Dressed in Christ

Finding Strength in God's Power

Ephesians 6:10 - 20

Have you ever experienced a life change so significant that even your wardrobe had to adjust? That’s how Paul describes the transformation we experience in Christ — a change that not only reshapes us but equips us for life’s greatest battles.

When I got married, my clothing choices went through a considerable transformation. My wife, Tanya, gently pointed out that my favorite clothes — though incredibly comfortable — were faded, frayed, and even had a few holes. Cozy as they were, these worn-out items didn’t reflect well on our new family. Tanya encouraged me to choose clothing that better represented the life we were building together.

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, uses a similar illustration. He explains that our former ways of life — like those old clothes — no longer suit us or accurately represent our new relationship with Christ. Becoming a Christian is like changing clothes — removing our old self with its habits and practices and putting on our new identity in Christ. Paul writes:

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22–24, ESV)

As Paul concludes his letter, he introduces a final change of clothing: putting on the armor of God. This new attire is essential for our spiritual journey.

However, Paul's message takes a surprising and comforting turn. He isn’t simply instructing us to try harder or rely on our strength. Rather, he's inviting us to draw from a completely new source of life and strength — one far greater than we could ever generate on our own.

Our New Identity: What God Has Done for Us

Paul writes, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10, ESV). This statement encapsulates the heart of Ephesians — a call to live in the strength that comes from our new identity in Christ.

Before knowing Christ, we were spiritually dead, enslaved by sin, and deserving of God's judgment. We were alienated from Him — the very source of all good things. Our relationships were fractured; we struggled with division, misunderstanding, and broken trust. Spiritually, we were bankrupt, trapped in destructive patterns without hope of self-rescue.

But God intervened. In an act of sheer grace and profound love, He reached out to us through Christ, rescuing us from this hopeless state. Entirely by His initiative — through Christ’s sacrifice — we were saved and given new life.

Now, instead of alienation, we enjoy intimacy with God through the Holy Spirit. Broken relationships find healing; we are brought together as one body, serving and growing in maturity in Christ. This unity shapes every part of our lives — our marriages, families, workplaces, and communities.

Where we were once spiritually empty, we now have every spiritual blessing in Christ, overflowing with His love, goodness, and grace. Once enslaved, we have become children of God, adopted, and given purpose and identity in Christ.

Paul summarizes this earlier in Ephesians:

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3, ESV)

In Christ, we receive everything our hearts truly desire: life with God, genuine relationships, meaningful purpose, and a secure identity.

True Strength: Christ’s Power in Our Weakness

Paul contrasts the common messages we hear every day — stories in movies, books, and commercials that insist we must find strength within ourselves. These messages tell us we're “enough,” suggesting that if we just uncover our inner strength, we can overcome life’s challenges.

But the biblical message is profoundly different: we are not superheroes capable of saving ourselves. We are desperately needy, and God alone is our true hero and only Savior.

When Paul instructs, “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10, ESV), he’s not urging us to rely on our strength. Rather, he's reminding us that true strength comes exclusively from Christ. The power Paul speaks of is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him far above every ruler and authority (Ephesians 1:18–21, ESV).

Throughout Scripture, God consistently reassures His people of His strength and presence in overwhelming circumstances. He commanded Joshua, Solomon, and Daniel to be strong and courageous — not because they were inherently capable, but because their courage was rooted in God’s faithful promise to be with them, empowering and sustaining them through every trial.

The same is true for us today. Our strength doesn’t depend on our resolve, abilities, or good intentions — it depends entirely on the unwavering power and grace of Christ alone. Understanding this changes everything, especially as Paul directs us toward the spiritual battles we face daily.

Facing the Real Battle

Understanding our new identity in Christ prepares us to face the reality of our spiritual struggle. Christ has decisively defeated evil through His death and resurrection, and Ephesians reminds us that Jesus is already exalted:

"[Christ is seated] far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:21, ESV)

This victory is secure, and because of God's mercy, we've been united with Christ, safely positioned with Him:

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4–6, ESV)

Because of this incredible reality — that we have been raised and securely positioned with Christ — we do not face spiritual battles alone or from a position of vulnerability. This truth is precisely why Paul urges us to put on the full armor of God. He knows that, despite Christ’s decisive victory, a real spiritual battle still remains:

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:11, ESV)

We see evidence of this ongoing battle everywhere — in personal struggles, broken relationships, and even within our own hearts. Though defeated, the enemy remains active, determined to distract, discourage, and divert our attention away from Jesus.

