Ephesians 6:10

“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might”

Paul has discussed the "quality" of the relationships that Christians are to have with their brethren (Ephesians 4:2-Ephesians 4:32), with their spouses (Ephesians 5:22-33), with their children and parents (Ephesians 6:1), and with masters or servants (Ephesians 6:6-9). Now he discusses the type of relationship we are to have with evil. Every Christian is expected to be. warrior in the fight against evil (2 Corinthians 10:3; 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Peter 2:11; 2 Timothy 2:3; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7). We can never make "peace" with what is contrary to the will of God (1 John 2:15). These verses also infer that the devil is our sworn enemy (1 Peter 5:8; James 4:7). He will never completely leave us alone. We cannot naively say, “But. don't want to fight anyone”. “The abrupt transition from the ‘peaceful homes and healthful days' of the previous paragraphs to the hideous malice of devilish plots in this section causes us. painful shock, but an essential one. We all wish we could spend our lives in undisturbed tranquillity among our loved-ones at home. But the way of the escapist has been effectively blocked. Christians have to face the prospect of conflict with God's enemy and theirs. Moreover, there will be no cessation of hostilities, not even. temporary truce or cease-fire, until the end of life” (Stott p. 262).

“He supplies us with no biography of the devil, and no account of the origin of the forces of darkness. In any case, his purpose is not to satisfy our curiosity, but to warn us of their hostility and teach us how to overcome them. Is God's plan to create. new society? Then they will do their utmost to destroy it. Does God intend His reconciled and redeemed people to live together in harmony and purity? Then the powers of hell will scatter among them the seeds of discord and sin” (Stott pp. 261-262).

“Finally”: “I have no more to say except this” (Knox). Paul is now giving us the "key" to the peace, unity and purity previously described in this letter (Ephesians 4:1ff). “The peace which God has made through Christ's cross is to be experienced only in the midst of. relentless struggle against evil” (Stott pp. 262-263). "Peace" in the home (Ephesians 5:22-Ephesians 6:4) does not happen by accident and neither does peace and unity in the church. Christians do not accidentally fall into moral purity (Ephesians 5:1ff). Peace, unity, and purity are only achieved by. determined effort to stand opposed to evil. Peace in the home only happens when both spouses are determined to fight against the various temptations to allow "evil" into their personal lives, marriage, and home. “Be strong in the Lord”: “Find strength in your union with the Lord” (TCNT). “Draw your strength from the Lord” (Knox). “Strengthen yourselves in the Lord” (Bruce p. 403). Compare with 1 Samuel 2:6; Joshua 2:7; 1 Corinthians 16:13. “And in the strength of His might”: “Lit., ‘in the power of his strength'” (Boles p. 333).

Outside of Christ, and apart from God, man is completely unprepared to do battle with the devil. "If we rely merely upon our own ingenuity or if we try to press the battle with only the strategies and plans of men, we shall most certainly fail" (Spiritual Sword Lectureship p. 229). The "proof" of this reality is seen in the fact that everyone outside of Christ is. sinner (Romans 3:23), and has fallen for the devil's lies (Proverbs 16:25; Jeremiah 2:23; Romans 1:18 ff; 1 John 5:19). This "strength" available to the Christian is not mystical or miraculous, rather, to "strengthen" oneself in the Lord, to avail oneself to the "strength of His might", is described in the very next verse, that is, "Put on the whole armor of God". Compare with 1 Peter 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:1. Not only has God saved us, but God has also given us every "weapon", both defensive and offensive to overcome evil and to ensure that we make it to heaven.