Author: Nick Booth

Being strong in the Lord

Ephesians 6:10-23

Standing on victory ground – Ephesians 6:10

Paul concludes and summarizes his letter by drawing together aspects he has covered in his letter and making connections with wider scripture through the image of an armed soldier. This is perhaps the most well known section of Ephesians, it is often used in talks aimed at children because of the vivid illustration of a Roman soldier. Many a youth leader has relished dressing up with a cardboard shield and a plastic helmet. However, this is a passage for mature Christians facing up to the reality of Christian life in a hostile environment. Paul is not exaggerating for effect, what he describes is what all Christians will experience through a life of discipleship and the means by which they will be able to remain faithful. What the enemy would most desire is that Christians should not take this seriously and think the measures Paul describes are not really necessary. While a Roman soldier in full battle gear would have been a common and well understood image to his Gentile readers Paul is primarily drawing upon Old Testament passages that describe the armour of Yahweh (God, the absolute being, the “I Am Who I Am.” ^{Exodus 3:14}) Isaiah describes the Lord being displeased there was no justice and no one to intervene, ‘so his own arm achieved salvation …. He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.’ ^{Isaiah59:16-17} Paul also draws upon Isaiah’s prophesy about the forthcoming Messiah, ‘With righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked; Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.’ ^{Isaiah 11:4-5}

Paul changes his simile for Christian life from a walk, which he uses widely in his letters to the ability to stand. Behind this is the notion that Christiana are to be like a regiment of soldiers who hold or stand on the ground that has already been won. Christ has already won the victory over evil, death and sin through his death, resurrection and ascension. The Christian is not able to be victorious over sin and spiritual evil in his or her own strength but must rely and draw upon the strength of the Lord. ‘I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know …. his incomparably great power for us who believe. The power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.’ ^{Ephesians 1:18-21}

DAY 5- Reflecting on our personal relationships

As a family have you reflected on how your relationships show reverence for Christ?

If you are in a marriage or considering marriage have you placed the study of God’s word and obedience to his word at the heart of your relationship? What does being “one flesh” mean for the way you relate to one another?

Have you considered the missional aspect of your marriage?

What are the challenges in demonstrating honour and respect in your relationships as a parent or child? How does the revealed relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son inform your own relationships?

How does your own conduct as an employer or employee reflect your own relationship with Christ as Lord and Saviour?

Mighty to save

DAY 4. Employer / Employee relationships

Bonded servants were a normal form of employment in the First Century. The passage should not be read as an endorsement of bonded servitude. It recognized that many in the church may have been bonded servants or the employer/owner of a bonded servant. The passage lays responsibilities on both parties. How each should conduct themselves should be based on the relationship between Christ and the Christian. The Master should treat the servant as Christ treats the Christian. The Master should recognize that the servant is equal to him or her in in Christ. ^v6:8 The Master should not favour one servant over another and their attitude should be as Christ’s attitude towards the believer. At the heart of Christ’s attitude is righteousness, justice, mercy, purity, love and peacemaking. ^{Mathew 5:1-12} He calls all Christians to act in this way whatever their status or role.

Employers and employees should conduct themselves with the same attitudes as they serve Christ. In both cases how they conduct themselves should be living out the gospel and in their lives as employees or employers how they behave has a missional purpose revealing the saving work of Christ in their lives.

DAY 3. Parent / Child relations – Ephesians 6:1-4

God highly values the relationships between parents and children including them in the ten commandments. However, in Exodus and Deuteronomy it is only the child’s responsibility to honour the parent that is mentioned. Here the instruction includes the parent’s responsibility to the child. The balance in parental child relationships changes over the course of a life time. As in the marriage section the assumption is that the context of the instructions is that of a Christian family. The model for the human family is the relationship between the Christian and Christ as well as the relationship between Father and Son in the Godhead. Obedience to the Father mostly relates to a young child and parent. After all, when a child becomes an adult they frequently leave the parental home and marry to become one flesh with their marriage partner. However, honour and respect appropriately continue but take a different form. Jesus decried the Pharisee’s practice of not financially caring for their parents in old age by declaring they had devoted that money to the Lord. ^{Mark 7:11}

Parents need to be careful in their training of their children in the knowledge of the gospel. They clearly have a responsibility to bring children up in the faith but they are to do so in a way that shows understanding for the child and the love of Christ. ^{Ephesians 6:4} As the child matures into adulthood Godly parents remain a great blessing to their children. However, the manner of the advice should demonstrate respect for their maturity and their independent responsibility towards God.

DAY 2 Marriage as an expression of the gospel – Ephesians 5:22-28

The New Testament perspective on Christian marriage is one of the union being an image of Christ’s union with the church. This union is so close it is to be the two becoming one flesh. The phrase is clearly not literal it is an image of being so close that the two persons are fully united, spiritually, emotionally and physically for equal mutual benefit. It is love so intimate that it is like loving one who is a part of themselves. Paul calls it a profound mystery because it reflects the completeness of Christ’s love for the church. Just as Jesus has presented his bride, the church, as pure through his baptism which represents his death and resurrection and cleansed by the word, ^v5:28so in Christian marriage that bond should be maintained as pure and unblemished. A Christian marriage should be characterized by mutual love for Christ and dedication to him because of Jesus’ saving death and resurrection. A Christian marriage should also be maintained in its purity by the work of the word of God in their lives. A strong Christian marriage studies and lovingly applies the word of God to their lives together. In a Christ-like Christian marriage love and respect should co-exist. ^v5:33 Love should not patronize but recognize that both are equal heirs of God’s grace. ^{1 Peter 3:7} Recognition of that blessing makes the prayer life of the married couple more effective.

It is because Christian marriage is an image of Christ’s love for the church and the church’s love for Christ that it should be between two Christians. Christian marriage is missional in its purpose presenting an image of salvation. Where two people are married and only one of the couple is a Christian, scripture urges that the two remain married in the prayerful hope that the loving witness of the Christian will cause the other to be saved. ^{1 Corinthians 7:16} However the passages specifically on Christian marriage do not speak about a situation where a marriage is abusive and in such a situation love, righteousness and justice should be appropriately applied for the sake of the victim of abuse.