Enemies of the Faith: Part 3—The Devil
Throughout this series we’ve been looking at the spiritual enemies that hate your faith in Jesus; the enemies that want to steal your joy in Christ, slow your growth in the Lord, and silence your testimony of God’s faithfulness. So far, we’ve looked at two of those enemies. In Part 1, we looked at the world, which is that external enemy driving the sinful system that we experience all around us. In Part 2, we focused in on the flesh, which is that enemy that exists inside all of us, and that loves the things of the world but hates the things of God. In this article, we’re going to wrap up this series by looking at the third and final enemy of our faith.
This enemy is the most powerful enemy we face. He’s an enemy that the Bible calls the false god of this world and the prince of the power of the air (2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2). He’s the enemy that is the evil master and slave driver of every person living on planet earth who is not believing in Jesus Christ for salvation. This enemy is known as the devil.
When considering the devil, there are two fundamental aspects that are important for believers to recognize. First, it’s imperative to see what the Bible says about the schemes of the devil. Just like in military battle, the best way for a nation to protect itself against an enemy is to know how the enemy works. Secondly, it’s equally vital to realize that the Lord has given believers a special armor to protect themselves from the attacks of the enemy. Again, like physical battle, specific pieces of armor and equipment are designed to protect soldiers. Likewise, there is an armor that will protect us from our spiritual enemies as well. We find it described in Ephesians 6:10–18. The Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesian believers, saying:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. 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. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 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.”
The Schemes and Power of the Devil
As we begin to think about the enemy known as the devil, it’s vital for us to understand that he has already been defeated through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In a similar letter to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church, in chapter 2, verse 15, saying:
“(God) disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in (Jesus).”
Therefore, for those who have faith in Jesus, his victory on the cross becomes our victory (1 John 5:4–5). It is with this victory in mind that we consider the schemes of the devil. Once again, looking at verses 10–12 of Ephesians 6, Paul writes:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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.”
Notice that Paul is calling believers to be strong, yet not in a strength that comes from themselves. Rather, it is a call to be strong in the Lord; to find our strength in the power of Christ. In a moment, we’ll look at how we do that practically against the schemes of the devil. But for now, we need to begin by answering a more fundamental question, namely: who is the devil?
Well, from the details we can gather from Scripture, the devil is described in the Bible as an angelic enemy of God. He was originally created by God as an angel known as Lucifer, but because of his pride and arrogance, he was cast down to the earth, along with a multitude of angels (Ezek 28:11–19; Is 14:12–17). And now, instead of being known as Lucifer, which means “shining one” or “light-bearer”, he is known as the devil, which means “slanderer” or “accuser of the brethren”, or Satan, which means “deceiver.” And instead of being known as angels, those who rebelled against God with him, are now known as demons, which are fallen angels.
Throughout Scripture, we see the devil show up in various places. In the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis chapter 3, we see him disguised as a serpent who tempts Adam and Eve. Later, he’s called a murderer and the father of lies (John 8:44). In 1 Peter 5:8, he’s compared to a roaring lion, that prowls around looking for someone to devour. The Bible also calls him, as referenced earlier, the false god of this age and the prince of the power of the air (2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2). And then at the end of the Bible, he’s seen as a dragon who empowers a figure known as the Antichrist (Rev 13:1–9).
Thus, from all these descriptions, it’s clear that the devil is a formidable foe, and an enemy of the faith. He has a great amount of power, and he wants nothing more than to destroy the lives of Christians, and to tell God how guilty we are for our sins. Yet, at the same time, it’s also vitally important for us to understand that the devil is not even worth comparing to our God. In fact, in the book of Job we discover that the devil can only do what God allows him to do. So, in that way, he’s kind of like a dog on a leash. And, ultimately, at the end of human history, the devil is going to be thrown into the lake of fire, where he will be condemned for all of eternity (Rev 20:10).
So, as we think about who the devil is, this call we find in our text from Ephesians, to be strong in the Lord, is, once again, not about trying to gain victory over the devil. If we’re believers in Jesus Christ, the victory is already ours, and the devil has already been defeated. The point, then, is that in Christ, we have every reason to be bold and confident to live our lives as Christians, and to stand firm in the midst of the spiritual enemies we may encounter along the way. We have absolutely no reason to back down, or to be fearful, or to hesitate to carry out God’s calling upon our lives, because the same power that raised Christ from the dead is now living and working in us (Rom 8:11; Eph 1:19–21).
The Strength and Armor of God
With that in mind, then, we return to our text in Ephesians 6. Verse 13 tells us how we should respond to the spiritual enemy known as the devil and his evil, cosmic forces, saying:
“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.”
