One New Humanity: Mission in EphesiansSample

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:1–24

The final chapter of Ephesians continues Paul’s instructions on family relationships. Whether we’re responsible for someone else (like a family member or an employee) or have obligations to someone else (like parents or an employer), it matters for the mission how we treat them. As we show honor and respect in those relationships, we serve the Lord, please him (vv. 5–9), and embrace the path of flourishing (v. 2). But, like the marriage relationship we explored yesterday, our habits of obedience, respect, care, and service also display to those around us what it means to know the Lord and be transformed by him in our everyday lives.

Ephesians concludes with the famous passage on the armor of God. What can we learn here about God’s mission? First, like Paul, as we seek to boldly make known the mystery of the Gospel (v. 19), we are engaged in a spiritual battle. As we pray and share our faith, we face unbelieving hearts and minds that are spiritually dead because of sin (2:1). But ultimately, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against all the spiritual powers of evil who are in the unseen spiritual realms that we’ve talked about before (v. 12). However, our job is not primarily to engage in aggressive spiritual warfare but to take our stand in that battle (vv. 11, 13–14) by donning defensive armor to protect us. The battle may seem to be raging still, but in the end, the war has already been won by Jesus.

How are we to stand? By being strengthened by God himself (vv. 10, 11, 13, 17) with his own armor (see Isaiah 11:4; 59:17). These protective pieces of the armor (belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, and helmet) are identified with the benefits of salvation given to us by God: truth, righteousness, peace, and faith. However, in light of Ephesians 4–5, they also relate to the virtues we should put on. We often think of the armor as something for us as individuals (i.e., I put on the armor), but as is often the case, Paul speaks in the second-person plural: all of you, as the church, must put on the armor together. It was the Roman army of Paul’s day that could stand strong against the oppressor, not the lonely Roman soldier. As we live in truth, righteousness, peace, and faithfulness among ourselves, our unity protects us from the devil’s schemes (v. 11) and his fiery attacks (v. 16) to sow division in the church and lead us into sin.

The only truly offensive piece of the armor is the sword supplied by the Spirit, which is the Word of God (v. 17). The “Word” used here probably refers to the “mystery” of the Gospel message we are to proclaim (v. 15, 19). Prayer is not described as a piece of the armor (v. 18), but it’s the way we depend on God in the battle as we don the armor. As we engage in mission, we enter a spiritual battle, and the key to standing firm is prayer. We must pray at all times, empowered by the Spirit, with alertness, and with zealous devotion—not just for those we seek to reach, but for each other to stand strong in the struggle (v. 18). In Paul’s requests, we see the mode of a missionary (vv. 18–20). Like Paul, we are Christ’s ambassadors (v. 20; see 2 Corinthians 5:20). Let us pray that we, and all of God’s holy people, may live and speak boldly so that the world may know the peace, love, and faith that we already experience (v. 23).

Want to join in with God’s mission? OMS can help you on that journey.

Learn more about One Mission Society by going to www.onemissionsociety.org.