Reasons for Standing Strong for Christ

Reasons for Standing Strong

Paul writes to Ephesus, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV).

Strong in the Lord and His Mighty Power

The term Paul uses for strong (ἐνδυναμόω) means to become able to function with the use of inner or moral strength.  Paul uses the term Lord (κυριακός) in this instance to raise Him above the human level where the Lord is transcendent.  The word used for power (κράτος) has to do with the working of God's strength.  In other words, Paul is telling us to become able to function with moral strength that comes the working of God's strength within us (Arndt, et, al., 2000).    

Full Armor of God and Against Devil

Then Paul tells us to put (ἐνδύω) any kind of thing on oneself, clothe and wear the armor (πανοπλία) which a metaphor that has to do with the equipment of a soldier.  Paul tells us to basically be soldiers for God and to clothe ourselves with wearing God's armor.  This is so we can take a stand (ἵστημι), which in this case means to stand up against and resist, schemes (μεθοδεία) - which includes craftiness in unfavorable ways - from the devil (Arndt, et, al., 2000).     

Struggle Not Against Flesh and Blood

The next part of this passage is where Paul goes on to say that people do not struggle (πάλη) - which in this case has to do with wrestling in a challenging contest - with flesh (σάρξ), which is the material that covers the bones of the human body, and blood.  Instead, we wrestle against rulers, authorities, powers of darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil.  Paul used the words that mean the following:

• ruler (ἀρχή) to indicate an authority figure who initiates activity,
• authorities (ἐξουσία) to indicate transcendent rulers and powers of the spirit world,
• powers (κοσμοκράτωρ) to indicate world-rulers,
• darkness (σκότος) to indicate the state of spiritual or moral darkness which is darkened by sin and state of the unbelievers and godless,
• spiritual (πνευματικός) to pertain to evil spirits, 
• evil (πονηρία) to pertain to a condition of a lack of moral or social values, and
• heavenly (ἐπουράνιος) to indicate the dwelling place of evil spirits (Arndt, et, al., 2000). 

Paul also states, "Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.  As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear" (Philippians 1:12-14).

What Happened to Paul and Result

Paul says that he wants the church at Philippi to know or come to the knowledge of what happened to him has actually advanced (προκοπή) the gospel where it actually made progress and improved the movement of it.  He states that the reason the he is in chains (δεσμός) - bonds or fetters worn in prison - is for Christ and that this was clear (φανερός) or readily known to the guards and others.   Paul then mentions that because of Him being in prison, the people in Philippi were confident (πείθω) or so convinced that they put their trust in the Lord.  They also dare (τολμάω) or are more brave to proclaim (λαλέω) or communicate to others personally the gospel without fear (Arndt, et, al., 2000).    

Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you" (John 15:18-19).

Hates You, Hated Me, Belonging to World

Jesus refers to the world (κόσμος) as everything that belongs to it where it is lost in sin and hostile to God.  He says that if it hates (μισέω) - or detests - one of His disciples, that they should keep in mind (γινώσκω) - or be quite sure that - they hated (μισέω) Christ first (πρῶτος) where it hated Christ before it hated one of His disciples.  He contrasts it by saying if someone belonged (εἰμί) - or came - from the world, then the world would love (φιλέω) - or have a special interest - in that person (Arndt, et, al., 2000).  

Jesus goes on to say that His disciples do not belong (εἰμί) to or come from the world but that Jesus has chosen (ἐκλέγομαι) or picked His disciples to be out (ἐκ) of the world - in the sense where separation takes place from the world. He goes on to say these are the reasons why His disciples are hated (Arndt, et, al., 2000).

Then Jesus states, "“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Jesus Overcomes World

Jesus tells us this so that we would have peace (εἰρήνη).  In this instance, Jesus tells us that the peace has to do with a state of well-being in regards to salvation in Him.  He states that His disciples would have trouble (θλῖψις) - which has to due with affliction in regards to persecution.  However, He says to take heart (θαρσέω) which means to be firm in the face of danger since He has overcome (νικάω) everything opposed to God (Arndt, et, al., 2000). 

Jesus also stated, "Everyone will hate you because of Me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Mark 13:13).

Hate You; Stand Firm to End

In this case, Jesus is speaking to His disciples, and says that everyone will (εἰμί) - referring to an auxiliary or foreign force - hate (μισέω) them for a long time because of Him.  He then has a contrast of speaking to the disciples where He says that the ones who stand firm (ὑπομένω) or in his or her ground in the course of action in the face of opposition until the end will be saved (σῴζω) and attain salvation (Arndt, et, al., 2000). 

References

Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 854). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

The New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.