Group Guide: Ephesians 6:10-17

Last week, we looked at these verses with a focus on the believer’s enemy in the spiritual battle all believers are engaged in. Satan is a real, personal enemy that schemes against the children of God. Instead of standing firm in the faith, standing firm in Christ, and standing firm in love for God and one another, Satan attempts to defeat believers so that their love for God, love for one another, and contentment in Christ are superficial and meaningless.

It has already been noted that Satan’s attack comes by way of his lies. In John 8:44, Jesus says that Satan is not only a liar, but he is the father of all lies. Christians are defeated and live defeated lives when they live their lives based on the lies of the devil. To fight this battle, Christians must put on “the whole armor of God.” In describing this armor, Paul lists six things;

• The belt of truth (verse 14).

• The breastplate of righteousness (verse 14).

• The boots of peace (verse 15).

• The shield of faith (verse 16).

• The helmet of salvation (verse 17),

• The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (verse 17).

Taken as a whole, what Paul is telling the believer to put on is the truth of God. We fight Satan, the Father of lies, with the truth. And the truth of God is found in His word. Jesus said that he was the truth. In the first chapter of the book of Ephesians, God tells us the truth about who we are “in Christ”. Our identity is who we are in Christ as citizens of His Kingdom. The truth is;

• We have been chosen by God (1:4).

• We have been predestined to adoption (1:5).

• We have been redeemed and forgiven of our sins (1:7).

• We have been made God’s inheritance (1:11).

• We have been made alive (2:5).

• We have come to be a peace with God and others (2:14-15).

• We have been chosen to be part of the people who show forth the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places (3:10).

In Christ, we are loved and accepted. In him we have been forgiven and shown grace. In him, we are confident about the future. In him we are complete. This is the truth that we stand in. And as we stand in this truth, we stand firm in our love for God and others. This truth brings peace with God that allows us to have peace with self, which allows us to have peace with and love for others. This truth is what sets us free and allows us to stand firm in our faith and withstand the attacks of Satan. The armor of God is the truth of God.