# 35: 3-11-11

Ephesians 6:14-24
Paul concludes his letter to the assemblies in Asia with a call for the believers to stand against the wiles of
the devil. We have learned that Paul is calling them to stand in the collective sense, as a body of believers
but that this stand also involves individual responsibility.
Paul speaks of the believers as if they are soldiers, standing together against a common enemy in a conflict.
We have seen that this conflict is the war for souls, between God and Satan the souls of unregenerate
men. And last week, we saw that the weapons of this warfare are words; concepts; doctrine; the lies of
Satan and his minions, versus the truth.
Paul listed four categories of angelic beings who perpetuate Satans deceptions, working through human
agents to sow the enemys lies such as the false teachers, who were coming into the assemblies. We find
a good illustration of this in Pauls first letter to Timothy. Turn to First Timothy chapter 4. Paul warned
Timothy in this letter several times about false teachers.
[First Timothy 4:1-3] This is something that the Holy Spirit had revealed to Paul, concerning the last days;
the church age.
He writes that some will depart from the faith. The word depart in the Greek is speaking of apostasy;
falling away from ones original position. So Paul is speaking here of some who professed to believe into
Christ, but abandoned that position, having bought into the lies of the enemy; they chose to believe
deceiving spirits, and their doctrines.
This does not mean doctrine concerning demons, but demons doctrine; their false teaching. These are the
demonic angelic ranks of whom we read in Ephesians.
But as we continue with Pauls thought, it becomes apparent that they have used human agents to
perpetuate their lies it is men who have consciences in this case, seared with a hot iron, meaning they
are insensitive to the truth.
The third verse shows some of the deceptions they have introduced; legalistic works, perhaps an early form
of asceticism. So we see that it is unregenerate men, who have bought into the doctrine of the devil and his
angels, who then willingly spread his lies to others, in the war for souls.
Now, we commonly say among ourselves that in the war for souls, the battle is for the thinking; and thats a
true statement. But it is important to recognize that this is not a personal war of the enemy against you
individually, with the battle being for your thinking, as his goal.
As your soul has already been won to Christ, you have the mind of Christ. Your thinking is not the specific
objective of the enemy; it is merely an obstacle to his true objective. His true objective is to keep
unregenerate souls in the dark to God, lest they also be won to Christ.
Now, as a believer, having the mind of Christ, the light of your thinking can dispel that darkness. So if the
enemy can move believers from the truth, if he can diminish the light, he will advance his cause in the war
for souls; he will keep the unregenerate in the dark.
Paul describes Satans tactics in his second retained letter to the Corinthians, which we looked at last week.
Turn to Second Corinthians chapter 4.

# 35: 3-11-11

You may recall that this letter reflects Pauls great relief concerning the assembly in Corinth, who had
bought into some false teaching, but now had once again embraced the truth. Paul had been writing about
the ministry of the Spirit (2 Cor 3:8), which is the gospel, by which men are reconciled to God. This is also
Pauls ministry, specifically to share the gospel with the Gentiles.
Once again, we find indirect references to the false teachers laced throughout this section of the letter. It is
apparent from this passage that the false teachers which came to Corinth has touted their own credentials,
and disparaged Paul, in addition to preaching their lies.
[Second Corinthians 4:1-7]
v. 1-2 To lose heart means abandoning oneself to cowardly surrender. From Pauls wording in verse 2, it
would seem that the false teachers had accused him of these things the very things that they themselves
were guilty of!
The hidden things of shame is speaking of the acts of a hypocrite. Craftiness refers to lies. Handling
the word of God deceitfully means tampering with it; that is, adding lies to the truth. Instead of coming to
Corinth with letters of commendation, like the false teachers (2 Cor 3:1), Paul points out that the truth of
the gospel he preaches demonstrates Gods approval of him.
v. 3 What does a veil do? It blocks the light. Paul is using this metaphor, as he did in chapter 3, to bring
out the idea of truth that does not penetrate a mind.
Paul is continuing on his thought concerning the slander of the false teachers against him. It would seem
that they accused him of not giving the Corinthians the whole truth, or of changing the truth with lies; that
is, that Paul preached to them a gospel that was veiled. False teachers used a similar tactic in Galatia
against Paul, to introduce the idea of their own supposedly complete gospel, which included the Law.
Paul plays off of that accusation here, by saying, even if our gospel is veiled. It isnt veiled in terms of
the truth of it; it is the whole truth; the light of the gospel is shining, giving out its light, in all its fullness.
How then is Pauls gospel veiled? Its veiled on the receiving end; it is veiled to the minds of those who are
perishing. And then Paul indicates who it is who has put that veil, in place.
v. 4 Who is the god of this age that is, this world system? Satan. Here is his principal tactic, in the war
for the souls of unregenerate men.
Satan blinds their minds; he finds ways to keep the truth from penetrating into the minds of unbelievers. In
this case, he blocks the light with the lies of the false teachers. This is the key objective of the enemy, in
the war for the souls of men. The battle is indeed for the thinking principally, for the thinking of the
unregenerate, to keep them in the dark.
v. 5-7 Paul and his fellow teachers have the light of the gospel the power of God unto salvation - to
dispel the darkness of unbelief. As we saw last week, they are on the offensive in the war for souls. But all
true believers have that same light, dont they? It is the responsibility of all believers to watch over
carefully and preserve the truth; to defend the thinking of God, that has been entrusted to their keeping.
[Return to Ephesians 6]

