The Armour of God
(see Ephesians 6:10-18)Sword
The sword, which is the word, is fastened on the belt of truth. This means that the sword is secured and conditioned to first the truth. It’s logical as the Scripture is a representation, a product, of an earlier existing more fundamental truth of God. We get to the truth and God not only by the word but specially by having a relationship with Him. You can be a Bible scholar without being a believer but when you area believer and have a unique personal inimitable relationship with the Father, the word in Scripture becomes automatically a part of you. The word has to be worked on. You need to sharpen the sword but you don’t need to sharpen the belt. The stories Jesus tells throughout the Gospels are but shadows or representations of the truth. The stories in themselves are not too evident at times. Jesus sometimes has to elaborate on them himself. The stories serve only as only a guiding lights towards the ultimate truth. You can know the word and not be a Christian but you cannot have a relationship with God if you're not a believer in Him. Even the Devil, can know the word but he does not have a relationship with God. In fact he is separated from God as far as east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).Boots
The boots are for the feet to be grounded in the gospel of peace. The term grounded because the gospel is what gives us the assurance that we are saved. It gives us our identity as blameless people which in turn gives us peace. It is basic and it is our foundation, that is why it is in the ground. The gospel also prevents us from running backwards, from retreating, and propels us forward toward others to spread it (the gospel).Shield
The shield of faith is used to defend against any encroachments of the enemy. The Roman soldier (under who this example is given in Scripture) would also interlock his shield with those of with his comrades on the battlefield forming a formidable defense. This we do, united, in the Church. Note that the shield and the sword are the only active moving parts in the armor. The shield is more than a passive tool, it is also an active one. The Roman soldier would also use the shield to push the enemy away. We use faith to push adversity and demons away. The gospel and salvation are weapons but without faith we have no defense.Helmet
The helmet of salvation guards our minds, our heads and protects against lies. The word can do that but only if we are saved because without salvation we are not going to understand or accept the word to the full, so it will not be as effective or may even be meaningless to the unsaved. Of course the word does often lead to salvation eventually but we are talking about being on the battlefield and having the helmet. The Christian also has to filter his thoughts through the lens of salvation; note that the eyes are in the head and hence protected by the helmet.Breastplate
The breastplate of righteousness protects the heart, basically protecting us from putting on soul (mind, will and emotions) and flesh (temptation) desires into the heart. The heart is deceitful above all things (see Jeremiah 17:9). When we have to breastplate of righteousness we don't worry about the heart anymore because we have chosen to walk on the right path. Being deceived by the heart becomes a lesser concern.
We need the full armour
Many Christians fight the Devil using only the helmet of salvation and being naked elsewhere. That’s not enough. It’s like you being on the battlefield naked but with a helmet on and assuming a fighting posture facing the enemy. When I say: “fully saved” I refer not to salvation plus something else. That would be heresy. Fully saved means being saved from the attacks of Satan and temptations of the flesh, in this case, by wearing the full armour of God.
Andy De Campos
