And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

This is our second article on Ephesians 6:17. Last time we discussed the helmet of salvation. The other piece of armor listed in this verse is the sword of the Spirit.

This seems to be the only offensive weapon listed among the pieces of armor. Of course it is used defensively as well. The first thing we need to note is that the verb at the beginning of the verse says to take the sword. In other words we need to pick it up, have it with us and use it when needed.

What is this sword? This passage tells us that the sword is the word of God. How do we use it? Well, I think the example of Jesus during his encounter with Satan when the devil tempted Him gives us a good example.

Satan tempted Jesus in three areas which would almost certainly trip us up: The lust of the flesh — “turn these stones into bread;” the lust of the eyes — “look at all this land I will give you if you worship me;” and the pride of life — “cast yourself down and the angels will come and rescue you. Won’t that be dramatic?”

But each time, Jesus countered with a specific passage of scripture which aimed at the specific temptation Satan hurled at Him.’

Jesus’ example gives us the pattern. First, we need to memorize as much Scripture as we can. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” The Psalmist is clearly trying to store up God’s Word in his memory so that when temptations came he would be able to counter them.

To take up the sword and have it with us means we also need to meditate on it, and commit it to memory so that you have it available when needed.

Then, we need to actually use it. When the enemy attacks, we not only want to be sure we have the shield of faith as a defensive weapon, but we need to quote the Scripture to ourselves as well as as to our adversary to resist his onslaught. The Bible says that we should resist the devil and he will flee from us. But resisting requires scriptural fortification with the sword. Otherwise we are just standing out there on the battlefield precariously unprotected.

Think about what steps you can take to make a serious effort of memorizing Scripture and internalizing its meaning well so that you will be able to defend yourselves and attack the enemy head on when he threatens you.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:50 PM October 17, 2022.

 …and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

In ancient battles, the runner was an important part of the war effort. There were no walkie talkies or satellite phones. Runners carried messages and orders from one part of the battle field to another. They also brought news, whether good or bad, to the government leaders. For example, in 2 Samuel 18, David hears of the news of the death of his son Absalom through a runner.

We, as soldiers in God’s army, are also ambassadors to announce to everyone that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” Part of our armor, therefore, is to have our feet ready to run with the message that the battle has been won and God has secured the victory. There are skirmishes to be fought, but the victory has already been assured. The world needs to know this.

This same imagery is used in Isaiah 52:7 – “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

May our feet be shod with the sanctified footwear that will carry the message of peace as part of the larger war effort.

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

In addition to the belt of truth, we are to have put on the breastplate of righteousness. Notice that the text implies that the breastplate has been put on. It’s not an imperative, it’s a condition that exists: “having put on…”

The purpose of the breastplate, of course, is to provide protection for the vital organs in that region of the body: the heart, lungs, etc. But what does the “breastplate of righteousness” mean?

First, I think, it means that we have been declared righteous by God because of Jesus’ death in our place and his having credited us with Jesus’ perfect obedience. Satan’s continuous accusations cannot stand because we have been declared righteous by the Judge Himself. This fact is protective of us in battle when Satan’s arrows of doubt and accusation are flying.

Next, I think it means, at least to some degree, that we are living a righteous life, or at least attempting to do so through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our own righteousness is as filthy rags. But, with the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to be putting to death the deeds of the flesh and living in the strength which God provides. We need to be careful though, because often we will think we are better than we are, and we tend to start living as though our own righteousness was good enough on its own to carry us through in the day of battle. That would be a dangerous assumption. But at the very least, we need to be humbly seeking God and His strength in our efforts to live for Him. In any case, it is the perfect righteousness of Christ that is the strength of our breastplate.

An interesting passage in Isaiah 59:17, speaking of God preparing to wage war, says, “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head.” Now obviously He did not need to have an imputed righteousness given to Him as a breastplate. In this case it is speaking of God’s own righteousness. But there is another thought I would like to put in the mix here. When God puts on righteousness as a breastplate, I think it signifies that His cause is just and righteous. Could it mean the same thing for us? When we enter into a spiritual battle wearing the breastplate of righteousness, we are being engaged as a soldier in the army of the King of kings. We’ve been given the responsibility of waging war and holding ground against the enemy. We have been given a righteous cause for which to fight and it is our duty to be thoroughly prepared so that when all is said and done, we will still be standing.

Is your breastplate in place today as the battle rages all around you?

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

Stand therefore! Since the armor is to help us to withstand in the evil day, and when it is all over, we are to still be standing, stand therefore having the armor on and fastened correctly.

