We’re on the Offensive
The armor of God is familiar to most of us, isn’t it? We’ve read Ephesian 6 multiple times and we can say the different parts from memory. Sword of the spirit, breastplate of righteousness, helmet of salvation, belt of truth, feet ready with the Gospel, and the shield of faith. However I learned a lot about the armor of God last night from my lecture (which I now give to you free of charge).
I’ve been told that Paul gets this illustration from the picture of the Roman soldier. He looked at the way the Roman soldier was dressed for combat and that is how we must garb ourselves for combat against the enemy. While this may be true that Paul had the Roman soldier in sight, it is more likely that he had Isaiah in mind since these are direct quotes. “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head;” Is. 59:17a, “Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” Is. 11:5 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news,” Is. 52:7. Paul is grabbing these illustrations straight from the Old Testament.
Paul does tell us to put on the armor of God (Eph. 6:11) but it’s God who first puts on the armor.
The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.
He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
- Is. 59:15-17.
We don the armor because he first donned it to …
This armor is offensive. Most of the time we picture Christian wearing the armor standing there and just enduring the battle. Isaiah 59 clearly shows that the Lord wears the armor and runs to the rescue of his people. It is there for tackling the evil one. We are to wear the armor and assault Satan and the forces contrary to God (Mt. 16:18). As to quote my Lecturer, We will be standing but it’ll be the victorious standing that comes on top of our defeated foe.
Standing around victorious