Notice that this call to stand is not a casual standing around. This isn’t just going with the flow. Rather, this is a military term that carries with it the idea of holding onto a position that’s under attack. Thus, it conveys the idea of digging in and standing your ground, and not allowing the enemy to throw you off course. And as we’ll see, every part of the spiritual armor God provides helps us to do exactly that. Furthermore, it’s important to note that “the full armor of God” (v. 11) is not just a phrase that is spiritual sounding in nature. Rather, in this passage, Paul is largely quoting from Isaiah 59, as the prophet speaks of an Anointed Conqueror, who comes wearing the armor of salvation to bring about God’s redemption. Isaiah says:
“Now the Lord saw, and it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice. And He saw that there was no one, and was amazed that there was not one to intercede; Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness upheld Him. He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a cloak” (Is 59:15b–17).
Therefore, the armor Paul is calling believers to actively put on is not a figurative idea. Rather, this is the very armor worn by Christ, himself, as he conquered our spiritual enemies. And now, it is the very armor that we have been given to fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12).
The Belt of Truth
“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…” (v. 14a)
Perhaps seeing the Roman soldiers around him while imprisoned, Paul begins with the belt of truth. One of the primary pieces of clothing worn by a Roman soldier would’ve been something called a tunic. The tunic was an outer garment that covered the soldier’s upper body. Typically, he would wear that tunic loosely, but when it came time for battle, the last thing you wanted was to provide the enemy with something to grab ahold of. So, to prepare himself for battle, the soldier would tuck that tunic into a large leather belt and fasten it around his waist, so that his armor was tightly secured. That’s the idea Paul seems to have in mind in verse 14.
Like the tightening of the soldier’s leather belt, Christians prepare for spiritual battle by fastening the belt of truth. And although Paul is likely using the armor of a Roman soldier as his frame of reference, there is also a theological basis for this piece of armor, which once again, comes from the prophet Isaiah. We see it in Isaiah, chapter 11, verse 5, as he speaks of the coming Messiah, saying, “With righteousness shall he be girded around his waist, and with truth bound around his sides.”
The idea here is that the truth of God has been revealed to us through the gospel of Jesus Christ. It all begins there, as we trust in the truth of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us through his death, burial, and resurrection. And so does our preparation for spiritual battle. We’re saved by the truth of the gospel, and we live according to the truth of the gospel. So by fastening the belt of truth, then, it means that we are seeking to continually live in truthfulness and sincerity before the Lord and among those around us.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
“…and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,” (v. 14b)
For the Roman soldiers, after they had tightened the leather belt to secure their tunic, it was absolutely vital that they would then put this thick piece of metal on their chest, known as the breastplate. This was an essential part of the soldier’s armor, because it protected his vital organs from the attacks of a sword, especially the heart. And once again, Paul’s primary motivation for this reference comes from Isaiah 59. The Lord, who sees our hopeless condition, sends the Soldier of Redemption, Christ the Messiah, who in verse 17 of that chapter, “puts on righteousness as a breastplate,” and he brings about our salvation.
Therefore, this breastplate we’ve been given is none other than the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, which has been credited to us through the gospel. To understand how vital this is to the battle, just imagine a soldier going into battle wearing armor on his chest comprised of filthy rags. As silly as that sounds, this is exactly what Isaiah says our greatest efforts are like, apart from the perfect righteousness of Christ (Is 64:6). Thus, to be prepared for spiritual warfare, we must have the breastplate of Christ’s righteousness. And with that breastplate, we can have absolute confidence as we enter the field of battle, because we know that the perfect righteousness of Christ is impenetrable to the accusations of the enemy.
The Scottish theologian, John Eadie, once said it like this:
“…when the justifying righteousness of Christ is assumed as a breastplate by sinners, they can defy the assaults of the tempter. To every insinuation that they are so vile, guilty, worthless, and perverse–so beset with sin and under such wrath that God will repulse them–they oppose (with) the free and perfect righteousness of their Redeemer…”[1]
The Shoes of the Gospel
“…and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (v. 15).
For Roman soldiers, they wore a type of heavy shoe during battle that had spikes on the bottom. The concept was like a cleat for a football or soccer player, which literally allowed the soldier to dig in and stand his ground during battle with the enemy. With that in mind, there are at least two ways that these shoes prepare us, as believers, for spiritual battle.
The first way is that we have peace with God. Paul said in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” So through the gospel we have peace with God. But then secondly, we have the peace of God. The Holy Spirit brings the supernatural peace of God into our lives. So the question is, how does this peace help us to stand firm in the midst of battle? And the answer really brings together both of these aspects of peace, because the God who has saved us by this gospel is the same God who is sovereignly reigning over our circumstances. In fact, nothing comes into our lives until it has passed before His throne. Therefore it is for this reason that our feet can be firmly planted and immovable.