Now the various pieces, which we are to have been picked up and put on, are described for us. The first piece of armor described is the belt of truth. We are to gird ourselves about with the belt of truth. In Roman days, a man’s garments were much more loose-fitting and flowing than what we wear today. Before a man could wage war or compete in an athletic competition, he had to have his clothes tied up tightly so they wouldn’t get in the way of the activity at hand. Therefore a belt around his waist was used to tie up and tuck in all of that material so that it wouldn’t be in the way. Such girding also protected a man’s vulnerable body parts.

The Apostle uses this visual picture to describe our preparation for the spiritual battles we will surely encounter. The belt is described as the belt of truth.

The first and most obvious thing which comes to mind is that the Word of God is the truth upon which we stand and fight. But before that, there is a more important concept that we must have in order for us to be appropriately girded. That concept is the concept of truth itself.

The whole idea of truth is under attack today. Truth is said to be whatever we make it out to be in our own minds. But clearly, that is not what truth means. I may see an accident occur, and I may provide the police with my testimony. I may believe that I have explained the truth of what happened. But no matter how hard I believe it to be the truth, I may have missed something. In the excitement, I may have overlooked important details. A nearby security camera may show the aspects of the incident that I didn’t notice or have forgotten. Something truly happened, but I may not know the truth, even though I think I do. The camera itself picked up only one angle. A second camera may further reveal the truth about the accident. My point is, there is truth, even if we don’t know what it is, or believe it is something that it is not.

We believe the Bible is the truthful narrative about God, His character and His deeds. It also is a truthful narrative of man and our deeds and character. In order to stand our ground and fight the battles we face, we need to be equipped with the truth. That means not only having the truth, such as having a Bible on a shelf in the house. We must know the truth. That that only comes with faithful and careful reading and studying what God has to say about Himself and about us.

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

The chief reason we need to put on the whole armor of God is because of who our enemy is. The Bible tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. No matter what it looks like in the physical world, our real foe is not a flesh and blood enemy. We may have battles and forces that appear to be physical. There may be fights and arguments that take place between people and political structures for very moral and upright reasons. But underneath are the spiritual forces that are at work.

Our actual wrestling is with principalities, powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this age. Paul uses the word “wrestle” because it demonstrates how close the conflict is to us. Wrestlers are in face-to-face, body-to-body competition. It’s not like lobbing a missile at an enemy a thousand miles away. Spiritual wrestling is in-your-face wrestling!

The enemy is described as being principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual enemies in heavenly places. Our enemies are the spiritual forces that are at war with God in the unseen realms here on earth as well as in the heavenly places.

Satan, of course, is the chief of these hordes. He hates God and he is out to do anything he can to defeat God and the people of God. He knows our characteristics. He knows the flaws that sin has introduced into the human race, and he knows how to capitalize on those weaknesses. This is a tough enemy we are up against, but not an insurmountable one if we make use of God’s armor and methods.

“Therefore,” Paul says, “take up the whole armor of God.” Why? so that we might be able to withstand the onslaught. And in the end, having done all, we are to still be standing. The phrase, “having done all” is an important one. The battle is not won by doing nothing. We are to give our all to the conflict. Having done all; having put on the whole armor; having fought the good fight; having resisted, where that is called for. Having done all, to still be standing when it’s over. That’s the goal.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Paul has just told us to be strong in the Lord. Now in verse 11, he adds to the admonition by telling us to put on the whole armor of God. The emphasis is on the word “whole.” Most of you are familiar with the rest of the passage, and so you know he is going to describe the various parts of the armor and what role they play in the offensive and defensive aspects of our battle. It’s important to have the whole armor on. With that in mind, we’ll need to pay particular attention to each piece as we get there in our study.

But remember, even the armor in its entirety, won’t do us any good if it is not put on, and put on correctly. We’re told “Put on.” The armor doesn’t just jump up on us from some shelf in the armory! In a figurative but at the same time literal sense, we need to pick up each piece and intentionally put it on.

And the reason? So that we will be able to stand against the schemes, tricks, wiles, methods of the devil. It will not be possible to remain standing during and after the battle, if we do not have the armor on. It simply can’t be done.

Satan is a master planner. He knows our characteristics and foibles. Even though he is not omniscient, he does understand human nature. He has a strategy, and if we hope to be able to be standing when the fight is over, we will need to be sure our armor is on.

As an addendum here, let me say that Banner of Truth has published a 3-volume paperback edition of “The Christian in Complete Armour” by William Gurnall. I highly recommend it for your devotional reading.