# 35: 3-11-11

Well continue in the passage now, as we learn how it is that believers are empowered to stand against the
devils wiles by the power of the Lords might. Well read through the end of the metaphor, which
actually blurs into the concluding words of the letter.
[Ephesians 6:11-19a]
We had learned that the whole armor of God, as Paul writes here, means both offensive and defensive
armor. But in Pauls exhortation to stand, it is clear that he is instructing the assemblies to use their armor
in a defensive manner; they are to stand against the devils angels. And it is only with this armor the
armor of God that they will be able empowered to withstand; for the opposition is great.
When are they to make their stand? In verse 13 in the evil day. The evil day is another way of saying this
present evil age (Gal 1:4), the age dominated by Satans world system. This is a day that has been going on
for the church for 2000 years!
Thats why when Paul tells the believers to put on, or take up the whole armor of God, he uses the verb
form which indicates a one-time action. Every member of the Body of Christ, in every assembly,
throughout the church age, is to put on the whole armor of God, and then to keep it on because they will
always be needing it. And once they have put on all of Gods armor, they are then empowered to stand.
So what is the whole armor of God? Well, as we learned last week, its not only the armor that God
provides, but His very own armor, noting the two pieces that were described by the prophet Isaiah for the
Redeemer, which were clearly in Pauls mind as he wrote this passage (Is 59:17).
But Paul expands Isaiahs list here, in order to clarify to believers just what it is that empowers them to
stand against the deceptions of the devil. Paul mentions six specific pieces of the armor that was worn by
Roman soldiers in his day; he could have included others, but these six were what Paul needed to make his
point.
The pieces are named in the order in which they would be put on, by a soldier, starting with the
undergarment, and working outward to the actual weaponry. In this way, Paul is causing his readers to
envision the actual putting on of the armor; the soldiers preparation for conflict.
Paul associates a concept with each piece of armor six pieces of armor, six concepts. These concepts are
not exclusive, but overlap in significance.
Three of them the truth, the gospel of peace, and the Word of God speak of the doctrine, or teaching,
concerning Christ, in general. The other three righteousness, faith, and salvation relate to key doctrinal
concepts concerning Christ key teachings.
So what we see is that to put on the armor of God generally relates to defense of the believers thinking
with the truth of God the Word, and the words of Gods Word.
There is further significance to the specific armor which Paul names, as we will see, in considering each
piece.
v. 14a In Pauls day, the regular garments that people wore were tunics, which were loose and flowing.
Can you visualize what a problem this would be, in a battle? First of all, it would be easy for the soldier to
trip on his own tunic. And secondly, the enemy could get a grip on the soldier much more easily, if his
garments did not adhere to his body tightly.

