We have so many things protecting our material assets and physical lives: from the military to police up security systems to cybersecurity to simple things like door locks. But the strength of our nation, of any nation, is not our military strength or economic might, but rather in our character. Whose responsibility is it to defend our morality?
Paul here in Ephesians discusses our spiritual defenses, in the form of the Armor of God. Each piece mentioned is a piece of defective equipment. Even the sword was a short sword, rather than the spear of a Greek hoplite or the longsword of the Celts. Paul was chained to soldier as he wrote this, so he had an up close and personal view of each item.
The first thing a soldier needs to put on is his belt. The belt is what holds everything together. Likewise, for us, the truth is where we must start. The truth of Christ is what holds the rest of our Christian lives together. Not only must we pursue the truth, but we must live the truth and speak the truth. This is harder than it sounds. Why do we have trials to pursue the truth of a crime? Because people lie. Of course they do! But we are called to better and more, and to start with the truth as our foundation.
Next, the soldier would put on the breastplate. We also must put on righteousness – it is not our righteousness, which comes from within, but the righteousness of Christ. But at must still live it out, because the world is watching our character. Our behavior can cast a shadow across the light of Christ. Just as the breastplate protects the main core of our body, so too does righteousness protect our witness.
Then comes the “readiness of the gospel of peace” which is to be put on like shoes or boots or sandals. The gospel is more than just the reconciliation of God with man, but also between each each other.
Next, with all the clothing put on, the soldier picks up the shield. These were not small rounds shields, but about four feet tall and built of leather over thick wood. Soldiers would often soak the shield in water, to extinguish fiery arrows. We are constantly under attack by Satan’s arrows, whether our own thoughts or the words of others, whether doubts about Christ, His word, our salvation or Christ’s love for us – our cynicism or compartmentalizion. The defense to all of these is faith.
Next we receive the helmet of salvation. This not only protects our spiritual lives the way a helmet protects the head, but, like the Roman plumed helmet, serves as identification on the battlefield.
Next and finally, we take up the sword of the spirit. This is the word of God, but the word used here is not logos, which is usually used when discussing the breadth of scripture, but rather rhema, a specific word. Like Jesus when he was tempted in the wilderness, we need specific words from scripture for specific moments of trial or temptation.
Our church has been through a lot lately, and Satan has been working overtime on the whole fiery arrows thing. But we have the answers and defenses close at hand. Most importantly, Christ has already won the ultimate victory.
– Sermon Notes, Mahlon Friesen, Seed Church, Lynnwood, WA, September 15, 2019