Paul’s readers in Ephesus feared the hostile powers in the “high heavens.” Paul wrote to assure them that they are safe because they are in Christ. Just as Ephesus had people who used magical practices to drive away hostile, spiritual powers and stay safe from bad fate, false Christian teachers in our day peddle their self-claim knowledge and power to function in the realm of the spirits to remove demons and curses. As we learn what God has said in this part of Ephesians, we cannot allow human philosophy to determine what we are willing to believe. The Holy Spirit inspired Biblical writers wrote clear truth that is for our benefit. We harm ourselves by refusing to believe it because of our own feelings or philosophical prejudices. What is clear is that the only way to be holy and blameless is to be in Christ by faith. If we interact with the hostile spirits we are in the place of deception. If we believe the clear, objective promises of God in Christ we are safe. Those who trust God are blessed. Those who trust man are cursed. It is that simple. We do not need to process the past, we need to believe Christ and lay aside the religious traditions of men.

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