There is more going on around us than we can see. The physical world is surrounded by the spiritual realm. A spiritual battle rages around us.
I grew up during a time of heightened awareness of the spiritual realm. I remember lying in bed as a high school student, heart pounding and eyes glued to Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness. I recall driving past Hindu temples in Trinidad overwhelmed by a feeling of spiritual darkness. Our church hosted workshops based on Neil Anderson’s The Bondage Breaker. We were taught to put on the armor of God piece by piece and to claim the blood of Jesus when confronting dark spiritual forces.
Is this how we are supposed to respond to the truth that our world is more than what meets the eye?
Paul begins and ends his letter to the church in Ephesus with a cosmic perspective. He begins, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…” (Eph. 1:3). He concludes by reminding us that our struggle is not ultimately against human beings, but against the unseen forces of darkness: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).
A biblical perspective, therefore, does not ignore the spiritual forces at work in this present world. However, the Bible’s response to those forces is different from the response many of us have been taught. Rather than giving us techniques, the Bible teaches us to respond to the powers and principalities by uniting with Christ.
Let’s return to Paul’s conclusion of Ephesians:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Eph. 6:10-20
Notice a few things about this passage. First, Paul urges us to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Eph. 6:10). Note the double “in.” Paul wants us to understand that our strength is found in Christ alone. Paul doesn’t tell us to find our strength in Christ to pivot to putting on the armor of God. The armor of God is not an add-on to Christ; it is Christ.
Paul did not invent the imagery of spiritual armor. He was drawing from the prophet Isaiah, who described the Lord Himself putting on righteousness as a breastplate and salvation as a helmet. Isaiah gives us a picture of God’s burning anger at the lack of righteousness and truth. Upset that nothing is being done to address it, he takes on armor himself and enters the fray:
14 Justice is turned back,
and righteousness stands far away;
for truth has stumbled in the public squares,
and uprightness cannot enter.
15 Truth is lacking,
and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.
17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. Is. 59:14-17
The armor of God is often misunderstood as tools a Christian can use to battle spiritual forces in this world. But the belt of truth, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit are not additions to our relationship with Christ, but all flow from our relationship with him (for more on this, I heartily encourage you to read David Powlison’s Safe and Sound). The armor of God is Christ.
The Bible never tells us to pray the blood of Jesus or for a hedge of protection (see this helpful article). It is true that the blood of Jesus is precious and has secured our salvation (Rev. 12:11). The practice of applying the blood of Jesus misuses the imagery of the Passover. Consider that the blood of the Passover lamb averted the Angel of God, not demonic forces. More importantly, the blood of Jesus is applied to believers once for salvation (returning to Ephesians, Paul says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses…” (Eph. 1:7)). We do not need to reapply the blood for our salvation, nor is there any indication that the blood of Jesus is to be used as a spiritual talisman or amulet.
I’m grateful to the writers I encountered in my youth for opening my eyes to a spiritual battle. But their methods of fighting that battle missed the reality that the battle has been won in Christ. Paul says, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Col. 2:15). The outcome is not in jeopardy. The victory has been secured.
When we understand that the battle is fought in Christ, we are invited back to the intimate gift of our union with Christ. We fight in the security of our union. That is why Paul begins by emphasizing that our fight is in Christ and concludes by urging us to pray “at all times in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18). Paul reminds us of the intimacy of that relationship through the Spirit in Romans, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Rms 8:15). Far too many are living in the spirit of fear when they encounter the demonic work of our enemy. Let us instead bury ourselves in our Father’s arms and experience his mighty protection as we cry out to him.
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