Paul clarifies something crucial: our true battle isn’t against people but against spiritual forces of darkness. This radically shapes how we respond to conflict and hardship. Those who cause us pain or disappointment aren’t our ultimate opponents — they are people caught in the same deception from which we’ve been rescued. Instead of reacting with bitterness or revenge, we are called to respond with compassion, forgiveness, prayer, and mercy.

Sometimes this means praying intentionally for someone who’s difficult to love or choosing forgiveness even when it's hard. We respond differently because we recognize both our own vulnerability and the grace we’ve received.

The enemy’s schemes are often subtle, offering shortcuts to the very things God has promised. Jesus invites us to greatness through humility and service, but the enemy tempts us to pursue it through pride and power. Jesus promises security through trust, but the enemy tempts us to chase it through possessions, wealth, or control — like seeking validation through social media, comfort in unhealthy habits, or success at the cost of integrity.

Paul’s intention isn’t to make us fearful; rather, he's equipping us to trust more deeply in Christ’s victory. We don’t need extensive theories about evil; we simply need unwavering trust in Christ’s overcoming power.

Our hope, confidence, and strength rest entirely in Christ, who is always with us, always for us, and who has already conquered the darkness.

Strengthened by the Armor of God

Given the reality of spiritual danger, Paul urges us not to rely on ourselves but to find our strength entirely in Christ. Because of Christ’s victory over the evil one, we have every reason to trust completely in God’s strength rather than our own. Paul explains how we do this:

"Put on the full armor of God." (Ephesians 6:11, ESV)

Paul uses the familiar imagery of a Roman soldier’s armor to vividly illustrate what God spiritually provides for us. We’re called to:

• Wrap truth around us like a belt

• Wear righteousness as our breastplate

• Put on shoes made ready by the gospel of peace

• Take up the shield of faith

• Place the helmet of salvation upon our heads

• Wield the sword of God's Word

  
  

What incredibly good news! Where the devil deceives us with lies, God surrounds us with truth. When the enemy tempts us to doubt God’s love, He clothes us in righteousness to guard our hearts. Where Satan seeks to overwhelm us with fear, we are equipped with the sure footing of the gospel's peace. When doubts about our salvation arise, God provides the helmet of salvation to protect our minds.

Against fiery arrows of temptation, doubt, and fear, God gives us the shield of faith and the powerful sword of His Word — both designed to equip us to stand firm.

In the face of the devil’s lies, God equips us fully — with truth, righteousness, gospel readiness, faith, and salvation — everything necessary to stand firm.

My Own Struggle: Trying Harder Isn't the Answer

For a long time, I misunderstood Paul’s teaching here. I heard it as a call to simply try harder. If I struggled with honesty, I told myself I needed to be more truthful. When doubts crept in, I pressured myself to have more faith. This mindset led me to rely on self-improvement plans and strategies — but I’ve discovered something troubling: it doesn’t work.

The harder I tried on my own, the more discouraged I became — stuck in a frustrating cycle of failure.

To be clear, pursuing righteousness and truthfulness is essential. But left to ourselves, genuine transformation is impossible. Our best efforts always fall short.

Ephesians offers a wonderfully different message. By grace, God has saved us and promises to carry us to the end. The emphasis throughout this letter isn’t on our own strength but entirely on God’s grace, power, and faithfulness.

I'm learning to see this passage about God’s armor differently — not as a call to self-reliance, but as an invitation to depend fully on the strength and grace provided in Christ alone.

The Armor Belongs to God, Not Us

If we read carefully, Paul first instructs us to "be strong in the Lord." This isn’t a call to rely on our own strength but an invitation to place our confidence entirely in God’s power. Paul’s language emphasizes receiving strength rather than generating it ourselves — being strengthened by God Himself.

Our job isn’t to “get stronger” but to depend completely on the strength that God graciously provides.

The devil’s schemes may seem intimidating — and in our own strength, they are overwhelming. But here's the joyful truth: God is stronger. Our security rests entirely in His strength, not ours.

Paul reinforces this by instructing us to put on the armor of God. Notice, it’s not our armor — it’s God’s. Paul draws from the prophets, especially Isaiah (11:5; 59:17), where God Himself is described as wearing this very armor.

We are invited to dress ourselves in these same virtues — truth, righteousness, salvation, peace, and faithfulness.

In other words, we are called to wear God’s jersey — identifying ourselves with Him. This isn’t about striving harder but about receiving and wearing the spiritual gifts that God graciously provides. These new spiritual clothes fit perfectly with our new identity in Christ, reflecting our renewed relationship and complete dependence on Him.

