Lesson 13 Review: Waging Peace

Introduction

Memory Text: “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:16, 17, ESV).

Apostle Paul imagines a great army, the church, visiting God’s armory and suiting up in the divine panoplia, the Greek term for full, head-to-toe armor. Bunyan’s writing in 1678 from a prison resonates with Paul’s imagination where Christian is escorted into a palace armory and shown all manner of weaponry enough to harness out as many men for the service of the Lord, as there be stars in the heaven for multitude, where Christian is even fitted from head to foot.

What was victory in the Greek and Roman warfare dependent on?

Victory in Greek and Roman warfare was dependent on the cooperation of the soldiers in a military unit and especially in their support for each other in the heat of the battle.

What reasons support the idea that Paul, in line with his usual military understanding, is primarily addressing the church’s shared battle against evil in Ephesians 6:10-20?

1.       The passage is the climax of a letter that is all about the church. It would be strange for Paul to conclude his letter with a picture of a lone Christian warrior doing battle against the foes of darkness;

2.       At the end of the passage, Paul highlights Christian camaraderie in his call to prayer “for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18-20, ESV);

3.       Most significant of all, earlier in the letter when Paul discusses the powers of evil, he places them over against the church, not the individual believer: “So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10, ESV).

What are the descriptions of the church preceding the concluding description of the church as the army of the living God?

1.       The church as the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22, 23; Eph. 4:1-16),

2.       The building /temple of God (Eph. 2:19-22),

3.       and the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:21-33).

What does Paul’s warning of intense battle do for the readers?

Paul’s warning of intense battle (Eph. 6:13) prepares readers for his final call to stand and is a detailed call to arms.

What does it mean when Paul tells his readers to gird their waists with truth?

The belt served the essential function of tying up the garments and holding other items in place in the Roman legion. Truth is a gift from God (compare salvation in Eph. 2:8). When Paul tells his readers to gird their waist with truth, they are to “put on” God’s truth, to experience and use this divine gift. They do not so much possess God’s truth as God’s truth possesses them.

What does it mean when Paul urges believers to put on “the breastplate of righteousness” (compare 1 Thess. 5:8)?

The body armor of Paul’s day was either made of mail (small, intertwined iron rings), scale armor (small overlapping scales of bronze or iron), or bands of overlapping iron fastened together for protecting the vital organs from the blows and thrusts of the enemy. In an analogous way, believers are to experience the spiritual protection offered by God’s protective gift of righteousness.

What does righteousness mean?

In Ephesians, Paul associates righteousness with holiness, goodness, and truth (Eph. 4:24, Eph. 5:9), thinking of it as the quality of treating others justly and well, especially fellow church members.

What does Paul mean when He says “and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” (Eph. 6:15)?

‘By keeping alive the gospel story of Christ’s rescue and His victory past and looking toward the victory shout in the future, believers shod their feet and stand ready for battle. Like the messenger in Isaiah 52:7, believers are messengers proclaiming the victory of Christ and His peace.’

Why does Paul use military imagery to proclaim peace?

The church is to “wage peace” by employing the gospel arsenal of Christian virtues (humility, patience, forgiveness, etc.) and practices (prayer, worship) thats point toward God’s grand plan to unify all things in Christ (Eph. 1:9, 10).

What does it mean to take up “the shield of faith” (Eph. 6:16)?

‘To take up “the shield of faith” (Eph. 6:16) is to enter the cosmic battle with confidence in God, who fights on behalf of believers (Eph. 6:10), supplies the finest weaponry (Eph. 6:11, 13), and who ensures victory.’

What does “the helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6:17) symbolize?

‘Given the essential protection the helmet provided, “the helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6:17) symbolizes the present salvation believers experience in solidarity with the resurrected, ascended, and exalted Christ (Eph. 2:6-10).’

What does it mean to put on “the helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6:17)?

To put on “the helmet of salvation” means to reject the fear of spiritual powers so common in the time and, instead, to trust in the supreme power of Christ (compare Eph. 1:15-23, Eph. 2:1-10).

What does “the sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17) symbolize?

“the sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17) symbolizes the word of God.

Why can we say “the sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17) is the lead weapon?

We can say “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17) is the lead weapon because it refers to the broad promises of the gospel that we find in the Bible which also includes Ephesians 6:1-10.

What does it mean to take “the sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17)?

To take “the sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17) can simply mean taking the promises of hope and victory from the divine Commander in Chief even as it is contained in the word of God.

What is the integral part of Paul’s battle exhortation and military metaphor?

Prayer. Crucial, continuing prayer “for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18, NKJV).

What are the prayer requests in Paul’s exhortation in Eph. 6:18-20?

In the first of two prayer requests, Paul asks the addressees to participate in fervent, urgent, and perseverant prayer “for all the saints” (Eph.6:18, NKJV). This is to ensure the success of the church in the battle against the powers of evil.

Paul’s second prayer request is for himself: “and also for me” (Eph. 6:19, ESV) that God might grant him the right message (“that words may be given to me”), at the right time (“in opening my mouth”), delivered in the right way (“boldly to proclaim”), and addressing a most important theme, “the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19, ESV) ¾ God’s intervention in Christ to redeem Gentiles along Jews (see Eph. 3:1-13).

What answers does Paul’s military metaphor suggest is the reason why believers should participate in earnest, persevering prayer?

1.       The threat of spiritual battle against an array of supernatural enemies is dire and real and

2.       God’s promises of spiritual strength and victory are illustrated through Paul’s military imagery (Eph. 6:10-17).

What is one of the benefits that earnest, persevering prayer brings?

Earnest, persevering prayer provides opportunity for us to listen carefully to these promises, to celebrate them, and to thank God for the resources of His grace.

In Conclusion,

As believers, we are to “wage peace” by employing the gospel arsenal of Christian virtues and practices that point toward God’s plan to unify all things in Christ. It is only when we put on the full armor of Christ that we can go forth to work with hearts full of Christ-like tenderness, compassion, and love. I pray that God helps us to wage peace and put on His whole armor in Jesus’ name.