Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:13-15)
We are engaged in a spiritual battle. It is as if the school bully has called us outside to fight. Like it or not, we must deal with the situation.
This threat is somewhat different. The apostle says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We are not engaged in a physical battle which we can fight with physical weapons. We are engaged in a supernatural, spiritual battle which requires a new weaponry. We cannot fight in our own strength. To do so would mean sure defeat.
To attempt to fight in our own strength would be like attacking a forrest fire with a squirt gun. It would be like attempting to slay a lion with a fly swatter. To attempt to defeat the devil in our own strength is like attempting to catch an elephant with a butterfly net.
Spiritual warfare needs spiritual weapons. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” We must fight spiritual forces with spiritual weapons. We must put on the armor of God and use the weapons of the Spirit. This armor and weaponry is the subject of our text. By understanding how to use this armor and weaponry, we will be able to be protected from the attack of the enemy and enabled to deal a death blow to his advance.
Paul, the writer of this letter, was intimately familiar with the Roman world of his day. Everyone knew of the might of the Roman army, and could describe the equipment worn by a Roman soldier. Paul was certainly no stranger to these things. In fact, he spent months chained to a Roman soldier. It was only natural for him to compare the spiritual armor and weaponry we need to a familiar image everyone knew. He uses each element of a Roman soldier's armor to illustrate the spiritual equipment necessary for our fight of faith.
It is essential for us to see the importance of this armor. We are required to put on this armor and understand how to use it. The alternative is that we go down to defeat. Without this armor we are in danger. With this armor we emerge victorious. But we must understand the contemporary message behind this coat of mail.
A Roman soldier found his belt to be an essential part of his armor. His belt gathered his armor together and secured his sword to his side. The belt also served to secure long garments so that they would not interfere with fighting. The belt tied it all together.
We are exhorted to stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth. It is truth which ties together the believer's armor. In our warfare against Satan and his demonic followers, a warfare in which deception and deceit are commonplace, it is truth which illuminates our way and enables us to be ready to fight.
There are two things which are probably in view here. The first is the truth of God. Here we are talking about the objective content of truth. The emphasis is on knowing the truth of God. Truth exists whether people know it or acknowledge it. God's word is truth. Truth has content. Truth can be discovered, accepted, and applied, or it can be obscured, rejected, and ignored. But whatever your response to truth --- it is still truth.
Hopefully, you will not only discover the truth, but will choose to receive the truth. Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Knowing the truth can set us free. Satan's lies only enslave us. Truth reveals what is real. It casts its light on the situation and enables us to walk safely.
The second thing which is in view here is the truth lived out. Here we focus on our conduct. The emphasis is on living the truth in our daily lives. The belt of truth means that we live honestly, in integrity, and without hypocrisy. Truth must not only be possessed, it must be applied to our lives. The Roman soldier's belt did him no good until it was tightly drawn around his waist. So our belt of truth is tightly fastened when we live honestly. When we walk in integrity in all of our relationships, we are utilizing the belt of truth. When we quit playing games, and walk consistently, whether people see us or not, then we are using the belt of truth. Without it, the other armor will not stay in place.
For the Roman soldier, the breastplate protected the vital organs. The heart, lungs, kidneys, stomach, and other organs were covered by this vital piece of armor. The point which Paul is making is that the breastplate of righteousness is essential for the Christian to avoid a mortal wound. It is righteousness which protects us in those vital areas of our relationship with God so that the life of Christ within us is not severed.
What is this righteousness? Well, one thing it isn't is our own righteousness. Our righteousness was not sufficient to save us, and our righteousness will never be sufficient to keep us. Isaiah likens our righteousness to “filthy rags.” Our righteousness is not in view, rather it is the righteousness of Christ which is in view.
