Stands for Christ’s. The church belongs to Christ by right of purchase, Acts 20:28. “Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with His own blood.” The church is peculiarly Christ’s.

Stands for Head. The we read about in the Bible has only one head – that head is Christ. Ephesians 1:22f, “…and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body….”

Stands for Unity. The church must be found in unity – Christ prayed that “…they may all be one…” (John 17:20ff). Compare: Acts 4:32; I Corinthians 12:20; 1:10; 12:13. Unity!

Stands for Revealed. The kingdom the prophets wrote about and foretold was made known, hence revealed in Acts 2 – a fulfillment of Daniel 2 and Isaiah 2 and others. Acts 2:16, “This is that….”

Stands for the Cross. We have noted that Christ paid the price. He died on the cross for the sins of the world – Romans 5:8; Galatians 5:24; John 3:16. Song: “I Gave My Life for Thee,” “He Paid It All.”

Stands for Haven. The church is a haven for the saved. The Bible tells us that Christ is the Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23); that means the body is made up of the saved. Acts 2 tells us “…the Lord added to the church those that were saved….” It is our haven now; our hope for the future in a place reserved for the faithful in Christ, our Heavenly Home. Haven – Hope – Heaven!

Jess Whitlock

Paul promised the Ephesians that they would be built up or strengthened by the Word of God’s grace (Acts 20:32). Paul also prayed,on behalf of the Ephesians, that the Father “would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). How is this strengthening accomplished, and what is the relationship of the Word and the Spirit in this process? Paul explained this in detail in Ephesians 6, part of the near context of chapter3.

The Admonition
Paul began by admonishing Christians: “be strong in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:10). This is parallel to “be strengthened” (Ephesians 3:16). He went on to speak of “the power of his [God’s] might” (Ephesians 6:10). This is parallel to “with might” (Ephesians 3:16). How does the Holy Spirit strengthen the saint with might in the inner man? Paul answers by saying that the Christian must “put on the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11).

The Ability
Four times in four verses Paul stated that this “armour of God” will give the Christian the ability to “stand.” First, he said that this armour will make him “able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). Paul then proceeded to list the devil’s wiles: (1) “against principalities,” (2) “against powers,” (3) “against the rulers of the darkness of this world,” and (4)“against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Second, Paul stated that God’s armour will make saints “able to withstand in the evil day”(Ephesians 6:13). Third, Paul exclaimed that, by taking this armour, children of God will be able “having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). Fourth and finally, Paul commanded Christians to “stand therefore” (Ephesians 6:14).

The Armour
Paul next launched into a detailed description of the “armour of God.”First, we are to be “girt about with truth” (6:14). Second, we are to have“on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14). Third, we are to be “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). Fourth, we are to take “the shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16). Fifth, we are to “take the helmet of salvation”(Ephesians 6:17). Sixth, we are to take “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). These are the things that Paul says can strengthen us so we can stand. But “the Truth” is the Word of God which sanctifies (John 17:17, 19). Righteousness refers to the commandments of God (Psalms 119:172) as revealed in the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16-17). The “Gospel of peace” is the “Gospel of grace” (Acts 20:24) or the Word of God’s grace which builds up and sanctifies (Acts 20:32). “The faith” is the “word of faith” Paul preached (Rom.10:8) and which was once delivered unto the saint (Jude 3). The Gospel of Christ is God’s power unto salvation (Romans 1:16). Finally, the “sword of the Spirit” is the “word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). All six of these pieces of Christian armour and weaponry relate to the Word of God.How does the Holy Spirit help saints to stand? How does the Holy Spirit help saints to be strengthened? How does the Holy Spirit help saints to be sanctified? How does the Holy Spirit save saints at last? According to Paul, He does so through the Word of God (coupled with general/indirect providence). Do we need more than the Bible to be saved at last? According to Paul, we do not.

David B. Watson

An Acrostic of the Word “Church”

Strengthened By His Spirit