# 35: 3-11-11

For this reason, the very first thing a soldier would do, in preparing for battle, was to gird his waist; also
referred to as girding his loins. The hem of the tunic was wrapped about the hips, and tucked into a belt,
which held everything in its place. Paul calls this belt truth that which held everything tightly in its
place, so that the soldier did not stumble; so that the enemy could not get a hold of him.
Now, in the Greek, truth does not have a definite article in front of it; it is not the truth; it is simply
truth. When the Greek lacks the definite article like this, it is most often intended to point out the quality
of something. This is truth, in contrast to lies.
The key to understanding what Paul means by truth here is in its function, in the soldiers armor. The belt
was the first thing, beneath everything else, by which everything was bound into place, holding it securely
in its grasp.
So what is truth? Jesus said to His Father, Your word is truth (Jn 17:17). The Fathers word is the
expression and the execution of His plan for His creation of mankind, to have sons of God in His glorious
image.
Paul spoke of this plan at the very beginning of this letter. Turn back to Ephesians chapter 1.
[Ephesians 1:3-5] Here is the Fathers plan, from before the foundation of the world: that men would
choose to become His born sons, through faith in Jesus Christ, so that they could be holy and without blame
before Him; in the presence of their loving Father.
Here is the essential truth; Gods eternal covenant for Life everlasting, in His Christ. This truth is what
underlies all of history. It is the foundational truth, around which all else is fitted into place or finds no
place, if it is not of the truth. And it is the absolute and unchangeable truth; its fulfillment is ensured by the
Fathers word. We are secure in it.
To be girded meant to be ready for battle; for any attack. When the truth of Gods plan is tightly in place,
the believer will not stumble into a lie; the enemy will be unable to get a hold of him, with a deception.
First Peter 3:15 says, Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. The believer has a ready defense, based on his
grasp of Gods plan which is the reason for his hope.
The second piece of armor Paul mentions is found in the remainder of verse 14.
v. 14b The breastplate was a part of the armor that covered the body from the neck to the thighs. It was
usually made of leather, overlaid with metal or animal horn. The breastplate was essential for protecting
the vital organs, in battle. This is one of the two pieces of armor mentioned by Isaiah as worn by the
Redeemer (Is 59:17) - Christ.
In the Greek, righteousness is preceded by the definite article the meaning that Paul is referring to a
specific righteousness, and not the quality of righteousness. What would you think is the righteousness of
God, His armor, that protects the believer? It would be the righteousness of Christ.

# 35: 3-11-11

But the idea of the breastplate here is not speaking of the righteousness of Christ, that protects us from
condemnation; the believer has already been delivered from condemnation. Paul is speaking about the
believers understanding of the basis of his righteousness how Christ has made him free from all charges
of sin and guilt; how he has been made righteous in Christ, on the basis of faith alone. Paul is speaking
about the believer truly understanding how he has been justified by God.
Pauls whole letter to the Galatian assemblies makes it abundantly clear that unless believers understand
that they become righteousness by virtue of being in Christ through faith, they can be deceived into
believing that they must be justified before God on some other basis such as their own works.
This was also a central theme of Pauls letter to the assembly in Rome. Turn to Romans chapter 3. Paul
wrote of how a man is justified before God; how he is made righteous. First Paul indicates how a man is
not justified.
[Romans 3:20-26]
v. 20 The law never made anyone righteous; instead, it made him acutely aware of his unrighteousness.
v. 21-22a The righteousness of God is apart from the Law; that is, it cannot be obtained through the Law.
At the same time, the ceremonial law and the prophecies in the OT bear witness to the way in which a man
can be made righteous for there we find the pictures and the foretellings of the Christ. Paul is saying, not
by the works of the Law, but by simple faith in Christ, is a man made righteous.
v. 22b-23 When Paul says, there is no difference, he means there is no difference between Jew and
Gentile, which he has already been discussing in his letter. Both are justified in the same way through
faith in Christ.
All have sinned; so no one can justify himself before a holy God. All come short of the glory that God has
in store for them as a glorified son of God. All have the same need to be justified by One who is able to
satisfy Gods justice, with His own perfect righteousness.
v. 24-25a through faith. We could not justify ourselves, but in His grace, God did so for us through
Christ Jesus. Propitiation means satisfaction. Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ in our stead, Gods
justice was satisfied concerning sin. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin we have been
redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Having been freed from sin, God justifies us; He declares us free from
all charges of sin and guilt, and we are made righteous, by virtue of being in Christ.
v. 25b-26 to demonstrate of the one who has faith in Jesus. God extended mercy to those who
lived before Christ came and put away sin, by passing over their sins temporarily, so that they, too, could be
saved.
In Christ, God showed forth the basis of His righteousness how a man is justified before Him. It is
through the man simply putting his faith in Jesus. Jesus, who knew no sin, was made sin for us, so that we
might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21).
[Return to Ephesians 6]

