Spiritual Warfare in Paul’s Letter to Ephesus (4)

• Posted on sdgale
• in 'CHOP Talk' Blog
• on December 10, 2012
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(This article is the fifth in a series tracing the theme of spiritual opposition in Ephesians.)

Confidence in Christ

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. Ephesians 3:7-12

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians divides into two sections.  The first three chapters lay the theological foundation of redemption in Christ.  The final three chapters move to the practical application that rises from that foundation.  Chapters one through three declare God’s calling us to Himself in Christ.  Chapters four through six address what it looks like to live in a manner worthy of that calling as ones brought from death to life, from darkness to light.

As Paul brings his foundational comments to a close, he does two things.  One, he reiterates the marvel of what God has done for us in Christ.  He speaks in 3:8-10 of the “unsearchable riches of Christ” and the “manifold wisdom of God.”  God’s unfolding plan (v. 9) and eternal purpose (v. 11) are “realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  In case we missed it, Paul reminds us that every blessing is found in Christ. Every resource is bound up in Christ.  He wants to make sure we carry that foundational truth into the practice of the Christian life to which he next turns.

This redemptive reality is the topic for Paul in his apostolic ministry.  In addition, the church is identified as the instrument through which this good news is made known, something that Paul will explain in practice in Ephesians 4 and 6.

What does this have to do with spiritual conflict?  Paul says the “manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places.”  Elsewhere Paul says Christ is the wisdom of God and the wisdom of victory is seen in the warfare of the cross (1 Cor. 1-2).  Those in heavenly places are those in the unseen realm of spiritual beings.  To elect angels  (1 Tim. 5:21) the message of deliverance through the cross speaks of victory over sin.  To fallen angels that message speaks to defeat of Satan and demise of his kingdom.

The upshot of this victory realized in Christ for His church are boldness and confidence for us through the faith given us by God, in making us alive in Christ (v. 12).  Therefore, we do not lose heart in Paul’s suffering nor in ours (v. 13).

We gird ourselves for the spiritual conflict inherent in the ordinary course of the Christian life while we are in this world.  For that, Paul gives us confidence and encouragement that rests in Christ.  God’s redemptive purpose realized in Christ motivates our cause.

Paul uses the full title of our Redeemer, “Christ Jesus our Lord.”  He is the Christ, the promised Messiah of God.  He is Jesus, God incarnate to save from sin’s guilt and power.  He is Lord, to whom all authority has been given, before whom one day every knee will bow to the glory of God. He is our Lord in that He has delivered us to Himself by the work of the Holy Spirit.  No longer are we slaves to sin.  We are free in Christ.

The second foundational comment Paul makes before he turns to the outworking of our call is couched in the form of a prayer.  In Ephesians 1 Paul concludes with a prayer that the eyes of our hearts be enlightened to the reality of the hope to which God has called us.   Now in Ephesians 3 Paul expresses a prayer that the redemptive realities that enfold us would enable us to press on in complete and continual dependence on Christ in the exercise of the Christian life.

The prayer of Ephesians 3:14-21 discloses that the strength we need to live in a manner worthy of our calling, in the face of continued spiritual opposition will be found not in ourselves but in the power of Christ alone.  That power is ours through the Spirit who unites us to Christ.

The avenue to that power is prayer.

Prayer, we will see in Ephesians 6, is the overarching weapon for engagement in spiritual warfare.  Such prayer addresses all fronts, including increasing awareness that Christ dwells in our heart, with us now and to the end of the age.  Our prayer is an expression of the power of the new age at work within us (v. 20).

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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.