This verse teaches us to resist the forces of darkness which Paul described in the previous verses. The attacks against us are attacks against the gospel and our standing in Christ. We live in “evil days” (Ephesians 5:16) and here Paul speaks of “the evil day.” This likely refers to times of intense temptation or attack. We need to be armed so we can stand firm in “the evil day” that comes. Satan uses the opportune moment to launch his attacks. To “resist” means “to stand against.” We must stand in the gospel and our right standing before God that comes from the work of Christ, received by faith.  God has provided everything that pertains to the conflict so that we can stand firm.

We warn about the danger of being seduced by the idea of “progress” which causes some to “go on ahead” and not abide in the doctrine that has once for all been handed down to the saints. The sermon spends considerable time explaining Jude 6-10 where we are warned about “dreamers” who cross boundaries and wrongly “blaspheme majestic beings.” The context shows that these are evil beings. By explaining the divine council worldview and showing an example from 1Kings 22, we show that sometimes God uses wicked beings to bring about His purpose (in this case the judgment of Ahab). We are not to go where we are not equipped to be. The “dreamers” go by instinct and depart from the rational means God gave humans to survive on the earth. We show that standing firm does not mean using spiritual warfare techniques that are not revealed in the Bible and are actually warned against.