# 35: 3-11-11

It is through understanding the basis of his righteousness that the believer is protected from being deceived
into justifying himself through good works one of the chief wiles of the devil. In the metaphor, the inner
man is covered by righteousness, as the breastplate covers the torso. Here is the new man, created
according to God, in true righteousness and holiness as Paul has written to them already in this letter
(Eph 4:24).
Paul continues with a third piece of armor.
v. 15 Roman soldiers wore sandals that were half-boots, which enabled the sandals to be well-secured to
the feet. These half-boots had nails driven through them outward, like cleats, so that they would grip the
ground in combat. They provided the soldier with a firm foundation, so that he was anchored where he
stood; he could not be moved.
To what does Paul liken the Roman soldiers sandal? The preparation of the gospel of peace. The word
preparation here means basis or foundation; a firm footing. So what is the believers firm footing? The
gospel of peace. This is the good news that the believer has embraced; that he, who was at enmity with
God, now has peace with God because he has been justified by faith. Go back to Romans this time,
chapter 5.
[Romans 5:1-2, 10]
v. 1 By faith, we have been justified and what does that mean? Freed of all charges of sin and guilt, and
made righteous. It was sin that separated us from God, and put us at enmity with Him. Now that our sin
has been taken away by Jesus, we are no longer separated from God; the source of the enmity has been
removed.
v. 2 Verse 1 speaks of our past. This verse speaks of our present and future. Through Christ, in whom we
have put our faith, we now, in the present, stand in the grace of God. Theres our firm footing.
And we rejoice in hope of the glory of God; thats our know-so future hope, that as God has justified us, He
has also glorified us (Rm 8:30); by faith, it has already been accomplished.
Skip down to verse 10.
v. 10 This is a description of the peace process. Through the death of Jesus, we have been justified; our
sins have been forgiven. This is the redemption through His blood, through which were reconciled to
God; we now have peace with God.
But theres much more to this reconciliation. Through the life that Jesus brought out of death, our bodies
will also be redeemed, as bodies of glory, which will enable us to enter into the very presence of God.
Thats the fullest reconciliation one can have; to actually live with God, in His heavenly home. Thats the
standing that we have, because of what Jesus has done for us; a standing of complete peace with God.
Were no longer at enmity; were even more than friends; we actually members of His family. We couldnt
have a firmer standing than this!
[Return to Ephesians 6]
Paul continues in verse 16 with the fourth piece of armor.

# 35: 3-11-11

v. 16 A common interpretation of this verse is that the fiery darts are temptations, which Satan hurls at the
believer, trying to get him to sin. But that would be personalizing the verse, and taking it out of context.
We have the plural you in the Greek in this verse, reminding us that these are directives for the collective
of believers in the assemblies. Also, we have seen that each of the pieces of armor relates to the defense of
the thinking of believers against the lies and deceptions that the devils agents would try to bring into the
assemblies. So, lets consider what Paul is saying within that context.
Fiery darts were arrows that were dipped in pitch and then set on fire. These were slowly lobbed at the
shields of the defending army, so as not to extinguish their blaze. If the arrow found its mark on a wooden
shield, the shield could catch fire, leaving the soldier unprotected, creating a breach in the line of defense,
which the enemy could penetrate.
But the Romans had a way to foil this fiery weapon. Roman soldiers were equipped with large rectangular
wooden shields, four feet high. The front of their shields were covered in leather, which was wetted before
a battle.
When under attack, the soldiers could actually lock their shields together, creating a seamless barrier. The
wetted shields then quenched any fiery arrows the enemy might volley against them. Once the Romans
closed rank in this manner, they were considered virtually invincible.
The fiery darts, then, are another way of expressing the insidious lies of the wicked one, as he tries to
penetrate the assemblies through his false teachers. And what is the defense for this? The shield of faith,
being above all, as Paul says, meaning covering all.
When believers stand together in their faith, the arrows of the enemy can find no mark. The deceptions will
be repelled; the fiery darts are quenched. This is the victory that has overcome the world our faith (1 Jn
1:4).
But what faith is this? Is this speaking of our faithfulness; of our own trustworthiness? No; this is the
armor of God. This is speaking of the shield of the faith; we have the definite article in the Greek. This is
the faith of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the author and finisher of the faith (Heb 12:2). Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures;
and He was buried; and He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3-4). We have a
complete faith a completed faith and so we have complete protection from the enemy.
Paul had written earlier in this letter about the saints being equipped with the doctrines of Christ so that
they will all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph 4:12-13). The unity
of the faith is like those interlocking shields, wetted with the water of the Word, that quenches the fiery
darts of the wicked one.
Paul names a fifth piece of armor.
v. 17a The helmet of salvation was the second piece of the Redeemers armor in Isaiahs prophecy (Is
59:17). Psalm 140:7 says, O LORD, my Lord, my strong deliverer, you have covered my head in the day
of battle.