In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read, “He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” Christ is the true righteous one. And He has imputed his righteousness to us. Because of His work on Calvary's cross, we can now receive His righteousness. He died there for us, and in our place. He now gives us His righteousness in exchange for ours. Actually, He is our righteousness. In 1 Corinthians 1:30 we read, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” When you receive Christ, you receive His righteousness. Now you can trust in Christ's finished work for you.
This leads us then to His working in us. Christ's work on Calvary enables us to experience a practical righteousness in our daily lives. We no longer walk in our own righteousness, but we now walk in His righteousness. That righteousness enables us to turn away from sin and to experience fellowship with a holy God. We have been set free from our former manner of life. Now we can say no to unrighteous living and yes to God. And that is the call for every believer. If we would defeat the attack of the enemy, we must put on the breastplate of righteousness.
If we do not put on the breastplate of righteousness, then we will be susceptible to every temptation Satan brings along. The Word of God tells us that we have been liberated by the grace of God. This grace has been extended to us, not so we could take advantage of it and sin, but so we can break free from sin. In fact, we have already been set free. The challenge is to live like who we really are. In Romans 6:1-2, 11-13 we read, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? . . . . . Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lust, and do not go own presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
If we live as who we really are, then we will put on the breastplate of righteousness. We will live depending on the righteousness of Christ, and walking in that righteousness in our daily lives. As we do, the breastplate of righteousness will protect us against the enemy.
The Roman soldier wore a certain kind of shoe. It was an open-toed spiked shoe which laced up past his ankles. We are all well aware of the importance of shoes for a variety of different purposes. There are dress shoes, work shoes, athletic shoes, and even bedroom slippers. These different types of shoes serve different purposes. The Roman soldier's shoe was an important piece of equipment. It served much the same purpose as a football player's spiked shoe. It was made to help the soldier stand his ground and advance. He needed traction. Most of the combat was hand-to-hand. Armies would surge toward one another and be locked in mortal combat. A soldier could not afford to be pushed backwards. He could not afford to slip down. And neither can we.
We must put on the boots of peace. Part of your being equipped for battle is having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. It is the gospel of peace which enables us to stand firm. We can stand secure knowing that we have peace.
There are two qualities of peace that we experience. The first is peace with God. Paul says in Romans 5:1, “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Because of the good news of the Gospel, we can now experience harmony and peace with God. Our struggle with Him is over. We have surrendered. Now we enjoy fellowship with God. We are secure in knowing that our eternal destiny is certain. We can stand in that certainty and know that we are ready to meet whatever challenge comes our way.
The second aspect of this peace is the peace of God. Philippians 4:7 reads, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Not only do we experience peace with God, but we also experience the peace of God. Peace with God means that our struggle with Him is over. The peace of God means that we experience His peace even in the most trying circumstances. It is the peace of God which causes us to have that calm, assured confidence that enables us to handle the situation.
When trying circumstances come, it is not unusual for people to begin to fall apart. Sometimes people even get somewhat hysterical. You might say to such a person, “Get a grip!” Well, how can someone get a grip if they have nothing to grab on to. Knowing Jesus gives us something to hold on to. And the peace of God keeps us from becoming hysterical in the first place. It helps us to get a grip.
This is precisely what having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace will do for you. It will enable you to stand firm. It will give you traction in life. It will enable you to advance against the enemy on any terrain. Whatever your circumstances, you will stand firm.
The believer's armor is all about our relationship with Christ. Each piece of armor stems from knowing Christ.
In the prophetic words found in the book of Daniel, we catch a glimpse of the end time. Speaking of the setting up of “the abomination of desolation” in the last days, Daniel says, “And by smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action” (11:32). In the King James Version it says the people who know their God “will be strong and do exploits.” The key is to know your God. Knowing Christ is always the key. Our relationship with Him is at the center of all we do. Only in Him can we have peace in the midst of conflict, righteousness in the midst of a sinful society, and truth in the midst of relativistic thinking.
So, in order to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the boots of peace, we must focus our attention on our Commander in Chief, Jesus Christ. He will equip us for war.
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