Instead of exhausting ourselves by trying to become stronger on our own, let’s actively choose each day to rely fully on Christ — clothed by Him, protected by Him, and empowered by Him to stand firm.

Fully Dressed in Christ

Paul urges us to put on spiritual armor, describing it vividly — truth as a belt, righteousness as our breastplate, feet fitted with gospel readiness, and the helmet of salvation placed on our heads. We wield the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Yet there’s something even more profound happening here. Each piece of armor isn’t merely a virtue or character trait we must strive to attain — each one points directly to Christ Himself:

• We wear the belt of truth because Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6, ESV).

• We put on the breastplate of righteousness because Christ is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30).

• Our feet are fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace because Christ Himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).

• The shield of faith protects us because Christ is the faithful one — the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

• We put on the helmet of salvation because Christ Himself is our salvation, who has rescued us completely.

• And we take up the sword of the Spirit because Christ is the living Word of God (John 1:1).

  
  

These qualities aren’t achievements we earn but gifts Christ has provided through His own life and work in us. Throughout Ephesians, Paul reminds us that Jesus has already done this for us — He has spoken truth, proclaimed peace, made us righteous, and accomplished our salvation.

The message isn’t that we must stand stronger or try harder to survive in difficult times. Rather, because the times are so challenging, we are called to trust fully in the strength of the Lord and live completely in Him. As we do this, He will strengthen us, covering our lives and minds with His truth, righteousness, faith, and salvation.

We don’t need more striving — we need more Christ. And the great news is that Christ is abundantly enough. He reigns as the victorious ruler over all. For those clothed in Christ, the evil one poses no threat, because Christ has already defeated him. Danger only arises when we neglect God's help — when we choose not to be dressed in His Son.

When we sin, the solution isn’t to try harder. Instead, our sin reveals where we've been standing and which voice we’ve been listening to. It shows us when we’re not living fully in our new identity in Christ.

But God, in His mercy, exposes our sin not to condemn us but to draw us back — calling us home to find refuge in Christ, where we belong. There, in Him, we can truly find our security, our peace, and our strength.

The Incredible Benefits of Living in Christ

As we live in Christ — clothed fully in Him — we receive extraordinary blessings. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reveals the riches of life in Christ — promises that define who we are and what we receive in Him.

Listen to what God assures us:

• We are made holy — Set apart by God, no longer defined by our past but by His righteousness. (Ephesians 1:4)

• We are given every spiritual blessing — Nothing is withheld from us; in Christ, we lack nothing. (Ephesians 1:3)

• We are revealed God’s great plans for the cosmos — God has graciously included us in His eternal purpose. (Ephesians 1:9–10)

• We are given hope — A confident expectation rooted in God’s promises. (Ephesians 1:18)

• We are made alive and seated in the heavens — No longer spiritually dead, we share in Christ's victory and reign. (Ephesians 2:4–6)

• We receive God’s kindness — His undeserved love poured out generously. (Ephesians 2:7)

• We are created for good works — Not as a burden, but as a joyful way to reflect His character. (Ephesians 2:10)

• We are brought into God’s family — No longer strangers or outsiders but His beloved children. (Ephesians 2:19)

• We receive all of God’s promises — Every promise finds its fulfillment in Jesus. (Ephesians 3:6)

• We receive forgiveness — The weight of our sin is lifted, and we are cleansed. (Ephesians 1:7)

• We are chosen and redeemed — Our identity is secure in Christ’s redeeming love. (Ephesians 1:4–7)

• We are sealed with the Holy Spirit — A guarantee that we belong to God forever. (Ephesians 1:13–14)

• We are made into a new humanity and a new temple — United as one people, built into a spiritual home for God’s presence. (Ephesians 2:14–22)

• We can approach God with freedom and confidence — No longer fearful or ashamed; we are welcomed with boldness. (Ephesians 3:12)

• We have faith — Not a blind leap, but a firm trust grounded in God’s power and character. (Ephesians 3:17)

• We are brought out of darkness and into the light — No longer blinded by sin, we now see clearly and walk in His truth. (Ephesians 5:8)

• We are made strong — Not by mustering strength within ourselves, but by depending on God’s unshakable power. (Ephesians 6:10)

  
  

What incredible news! All these blessings flow from Christ’s victory and are secured by His grace. They are not rewards for our efforts but gifts given freely to those who place their trust in Him.