# 35: 3-11-11

It is Christs helmet that covers the believers head; Christs thinking protects our thinking. In this case,
Paul is specifically relating this to salvation. But Paul does not mean that the believer must protect himself
with salvation, from the enemy, as if he could be retaken. In First Thessalonians 5:8, Paul says that the
believers helmet is the hope of salvation; his assurance of it. Thats the believers protection from the
deceptions of the enemy.
A soldier does not fight well without a hope of victory. And we as believers have that hope; our know-so
hope. Turn to First Peter chapter 1. Peter wrote to believers that were enduring fiery trials, to encourage
them.
[First Peter 1:3-5]
v. 3 It is fathers who beget, through their seed. We have been begotten again, through the seed of the
Father, which Jesus brought down from heaven, and released to mankind, through His resurrection from
death, as the Seed-grain (Jn 12:24). Now we are the Fathers born children, and we have a living hope.
which Peter describes further.
v. 4-5 What is this inheritance, reserved in heaven for us? Our bodies of glory; reserved, in the eternal plan
of God, in heaven; to be realized in time in the resurrection of the just. This is the salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time the redemption of our bodies (Eph 1:14).
This salvation is our know-so hope of victory; in fact, we already have been given the victory, through our
Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:57). Paul has mentioned early in Ephesians that the Holy Spirit is the
believers guarantee of that inheritance (Eph 1:14).
It is that assurance which provides a continual protection for our thinking. Paul understood this well.
Return once more to Second Corinthians chapter 4. Remember that to lose heart means to abandon oneself
to cowardly surrender. Paul is once again considering his conflict with the false teachers.
[Second Corinthians 4:16-18]
v. 16 Believers are being transformed, by the renewing of their minds, with the mind of Christ.
v. 17-18 Here you can see Pauls thinking, overlaid with His Lords thinking; the helmet of salvation,
through which he sees life here on earth.
Looking out through that helmet, Paul views life with a heavenly perspective. He sees that life here is just
temporary; that afflictions here are just light, and just for a moment. And all the sufferings endured here, in
the Lord, are transmuted to glory, in heaven. Paul views life through his know-so hope of salvation, as a
glorified son of God. And his know-so hope of victory caused him to fight well; he did not lose heart.
[Return to Ephesians 6]
We come to the last piece of armor that Paul mentions.
v. 17b Although a sword can be used as an offensive weapon, Paul is referring here to its defensive ability.
The short sword was a weapon used by the Roman soldier when in close battle with the enemy.
Defensively, it was used to meet the enemys weapon, and fend off the attack.

# 35: 3-11-11

The author to the Hebrews also describes the word of God as being like a sword. Turn to Hebrews chapter
4.
[Hebrews 4:12] The descriptions of the word of God here are hyperbole; they are meant to emphasize the
Words supernatural abilities. The idea is that soul and spirit, joints and marrow are so intertwined that they
cannot be divided; yet the Word of God is so sharp, so defining that it is like a sword with supernatural
slicing abilities.
And this sword is two-edged; the Word of God is so discerning that it can reveal the genuine motives of the
heart what is of self, and what is of God. It is so powerful, that it can expose any deception, no matter
how deeply hidden.
And the Word of God is living; it is God-breathed the words of the true and living God. It continues to
speak from generation to generation; it is always valid, always fresh, always true.
[Return to Ephesians 6]
Paul is showing here how to meet the enemys lies not with your own word, but with the Word of God
the sword of the Spirit. Being the Spirits sword, he must show the believer how to wield it; when to
swing, and when to hold back; and what the thrust must be. We are to take the sword of the Spirit, the Word
of God; but the Spirit must show us how to use it.
Now, in order to have the Word of God as a weapon, we must first be familiar with it. Someone who does
not know the Word of God is incapable of using it to fend off lies; he is more likely to wind up injuring
himself.
I want to show you an example of a group of people who made excellent soldiers, in holding the battle line
for the faith once they came to believe, themselves. Turn to Acts chapter 17. Paul and Silas had just left
Thessalonica because of persecution from the unbelieving Jews there.
[Acts 17:10-12]
v. 10-11 The Berean Jews were willing to consider what Paul and Silas were saying. They took what they
heard, and went to the Scriptures every day, to see if it were true. And they saw that it was true.
v. 12 The Word of God, the sword of the Spirit, rightly divided the matter for them. You can see that the
Berean Jews who became believers would have made formidable soldiers in the war for souls.
[Return to Ephesians 6]
As Paul brings his letter to its conclusion, we see that verse 18 leaves behind the actual metaphor of the
soldier in battle, but Paul still has that soldier in his mind as he wraps up.
v. 18-20 The participle form used in verse 18 praying, being watchful follows the string of participles
that Paul used in his metaphor, all of which came off of his command, in verse 14, to stand. We can take it,
then, that as Paul exhorted the believers to pray and be watchful, he was still considering their role, in the
conflict.

