Armour of God (Part 1)
Updated: Jan 21, 2022
Description: The Armour of God is our best possible protection when life gets tough, but what kind of war are we fighting?
When life is good, it’s easy to believe that God is loving and looking after us. When life becomes more challenging, it’s all too easy for our faith to slip – and this is exactly what the Devil and his angels want. They want us to doubt. They want us to throw in the towel and give up on God. They’re tempting us to believe that God doesn’t care about our situation; that he’s given up on us.
One thing: God never gives up on anyone, ever. Whatever we’ve done; whatever we’re facing, we can always come to him for help and forgiveness in the name of the all-powerful Jesus Christ.
The Armour of God
The Armour of God symbolises the weapons and defences we need to fight off attacks by the Devil and his minions. These protections are strong because God is supremely strong – and he wants us to be strong in standing up to anything and everything the Devil throws our way.
And we need all the help we can get. As history tells us, the evil forces ranged against us have a formidable record of murderous destruction over thousands of years. Without God’s armour, we’re up against far more than we can handle on our own. Thank God we’ve absolutely no need to go it alone. What’s more, we have the divine protection of the very best weapons – weapons forged in the furnace of righteousness.
Divine protection! Righteous weapons!!
Maybe all this sounds a bit ‘head in the clouds’. But it isn’t. Remember: ‘The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn’t exist.’ The idea behind this well-known observation has roots as far back as 1836 (probably before) – and it offers a fundamental truth that serves to emphasise our great need of the Armour of God.
THE ARMOUR
Belt of truth
The first protection mentioned in Ephesians 6.10-18 is the belt of truth that we should buckle around our waists. The key word here is ‘truth’, the opposite of lies and hypocrisy. The belt of truth holds everything together: truth of heart, transparency and authenticity. It’s the truth revealed in scripture and made alive in Jesus, who said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’ (John 14:6). Wearing the belt of truth means binding ourselves to the gospel of Christ and no other.
Breastplate of righteousness
The second protection is the breastplate of righteousness. With this in place, we are protected by the righteousness of God. This is a gift made possible by the gracious sacrifice of Jesus. Belief in him makes us righteousness with God (i.e. no longer separated from him by sin). It follows that if we stray – and we all do – we must act quickly to restore our relationship with God. We must repent and not let one sin lead to another down a slippery slope. Wearing the breastplate of righteousness is immensely powerful. It confirms that our sins are fully forgiven; that the Devil can’t plague us with guilt and draw us away from God.
Gospel of peace
The third protection St Paul describes as our ‘feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace’ (Ephesians 6:15). This gospel has the power to transform lives – as has been proved by the changes in the lives of countless people over millennia who have responded to the good news of Jesus Christ. Not surprisingly, the Devil despises the gospel and will do everything he can to discredit its good news. Therefore, we need to be ready and armed. This means being inspired by and willing to share the gospel so that its powerful message of salvation can bring life to those who have not yet heard the good news.
In Part 2
In Part 2, we’ll explore our other weapons: the Shield of faith; Helmet of salvation; Sword of the Spirit; Praying in the Spirit. All seven together offer supreme protection.
Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
