Spiritual Warfare in Paul’s Letter to Ephesus (1)

• Posted on sdgale
• in 'CHOP Talk' Blog
• on November 30, 2012
• 1 Comment.

(This article is the second in a series tracing the theme of spiritual opposition in Ephesians.)

Declaration of Deliverance

Paul begins his letter to the Galatians with an explicit statement of deliverance.

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:3–5)

In Ephesians, however, Paul takes a different approach. He begins with an emancipation proclamation for those held in sin’s bondage.  The focus is Christ.  Everything accomplished is bound up in Christ.  Every blessing is tied to Christ and becomes ours by virtue of union with Christ.  We want to keep this in mind as we think ahead to Paul’s word in Ephesians 6 where he directs us to stand firm in Christ and to be strong in the Lord.

Ephesians 1:3-14 is one long sentence in the original language. This single statement unfolds in Trinitarian form, like the unfurling of the banner of our salvation, the flag of victory raised to herald the kingdom of God and His Christ. The Father appoints salvation in His predestinating love. The Son accomplishes salvation through His saving work on the cross.  The Spirit applies that finished redemption as He unites us to Christ in our effectual calling, sealing us to belong to God, purchased by the blood of the Son.

As the opening words of verse 3 and the closing words of verse 14 indicate, all praise and glory for our salvation belong to God alone.  This emphasis continues throughout Paul’s discussion of salvation in general and our salvation in particular.  We may savor the blessings that accrue to us in Christ, but it is the glory of God in His purpose, power and love with which the passage radiates.

A cursory view of the Sentence yields little that seems to directly address spiritual opposition.  Yet as we step into the stream of thought coursing throughout the letter, we will see the salvation mentioned in verse 13 is qualified by Christ’s victory over Satan and deliverance from his fallen kingdom.  Beginning with the prayer that concludes chapter one, the “for this reason” of verse 15 understands the salvation showcased in the Sentence in terms of deliverance.

Paul provides for us an important principle for spiritual warfare right from the start.  Deliverance from the bondage of sin and the tyranny of the devil comes not from our defeat of Satan but Christ’s.  The victory is His; the spoils are ours.  This tells us something about why Paul will later emphasize “standing firm in Christ” as the approach to the conduct of spiritual warfare.

The Sentence of Ephesians 1 is written against the backdrop of the “plan” mentioned in verse 10. God “works all things according the counsel of His own will.”  His purpose governs all that comes to pass. That purpose for salvation, described in terms of predestination, is the centerpiece of His plan.

That plan is couched in militaristic terms from its first articulation. The combatants are the serpent and the Son.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

Those words of God, spoken to the serpent, are expressed in battle language.  The Seed of the woman who would be born in the fullness of time would carry orders of redemption. That redemption would be accomplished through battle, defeat and victory.  That Seed would be the lone combatant.   He would destroy the works of the devil and deliver those in bondage to sin, bringing them into the kingdom of life and light that would never end.

Ephesians 1:3-14 declares that victory in keeping with God’s plan of redemption. The victory is in Christ, for those on whom God set His love and sent His Son.

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Note: Those interested in a more general study of spiritual warfare will find an brief overview in What is Spiritual Warfare? (Basics of the Faith Series).  My book, Warfare Witness: Contending With Spiritual Opposition in Everyday Evangelism, addresses evangelism from the perspective of spiritual warfare.  A study guide to the book is available under CHOP resources.