The Shield of Faith
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;” (v. 16)
Roman soldiers carried a variety of shields with them into battle. The type chosen depended upon the form of warfare they’d be experiencing. But it’s clear from Paul’s description that the shield he’s alluding to, here, was the type designed for the soldier to cover his entire body. The need for this type of shield was because of the enemy’s tendency to attack from a distance. It was common for armies to take arrows dipped in tar, light them on fire, and shoot them through the sky. But it was never just one arrow. It was an entire sky full of fiery arrows, or flaming darts, if you will. And the only way to protect yourself from these arrows, and to put them out, was to completely hide your body behind this massive shield.
So Paul uses this elaborate metaphor to speak of our faith in the midst of spiritual battle. Just as this massive shield was essential to the Roman soldier against the fiery attacks of his enemy, so is our faith in God and His power, promises, and protection when it comes to the attacks of Satan. In other words, our faith is not in ourselves. It’s not in our abilities or strength or wisdom. It is completely and totally in God and what He has accomplished and provided to us through Jesus Christ.
The Helmet of Salvation
“…and take the helmet of salvation,” (v. 17a)
Once again, in Isaiah 59:17, we see the Conquering Messiah placing this helmet of salvation upon his head; and he would go on to wear this helmet while accomplishing our salvation. And as we think about the purpose of the helmet for a Roman soldier, this was the only source of protection for his head. Without it, he would have absolutely no confidence to enter into any sort of meaningful battle. In similar fashion, Paul’s point is to say that for the believer, this spiritual helmet is an assurance of the salvation we have been given through Christ. And therefore, in order for us to be prepared for battle, our confidence must be firmly placed upon the perfect person and perfect work of Jesus Christ, and him alone.
The German Reformer, Martin Luther, once said,
“…when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: ‘I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!”[2]
This what the helmet of salvation does for us. It protects us, in this spiritual battle, not with an attitude of, “Satan cannot touch me because of how truthful, righteous, and faithful I have been.” But instead, it gives us the confidence to say, “I am protected by the truth that though I feel weak, I am strong; though I may fall, I possess Christ’s righteousness. And though I am not perfect, I have peace with my God who has provided the faith I could not conjure, the salvation I could not earn, and the Spirit I daily need.” We don’t have confidence in our salvation, because of what we do. We have confidence in our salvation, because of what Christ has done.
The Sword of the Spirit
“…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” (v. 17b)
For the soldier of Rome, the only true offensive weapon he had in battle was a short-handled, double-edged sword, similar to a dagger. And although it was small in size, it was so sharp it had the ability to pierce through armor. For Paul, this was the perfect picture of what the Word of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, is to the child of God, in spiritual warfare.
As the author of Hebrews writes in chapter 4, verse 12, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
The Simple Yet Profound Example of Christ
To see the Sword of the Spirit in action, there’s literally no better example than that of Christ. You may recall that Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert (Matt 4:1–11). And how did our Savior respond? Each time Satan tried to tempt him, Jesus engaged the enemy in precisely the same way. Like a skilled soldier, he used the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to combat the enemy. His response to the devil was, “It is written…” (Matt 4:4), “It is written” (Matt 4:7), “It is written” (Matt 4:10).
And my friends, this is the example we must follow. When temptation comes, we retrieve the Word of God from our heart and mind, and using that Sword of the Spirit, we fight off the devil’s schemes.
And as we think about the overarching nature of the spiritual battle, perhaps you’re thinking, “I’m not really experiencing a spiritual battle, so I don’t really see a need for any of this armor. In fact, the devil doesn’t really bother me.” If that’s you, what I would say to you is this: the devil doesn’t need to tempt those who are already his. What you need to realize is that when your life is over, if you’ve never trusted in Christ for salvation, you will end up in the same place of eternal torment that has been created and reserved for the devil and his angels. So, look to God’s holy law, acknowledge that you’ve not loved Him and put Him first in your life, turn from your sin, and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.
And for those of you who are trusting in Christ today, it is with all the above spiritual armor in mind, and of the enemies we face in the world, the flesh, and the devil, that we can have confidence in this life. First and foremost, our confidence is found in the reality that Christ has already won the war. And if we’re trusting in him for salvation, then his victory is ours by faith. In addition, we can have confidence in this life, because the Lord has given us his armor by the power of his Spirit, who dwells within us. As 1 John 4:4 boldly declares, “Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.”
References:
[1] John Eadie, A Commentary on the Greek text of the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians (United Kingdom: Griffin, Bohn & Company, 1861), 478.
[2] Martin Luther, Luther: Letters of Spiritual Counsel, (Vancouver, BC: Regent College Publishing, 2003), 85.