Equipped for War - Part 1

Ephesians 6:14-16

See parallel figures in Isa_11:5 and Isa_59:17

This is how things are: moral absolutes have disappeared (14ab), public morality has collapsed (14cd) and individual moral character is under threat (15ab). Justice and righteousness is moral practice arising out of moral principle. The initial ‘For’ before truth, introducing evidence substantiating the foregoing, should be restored. Truth/‘integrity, trust, probity’ has stumbled in the streets, i.e. has collapsed in public life. Honesty is straightforwardness, straight dealing. Truth is nowhere to be found possibly means ‘integrity/personal probity has gone missing’. There are forces of immorality at work constituting a threat to those who would even as much as stand aloof from what is wrong (cf. Am. 5:13). J. Alec Motyer, Introduction & Commentary on Isaiah

It is of vital importance to remember that none of these articles of military clothing and equipment are of human manufacture; such would be powerless against the "wiles of the devil". Each piece has its source in and focus on God alone.

1. Truth - more than honesty, sincerity of heart; confident belief in absolute truth of God

It is not simply integrity or sincerity, but the assured conviction that you believe, and that it is God's truth you believe. Such a sincere persuasion binds tightly the other pieces of armor; and "trussing up his loins" gives the combatant alertness and buoyancy in the battle, enabling him to "endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ". He feels supported and braced by his conscious knowledge and reception of the truth. Eadie

The state of the heart answering to God's truth; inward, practical acknowledgment of the truth as it is in Him: the agreement of our convictions with God's revelation. Vincent

See Joh_8:31-32 Joh_8:36 Gal_3:1 absolute truth, the truth, God's truth. Remember Satan's #1 tool - deception: he will use some of the truth in order to deceive. Our only hope is a knowledge of and confidence in pure truth, such a firm confidence even in the face of minimal understanding that it will not be shaken.

5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church of God, to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the Doctrine, and the Majesty of the stile, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God) the full discovery it makes of the only way of mans salvation, and many other incomparable Excellencies, and intire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence it self to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding; our (h) full perswasion, and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our Hearts. LBCF, Chapter 1
Joh_16:13-14 This confidence of the truth is not something God expects us to come up with on our own; as the Confession states, it is an inward work of the Holy Spirit that produces it. The Spirit accomplishes it by removing the blindness of our minds resulting from sin and Satan's efforts 2Co_4:3-4 and renewing our minds so they function and reason clearly and correctly Rom_12:1-2. 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith

2. Righteousness - Integrity, holiness, purity of life, sincerity of piety. Barnes

What is that righteousness, which in the spiritual armour answers to the cuirass? Many say it is our own righteousness, integrity, or rectitude of mind. But this is no protection. It cannot resist the accusations of conscience, the whispers of despondency, the power of temptation, much less the severity of the law, or the assaults of Satan. What Paul desired for himself was not to have on his own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of God by faith; Phil. 3, 8. 9. And this, doubtless, is the righteousness which he here urges believers to put on as a breast-plate. It is an infinitely perfect righteousness, consisting in the obedience and sufferings of the Son of God, which satisfies all the demands of the divine law and justice; and which is a sure defence against all assaults whether from within or from without. Hodge

But when the justifying righteousness of Christ is assumed as a breastplate by sinners, they can defy the assaults of the tempter. To every insinuation that they are so vile, guilty, worthless, and perverse - so beset with sin and under such wrath that God will repulse them - they oppose the free and perfect righteousness of their Redeemer, which is upon them. Eadie

See Zec_1:1-5 What better defense can we have when in the presence of Satan than that which Joshua had! Even before the accuser could speak, God rebuked him on behalf of Joshua and demonstrated why Satan's silence was necessary. Joshua was by no means innocent, Satan had much of which to accuse him; but once Joshua was clothed with imputed righteousness, all basis for accusation was removed.

