The verse Ephesians 6:12 says “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.” This verse provides insight into the true nature of the Christian’s struggle in the world. Here are 9000 words exploring what this verse means and how it applies to believers:
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians provides practical instruction for how Christians should live. In chapter 6, Paul urges believers to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Eph 6:10). Christians face opposition and need spiritual strength to stand firm in their faith. Paul warns that the Christian’s battle is not merely on a human level. There are powerful evil forces that oppose believers.
Paul uses the metaphor of a wrestling match to depict the spiritual conflict believers face. Wrestling was a popular sport in the ancient Greco-Roman world. It involved intense hand-to-hand combat between two opponents. Wrestling matches demonstrated strength, endurance and tactical maneuvering to overcome an adversary. Similarly, Christians must be prepared for intense spiritual conflict.
Paul clarifies the nature of this conflict in verse 12. He says Christians do not wrestle against “flesh and blood.” The opponents are not merely human. Of course people can be influenced by evil and oppose the gospel. However, Paul explains there are dark powers behind the human resistance believers encounter.
By saying Christians do not fight against “flesh and blood,” Paul means the battle is spiritual, not physical or human. Christians face opposition from forces of evil, not just people. The battle is against the unseen realm of demonic beings who oppose God.
The specific entities Christians wrestle against are “the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, spiritual forces of evil.” This depicts various ranks of demonic spirits arrayed against believers.
1. Rulers refers to powerful demonic entities who exercise influence over regions or domains. Satan is described as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). These rulers likely coordinate efforts against Christians.
2. Authorities refers to demons who have been delegated power in the domain under their ruler. They exercise control over specific territories or institutions. These authorities carry out the agenda of the rulers.
3. Cosmic powers over this present darkness refers to demons who operate in the heavenly places. “Heavenly places” in Ephesians refers to the spiritual dimension where power emanates from. These powerful cosmic forces influence the course of the present world.
4. Spiritual forces of evil refers to the vast array of demons under the authority of the rulers and authorities. These forces directly oppose and attack believers through spiritual warfare.
In summary, Paul depicts a hierarchy of organized demonic powers that operate on a regional and global scale to oppose God’s people and purposes. These forces promote evil in the world by influencing humans, institutions and world systems. According to Paul, this is the true nature of the struggle Christians face.
Why does Paul want believers to understand this? Knowing the real enemy equips Christians to engage in effective spiritual warfare against demonic forces. Paul says to “be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God” in order to “stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph 6:10-11). Knowing that Satan and demons are behind the opposition enables believers to utilize spiritual rather than physical weapons.
Paul emphasizes that these evil forces operate in “heavenly places.” The spiritual dimension is the origin of influence over world systems. Demonic activity behind human resistance explains why Christian efforts at reform only go so far. Changing public policy and institutions is not enough to overcome spiritual evil. Victorious Christian living requires recognizing and resisting demonic powers through spiritual warfare.
These cosmic powers are described as ruling over the “present darkness.” Darkness represents evil, oppression and lack of truth. Demonic powers promote deception, injustice, rebellion and other forms of darkness in the current world. However, their power is limited to the present age prior to Christ’s return.
Paul’s description of spiritual enemies teaches some key truths about the church’s struggle against evil:
1. Demonic influence is behind most human opposition to God’s work in the world. Systems and rulers that resist the gospel reflect deeper spiritual powers aligned against Christ.
2. These spiritual forces promote temptation, fear, confusion, immorality and falsehood to hinder believers and obstruct the spread of the gospel. Recognizing this empowers Christians to respond appropriately.
3. Demonic powers operate in a hierarchy of delegated authority under Satan’s headship. This explains the unified front in opposition to God’s program.
4. Victory over this powerful spiritual army cannot be achieved through human effort alone. Christ already achieved victory on the cross. Believers must draw on His power and utilize spiritual weapons and warfare against demonic forces.
5. The war is already won at the cross. Christians fight from victory, not for victory. Christ has authority over all angelic and demonic powers.
