Then, Paul begins to list the individual pieces of armor and the use of each in this battle Christians must face. Paul explains that our struggle is less a physical one than a spiritual one, against our true enemy, the devil. Paul first compels his readers to stand firm for God, with His strength, not our own. The "Armor of God" passage is located in Ephesians 6:10-20. I'm more able to meet daily challenges while keeping my peace. This portrayal of a soldier has taught me practical ways of guarding my faith and resisting the enemy. But I've discovered that Paul's message is based solidly on earlier Bible verses. This passage has always intrigued me because it seemed to come out of nowhere. The urgency in his tone makes it a call to action for all believers, both of his day and ours. Paul was not the first to use this analogy, so he knew most people could relate to the picture he painted. In it, he names pieces of the actual mail worn by fighting men of the day, and repurposes them for use in spiritual warfare. At the same time, Paul will make it clear that Christians are engaged in a spiritual war, not an earthly one.Of all the images meant to encourage believers, one of the most vivid is found in "The Armor of God," a passage written by the Apostle Paul in his book of Ephesians. Verse 12 will put this battle in graphic terms. While believers are called to speak out against evil (2 Corinthians 10:5), triumph over Satan primarily involves holding a firm defense, and allowing Christ to win the ultimate victory. The verse does not suggest conquering, leading a charge, or other types of offense. Using the armor of God fully is key to surviving this spiritual onslaught.Īlso interesting is the fact that these tools are meant to allow Christians to "stand against" the Devil. However, believers must pray and fully rely on God's resources to stand firm (Ephesians 6:13) against his attacks. Thankfully, his power is no match for the power available through God. Further, the Devil appears to specifically seek to destroy the good work of all believers. It is clear Paul does not have in mind physical violence, but rather a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12). Second, Paul calls the Devil's work against believers "schemes." This indicates a coordinated plan of attack against believers. Just as a Roman soldier could not reasonably enter battle with a partial suit of armor, or with only some of his weapons, a believer will not be as successful in spiritual battle unless every part of God's armor is included. Only with every piece of the armor of God can a believer adequately stand against the schemes of the Devil. One or two pieces are not sufficient, especially in light of the second qualification, which are the plans of Satan. His admonition to "put on" these pieces is also instructive: Christians have to be deliberate about using these implements.įirst, believers must plan to utilize all tools available to them. These give a useful perspective on how these various components are meant to function, and why they are important. Paul begins with two important qualifiers in this verse. Here Paul introduces the armor of God, a famous and often-used metaphor from the Bible.
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