1. Those whom God Effectually calleth, he also freely (a) justifieth, not by infusing Righteousness into them, but by (b) pardoning their sins, and by accounting, and accepting their Persons as (c) Righteous; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone, not by imputing faith it self, the act of beleiving, or any other (d) evangelical obedience to them, as their Righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole Law, and passive obedience in his death, for their whole and sole Righteousness, they (e) receiving, and resting on him, and his Righteousness, by Faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God. LBCF, Chapter 11

The devil ( διάβολος ) is the master slanderer, accusing us falsely but with elements of truth - regurgitating our failures but with the insinuation that they haven't been or cannot be forgiven. The devil will remind us of legitimate weaknesses or offenses and at the same time minimize or ignore God's grace and power to forgive. These weaknesses/offenses can just as easily be corporate as individual; further, they could be entirely wrong. For example, reformed churches aren't evangelistic; if they were true churches, people would be getting saved there; how many converts/baptisms have you had this year?

3. Preparedness - readiness that comes from the Gospel

Four times Paul has exhorted his hearers to stand - v. 11, 13 and 14. We are to stand against the wiles of the devil, against the forces of spiritual wickedness.

The reference is, therefore, not to readiness to proclaim the gospel but to the readiness or preparedness for combat and for standing in the battle that is bestowed by the gospel of peace. The writer’s emphasis is paradoxical. It is the appropriation of the gospel of peace that makes one ready for war. As we have seen from Eph_2:14-18, the gospel of peace is embodied in Christ who “is our peace,” and this is a peace with both vertical and horizontal axes: peace with God the Father and peace between human beings, Jews and Gentiles, who were formerly at enmity. Since such peace is the pledge of future cosmic harmony (cf. Eph_1:10; Eph_3:10), its realization in the Church not only sounds the death knell for opposing cosmic powers but also, in the meantime, leads to the intensification of their opposition. A continuing preservation and appropriation of the gospel of peace is, therefore, necessary if the powers are to be resisted and if believers are to be ready to make their stand in the world, the stand that is in line with their calling. Believers’ preparation for standing firm and prevailing against the alienating and fragmenting powers of evil is the harmony produced by the gospel. Word Biblical Commentary

The only way we as individuals can effectively stand against the sinister forces of evil that surround us if if we are united, at peace, with both God and men. The church cannot do its job (corporately) if it is in turmoil, in conflict with itself. In fact, the devil has won if he can persuade the church to fight itself rather than against the advance of evil in the world. Conflict with others is a natural outworking of the selfish sinful tendencies of the natural man and it requires Gospel power and effects to change that. The result of Gospel work is that the real enemy - Satan and his minions - can be clearly perceived and resisted.

4. Faith - objective, justifying and saving

The faith here intended is that by which we are justified, and reconciled to God through the blood of Christ. It is that faith of which Christ is the object; which receives him as the Son of God and the Saviour of men. It is the faith which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen; which at once apprehends or discerns, and receives the things of the Spirit. it overcomes the world, as is proved by so many examples in the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Hodge

Such a large and powerful shield is faith - that unwavering confidence in God and His grace which guards the mind from aberration and despondency, and easily wards off such assaults as are made upon it. Eadie

1Jn_5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Eph_2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

The shield was used by heavy infantry and was approximately 2-1/2 feet wide by 4 feet high, sufficient to cover nearly the entire body. When the outer ranks held their shields to the outside and the rest held their's over their heads, the entire formation would be protected from enemy missiles. The shield also provided a second layer of defense against attack, covering over the belt, breastplate and helmet.

But you notice that there is no protection for the back, a fact often understood as an indication that running from battle is not an option. However, if the armor is intended to be used by an army unit and not by a sole individual, there is great protection on all sides from fellow soldiers. This should impress on all Christians the vital necessity of being joined to a local church - not merely for the safety of the individual, but for the cohesiveness of the unit as a whole.
Remember this provision of armor and protection is an integral part of God's purpose that he is working out through Christ in the church. Christ died for the church, he gifted the church with leaders, he has provided equipment to the church for her protection and advancement in the world as he builds her up in spite of all opposition.