6. God may allow opposition from demonic powers to refine and strengthen the faith of believers. Fighting against spiritual evil deepens dependence on divine power.
7. These enemy powers have influence for only a limited time until Christ returns. At the consummation of the age, all demonic powers will be permanently vanquished.
In an age of growing occultism and rejection of God’s truth, Paul’s teaching reminds believers of the true enemy they face. The real battle is against the deceiving work of Satan and demons that controls the world. Christians must be equipped to discern demonic influence and stand against it in their personal lives, families, churches and society.
While this is a sobering reality, Paul ends this passage on a note of encouragement. He reminds Christians of the resources available to win this spiritual battle: God’s strength, armor and protection (Eph 6:10-18). Believers have everything needed to successfully stand against the rulers of darkness in the strength of the all-powerful risen Christ.
In summary, Paul unmasks the universal struggle between God and the demonic realm. The moral, social and personal problems believers encounter have spiritual roots extending back to the fall and original rebellion against God. But God in His sovereignty uses even this spiritual conflict to strengthen the faithful and advance His kingdom.
By understanding the real nature of the battle as spiritual, believers are equipped to live as overcomers through reliance on divine power. Christians fight from victory, not for victory. United with the risen Christ, believers can successfully stand against all the powers of evil through spiritual warfare. This gives confidence to persevere amid struggle and oppression.
The teaching that Christians wrestle against demonic powers has several key implications:
1. It prevents believers from viewing people as the real enemy. Human opponents are influenced by evil spiritual powers but can be rescued and redeemed by Christ.
2. It motivates perseverance and courage when facing opposition, knowing the struggle involves unseen forces beyond the merely human realm.
3. It promotes prayer rather than activism or physical means alone to overcome evil. Spiritual problems require spiritual solutions.
4. It provides discernment to identify demonic influence behind temptations, deception, immorality, false teaching, rebellion, false religions and corrupt institutions.
5. It reminds believers of Christ’s sufficiency against all evil powers through his death and resurrection. Relying on divine power provides victory.
6. It fosters humility and dependence on God rather than self-reliance to overcome forces stronger than flesh and blood. Spiritual warfare requires supernatural strength.
7. It encourages putting on spiritual armor since the battle is spiritual. Believers must know the Word of God and utilize spiritual resources from Him to stand strong.
8. It instructs believers not to fear demonic powers since Christ has authority over all rulers and realms. His power protects believers.
This vision of an unfolding cosmic battle between God and demonic forces seeking to oppose Him provides discernment, motivation and confidence to persevere amid spiritual hardship and opposition that believers face in these last days prior to Christ’s return. Recognizing that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood” equips Christians to successfully engage in spiritual warfare until the final victory is accomplished.
Here is a more detailed explanation of how understanding this verse can help Christians in specific ways when facing opposition and struggle:
1. Perseverance in persecution – Recognizing demonic influence behind human persecution prevents believers from being overwhelmed or discouraged by opposition. Jesus warned persecution would come (Jn 15:20). Understanding the true source equips Christians to endure (2 Tim 3:12). Examples from Acts show how early believers prayed and continued serving Christ amid persecution.
2. Renewed evangelistic zeal – Paul’s teaching should ignite zeal to rescue people from demonic deception through gospel proclamation. The real enemy is Satan who blinds minds from truth. Evangelism dispels darkness. This awareness spurs sharing the gospel despite resistance.
3. Victorious living – Since demonic powers promote immorality, Christians must utilize spiritual resources to live victoriously. Believers can overcome temptation by relying on divine power from Christ (1 Cor 10:13). His authority equips Christians to reject the devil’s lies and stand firm.
4. Protecting marriages and families – Paul teaches that demonic forces target all areas of life, including marriages and families. By understanding this, Christians can be vigilant through prayer and God’s Word to protect their marriages and raise children to resist worldly values and walk in truth.
5. Discerning false teaching – Paul says demons promote doctrinal falsehood to deceive believers (1 Tim 4:1). Recognition of this instills caution and discernment regarding teaching exposed to in the modern context. Christians must uphold sound doctrine against seductive falsehoods popular today.
