

The girdle also held the sword. Unless we practice the truth, we cannot use the Word of truth. Once a lie gets into the life of a believer, everything begins to fall apart. For over a year, King David lied about his sin with Bathsheba, and nothing went right. Thus the "girding" of the loins meant preparation for physical activity or, as here, for engaging in conflict. Likewise righteous conduct seems to be in view as well as the righteousness of Christ that becomes ours at regeneration.

The breastplate covered the soldier"s body from the neck to the thighs. It was usually bronze or chain mail. Roman infantrymen wore tough sandals studded with sharp, thick nails on the bottoms to increase traction. Likewise the gospel is what enables us to move forward against our enemies cf.

The preparation of the gospel of peace probably refers to the gospel the Christian soldier has believed that enables him to stand his ground when attacked. We must be so familiar with the gospel that we can share it with others cf. That grip on the gospel will enable us to hold our ground and even advance when tempted. The gospel in view is the whole Christian message viewed as good news, not just how to become a Christian.

The Roman soldier"s shield was wood covered with leather to make it flame retardant. It was rectangular in shape and about two and one-half feet wide by four feet long. With it the soldier could protect his whole body. The Roman legionaries could close ranks with these shields, the first row holding theirs edge to edge in front, and the rows behind holding the shields above their heads. In this formation they were practically invulnerable to arrows, rocks, and even spears. The NET Bible note on6: The faith that provides such a defense for the Christian in his or her spiritual warfare is two-fold.

It is trust in all that God has revealed and active application of that trust at the moment of spiritual attack. The first three participles that explain how to stand fast are "having girded" or "buckled" Ephesians 6: The fourth participle is "taking up" or "take up" Ephesians 6: The second main verb in this long sentence Ephesians 6: In addition to standing firm, having received and having already put on four pieces of armor, we also need to receive and put on two more.

Since Christians are to put this salvation on, the salvation or deliverance in view seems to refer to the present and future deliverance we need when under attack by Satan cf. We have already received salvation from condemnation. Are you an author? Help us improve our Author Pages by updating your bibliography and submitting a new or current image and biography.

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Wayne Barber gives the background to help Paul's selection of Psalm The writer is giving a picture here of those days when the general would go out to battle. He would win a victory, and then on the way back into town the commander and his chariot would be up front. Boy, he is proud. He has won the victory. The people line the streets and are all shouting, "Hallelujah, the victory has been won. Then behind them are all the spoils of war. As soon as he gets into town, he goes up to the holy mountain and there on the holy mountain, the riches or spoils of war, are given to him.

He in turn disperses them to all the other people. He has to receive the gifts in order to give the gifts. Now I am saying that for a reason. He says, "And He gave gifts to men. It says in the Old Testament that He received gifts. Paul says He gave gifts. There is something wrong here.

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Paul just takes it that extra step that the Psalmist did not take. He is not contradicting anything. He is just fully explaining what the Lord Jesus did for us on the cross when He ascended back in to heaven. The Lord Jesus came down and conquered sin, death and many other things. He ascends back to the heavens. He has His captives with Him. Then and only then can He give gifts unto men. There is a wonderful picture here of what Christ has done for us.

You see, without the ascension, there would never be a Christ who could send His Holy Spirit, the Gift, who in turn could display all the different gifts. What did He say in John 14? But Jesus has to ascend first. He is the Son of God. Why does He have to qualify for anything? Why does He have to ascend in order to do anything?

He uniquely became a brand new creature never seen before. He became the God-man. Not only that, but when He ascended, He went into the throne room by His own blood and there received the name that is above every name. He was exalted on high. Now, as Lord of the Universe, He qualifies to give gifts unto men. Paul is pointing to what it cost God for us to have our gifts!

Jesus had to go to the cross!

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Jesus had to resurrect! Jesus had to ascend! Jesus had to go into the presence of the Father before the Spirit could come who is the actual one who disburses the gifts unto men. During World War I there was a tradition in the towns, particularly in France. During the war, many times the cities defended themselves.

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Therefore, their little army was the army of that particular city. They had a tradition. They had walled cities with huge gates and walkways over the gates. When the group of men who had left the town to represent them in battle came back, the people would get on top of that gate. They would have a choir who would chant.

The men would come back, wounded and broken and bleeding from battle, but they came back waving their flag, which meant they had won the victory! The people on top of the wall would shout at them, "What right do you have to enter through these gates? They would hold up the hands of the bleeding. Then they would raise that flag and say, "We have been to battle, and we have won the victory!

The streets would be lined with people. They would shower them with hallelujahs for the victory that had been won. He is the ascended Christ. Without His ascension, we would have no gifts. Without His ascension we would have no body. Without His ascension, we would have nothing. He had to ascend and go back to the Father so that the Spirit could come and give gifts to the body. As He walked up to the gates of heaven, the choir of heaven on that gate would say, "What right do you have to enter these gates?

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He would show them the nail prints in His feet and the spear mark in His side. It cost God everything for us to be diverse. It cost God everything for us to have our gifts. Until we are free in His Spirit, empowered with His might, then the church is not operating. Whatever we are doing is nothing more than a secular organization on this earth. We have got to see that. We are not preserving the unity of the Spirit when we criticize a brother because they see things differently. They are gifted differently.

Friend, we need to function in the gift that was blood bought for each one of us. That is why Paul says to work out your own salvation. Begin to function in the gifts that you have and honor the fact that it cost Him everything for you to have those gifts. Preserving the Unity of the Spirit. Most think it quotes Psalm The two major variations are the change from the second to the third person, and the change of direction from having received gifts from men to the giving of gifts to men.

However, it is better to think that Paul was not quoting one particular verse of the psalm but rather that he was summarizing all of Psalm 68, which has many words similar to those in Psalm The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Here is C H Spurgeon's commentary on Psalm The ark was conducted to the summit of Zion; God himself took possession of the high places of the earth. The antitype of the ark, the Lord Jesus, has ascended into the heavens with signal marks of triumph.

To do battle with our enemies, the Lord descended and left his throne; but now that the fight is finished, he returns to his glory; high above all things is he now exalted. Thou hast led captivity captive. As great conquerors of old led whole nations into captivity, so Jesus leads forth from the territory of his foe a vast company as the trophies of his mighty grace. From the gracious character of his reign it comes to pass that to be led into captivity by him is for our captivity to cease. The Lord Jesus puts death to death.

Thou hast received gifts for men , or, received gifts among men: In him we are endowed with priceless treasures, and we give him ourselves, our all.

The Treasury of David. Great King of grace my heart subdue, I would be led in triumph too; As willing captive to my Lord, To own the conquests of his word. The ancient prophecy of David is fulfilled here on the foot of mount Olivet. To take "captivity captive," signifies that Christ conquered the allied principalities and powers, the devil, sin, death, and hell; and that he deprived them of the instruments wherewith they enslaved men.

He not only silenced the cannon on the spiritual Gibraltar, but he took rock, fortifications, and all. He not only silenced the horrible and destructive battlements of the powerful and compactly united ghostly enemies, but he threw down the towers, razed the castles, and took away the keys of the dungeons. He is the Master henceforth, and for ever.

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