# 35: 3-11-11

10

And that makes sense. Good soldiers are always watchful; they are always on the alert for the enemy, and
for his attacks; they are never taken by surprise; they dont sleep, with an enemy afoot. The picture here is
to be in a constant state of readiness, which one can be in the Spirit.
But what about praying? Good soldiers must always be in touch with their Commander-in-Chief, right?
How else would they know what their part is, in the conflict? And how else could they help their fellow
saints in the conflict the other believers in the assembly except to submit their requests to the Lord?
How else could they stand together with the same mind, the mind of Christ to fend off the deceptions of
the world?
It is only the Lord who knows what good is; who knows what must be done, in the conflict; who knows
how to meet the attack of the enemy; and who has the power to do so. The battle is the LORDs (1 Sa
17:47).
This is rather different from the concept of the prayer warrior that is created from this passage, isnt it?
The idea there seems to be of one who uses the power of prayer to influence God on behalf of others. A
good soldier recognizes his utter dependence on his Commander-in-Chief to give direction and strength in
the conflict.
Paul tells them to pray for each other always and for him, as well. Does he ask them to pray that he be
released? That he would be protected from harm? That he would be delivered from suffering?
No; Paul asks them to pray that the Lord would give him the right words to speak, at the right time, and that
he would not hesitate to open his mouth to speak them, when the time came. Paul was asking them to pray
for his part in the conflict; to wield the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, as the Lord advanced His
cause, through Paul.
Paul had much opportunity to witness, in Rome; he was praying for that witness, to make known the
mystery of the gospel the good news of Christ. Then it wouldnt be a mystery, anymore.
Pauls letter to the Philippians, which was written later, near the end of this imprisonment, makes it clear
that Paul was empowered by the Lord to give that witness; look right in the next letter, Philippians, chapter
1.
[Philippians 1:12-13] The whole praetorian guard heard the gospel.
Turn to Philippians chapter 4.
[Philippians 4:22] Members of the household of Caesar became believers, as well. And perhaps at Pauls
trial, he would have gotten the opportunity to witness before Caesar himself, and his court; the Lord did say
that Paul would bear his name before kings (Acts 9:15). Paul clearly received boldness to deliver his
witness!
[Return to Ephesians]
Paul calls himself here an ambassador in chains. Ambassadors were to be received with all the respect
due to the ones who sent them. They were messengers, and so were considered immune from hostility,
even if they represented an enemy kingdom.

# 35: 3-11-11

11

Here is Paul, an ambassador of the greatest King and greatest kingdom. Yet Paul is in chains for his
mission of peace; an ambassador in chains, for the Lord.
v. 21-22 Tychicus was not just a man who delivered Pauls letters. He would have been capable of
ministering in the assemblies to which Paul sent him, reinforcing Pauls teaching in his letters. He would
give the assemblies news of Paul, and eventually return to Paul and given a report of how the assemblies
were doing. This was Pauls trusted fellow worker, in the gospel.
Remember that Tychicus would be circulating this letter through various assemblies in the Roman province
of Asia. He would also carry the letter to the Colossians and the letter to Philemon to their destinations, at
this time. It would be a long trip.
v. 23-24 So Paul concludes his letter, much as he began it. Peace to the brethren they have peace with
God; Paul extends to them the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, which will guard their hearts
and minds.
And he extends to them the love of God, which they have already received, by faith that they may abound
in it. And as Paul finishes, he extends Gods grace to those who love Jesus.
Sincerity actually means incorruptibility, speaking of the body. So Paul is actually saying something
more like, Grace and immortality be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ amen? Amen!
Next week: begin Romans. Read chapter 1, 15:14-16:27.