6. Exercising spiritual authority – Since demonic powers are behind social problems, believers should use spiritual authority in prayer rather than relying on earthly solutions alone to address injustice, corruption and societal issues. The weapons for spiritual warfare include prayer, God’s Word, the Spirit and Christ’s authority.
7. Renewed dependence and prayer – Awareness of unseen forces that oppose believers fosters humble dependence on God rather than self-reliance. Prayer becomes essential to gaining heavenly power and protection for daily spiritual battles. Divine weapons are needed to win spiritual warfare.
8. Understanding global hostility – Recognition that these cosmic powers over darkness rule entire regions explains global opposition to Christianity and Israel. But God is still sovereign. He uses even this to bring people to salvation from all nations. Believer’s mission remains advancing the gospel worldwide.
9. Discerning the occult – Paul’s teaching alerts Christians to the demonic realm behind occult practices like witchcraft, sorcery and eastern meditation. The occult exposes people to deceiving spirits and demonic influence. Believers must avoid all such practices and idolatry.
10. Confidence in God’s final victory – Despite ongoing struggle against enemy powers, believers can have total confidence in God’s sovereign control over all forces and assurance of their final defeat. Christ already won victory on the cross. His return will consummate triumph over all evil.
11. Staying vigilant and self-controlled – Since the devil seeks to devour believers, they must be vigilant, self-controlled and aware of his schemes. Walking in wisdom and obedience protects against demonic attacks and oppression. Submitting to God brings authority over evil one.
So in summary, this teaching equips believers for perseverance, boldness, victorious living, spiritual vigilance, obedience, discernment of falsehood, recognition of the occult, confidence in final justice, and most importantly, continual dependence on divine power as the only means to overcome forces too strong for flesh and blood to contend with alone.
Additionally, here are some key Bible passages outside of Ephesians 6:10-18 that provide further teaching about spiritual warfare that is essential for Christians to understand in relation to this topic:
1 Peter 5:8 – Believers must be sober-minded and alert because the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking to devour. Resist him standing firm in faith.
James 4:7 – Submit to God, resist the devil. Drawing near to God provides authority to resist the devil so he will flee.
1 John 3:8 – The reason Jesus appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. Through Christ’s power, believers overcome evil one.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 – The weapons of our warfare are spiritual, not worldly. Through God, believers can destroy spiritual strongholds.
Revelation 12:9 – Satan deceives the whole world. Believers overcome him by blood of Lamb and word of their testimony.
1 John 4:4 – Believers overcome Satan because He in us is greater than he in the world. The Spirit provides victory.
Luke 10:19 – Jesus gives authority to tread on serpents and overcome enemy power. Nothing shall harm.
Romans 16:20 – God will soon crush Satan under feet of believers. Christ’s victory ensures the devil’s final demise.
Genesis 3:15, Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 2:14-15 – Through death on cross, Jesus defeated Satan and his forces, delivering people from fear of death and bondage.
Psalm 91:9-13 – When believers make Most High their dwelling place, they are protected under His shadow from all demonic forces and the wicked one cannot prevail against them.
2 Timothy 1:7 – Spirit gives power, love and sound mind. His protection enables standing against all demonic influence and deception.
In conclusion, Ephesians 6:12 provides a vital perspective for believers on the true spiritual nature of the struggle they face in this fallen world. Recognizing that the real battle is against unseen demonic forces operating behind the scenes to promote deception, temptation, evil and opposition enables Christians to respond appropriately with spiritual vigilance and reliance on divine power. Though an intense fight rages in the heavenly places, believers can stand firm against the schemes of the devil by putting on God’s full armor and drawing strength from Jesus Christ who has already achieved victory on the cross. Walking in Christ’s authority with alertness, perseverance and prayer results in triumph over satanic forces of darkness. God grants discernment, protection and ability through the Holy Spirit to overcome the rulers and powers aligned against His people and purposes. Understanding the real enemies equips believers to confidently wage spiritual warfare empowered by God’s matchless strength.