This is why Paul emphasizes that we are to put on Christ — to clothe ourselves in His truth, righteousness, peace, and salvation. We don’t stand firm by relying on ourselves but by resting fully in the strength and security He provides.

We don’t need more striving — we need more Christ. And the great news is that Christ is enough — more than enough. He reigns as victorious King, ruling over all powers and authorities. For those clothed in Him, the enemy’s threats hold no power. The devil is defeated; he poses no threat to those who remain secure in Christ.

So when we stumble — when we fail, doubt, or sin — the answer isn’t to try harder. Instead, our sin reveals where we've drifted from dependence on Christ. In His mercy, God reveals these moments not to condemn us but to call us back — drawing us home to find rest, hope, and life in the One who is more than enough.

How Do We Live Fully in Christ?

For those who are covered in Christ, the evil one poses no real threat. The devil has been defeated, and Christ reigns victorious. The only danger lies in neglecting God's help — stepping away from His strength and choosing not to be dressed in His Son.

How do we avoid this? How do we live fully in Christ?

Paul points us to the answer: Through prayer.

"Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:18, ESV)

Paul isn’t introducing a new command here. This isn’t about adding more tasks to our already busy schedules. Instead, Paul reveals the means by which we live out everything he’s described — standing firm in Christ and putting on the armor of God.

Prayer is not a separate step after putting on God’s armor — it’s the very way we wear it. As we pray, we cling to His truth, His righteousness, His peace, and His salvation.

We live in Christ as we pray — looking to Him, depending on Him, and inviting Him into every moment of our lives. Paul’s invitation isn’t just about attending longer prayer meetings or adopting stricter routines — though those can be helpful. Rather, Paul encourages us to live all of life in Christ’s presence — learning to walk with Him in constant communion.

We’ve been brought into God’s throne room, and now we are invited to walk through life in ongoing relationship with Him. Sometimes this means praying with words; other times, it’s a quiet awareness that He is near. Prayer is something we can do as we meet with people, while waiting for the bus, during a walk, or while preparing dinner and doing chores.

The goal isn’t to treat prayer as another task but to increasingly invite Jesus into each moment — to develop a growing awareness that He is with you, He is for you, and He is enough.

Praying in Every Season

Paul describes this life of prayer as one marked by five key qualities. He calls us to pray “at all times” — to live with an awareness of Christ’s presence in every part of life. Our prayers are to be “in the Spirit,” led by His direction and aligned with His will. Paul encourages us to bring all kinds of prayers — our praise, worries, frustrations, and needs — and to stay alert, recognizing the spiritual battle around us. Finally, Paul calls us to pray for all the saints, lifting one another up as we walk this journey together.

We weren’t meant to stand alone. As we pray for one another, we strengthen each other in truth, righteousness, and hope. When we pray together, we stand stronger.

Living this way shapes our hearts and keeps us secure in Christ. It’s exactly what Jesus meant when He said, “Remain in me... apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5). Abiding in Christ isn’t about striving harder but about consistently turning to Him — trusting Him, speaking with Him, and depending on Him.

Paul’s invitation to pray with “all kinds of prayers” shows that prayer isn’t limited to one method. Throughout the day, we can pause to offer prayers of adoration, praising God for who He is and what He has done. We can bring Him our needs, asking for His strength in temptation, His wisdom for decisions, and His guidance for those we love. There are moments for confession, acknowledging our failures and doubts, and times to pray prayers of surrender, releasing our will and trusting His.

Some prayers will overflow with thanksgiving, while others may be marked by grief or sadness. At times, words may fail altogether — and all we can do is sit in quiet trust, resting in His presence. Even these silent moments are acts of prayer, as we acknowledge His nearness and sufficiency.

Living in Christ through prayer isn’t about mastering a method; it’s about cultivating a life of dependence — an ongoing invitation to invite Jesus into your day. As we do, we trust that He is with us, shaping us, strengthening us, and guiding us.

There’s No Better Place to Be

Because of the evil one’s schemes and the great life that is found in Christ, let us dress ourselves fully in Him. Let us trust in His strength and live in Him through prayer.

There’s no better clothing to wear. Our old garments of self-reliance, striving, and sinfulness are worn-out and unworthy. But praise God — He has given us His Son, not only to save us but to walk with us so that we might experience His victory.

We don’t need more techniques — we need more of Jesus.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left...– Adapted from the Prayer of St. Patrick

May this be our prayer today — that Christ would surround us, fill us, and lead us as we trust fully in Him.