Chapter 60 - Armor

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To “stand firm” against the schemes of the devil, the Apostle Paul exhorts the New Testament church to, “…be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” He explains it is accomplished by putting on the “full armor of God.” (Ephesians 6:11, 13)

Jesus Christ is the armor of God. He is the source of divine power within the ecclesia and the sole means by which it is privileged to “stand firm” and “resist” every scheme of the devil “in the evil day.”

“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:13) By context, the “evil day” is referent to a period of time characterized by intense spiritual battle. It is reflective of a day in which the spiritual forces of wickedness are especially active against the New Testament church.

As revealed by the Apostle Paul, the armor of God is both descriptive and cooperative. It consists of six components. The first three are descriptive.

“Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:14-17)

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Descriptive

The first three pieces of the armor of God are truth, righteousness, and peace. Attributes of the life (zoe) of Christ, they are descriptive of Christ indwelling His ecclesia. (Ephesians 6:14-15) Therefore, the first three pieces of armor are referent to Jesus Christ. Thus, to “put on the full armor of God” is synonymous with “putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 13:14)

Jesus Christ is characterized by an infinite number of attributes. However, Paul mentioned only three in Ephesians 6. Truth, righteousness and peace were specifically mentioned because they are relevant to the immediate context of writing, spiritual warfare.

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Belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14):

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“Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth ...” (Ephesians 6:14)

Although it is sometimes presumed, the “belt” or armor of truth is not reflective of biblical truth in general. It is descriptive of a specific attribute of the indwelling life (zoe) of Christ.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)

Jesus Christ is the living (zoe) truth of God within the New Testament church. (John 1:14; 8:32; 14:6; Ephesians 1:13; 4:21; Colossians 1:5) He is the source and embodiment of all truth. Characterized by the attribute of truth, His indwelling presence is more than able to protect His body, the New Testament church, from the schemes of the devil characterized by falsehood.

The Apostle Paul commanded the New Testament church to “put on” the “belt” or armor of truth. Descriptive of the living (zoe) Christ, the “belt of truth” is not “put on” by seeking general biblical truth. Instead, sharing life with Christ, the New Testament church is already clothed with His indwelling life (zoe) and, therefore, His living (zoe) truth. (Galatians 3:27)

The New Testament church was equipped with the “belt of truth” in the past when it was first joined with Christ in a union of shared life (past tense: “having girded”). As a result, He became its source of divine truth.

Legally and organically positioned “in Christ,” the New Testament church shares His living (zoe) presence, characterized by the attribute of truth. Thus, it is indwelt by His Spirit of truth; has “been established in the truth,” is “of the truth” and has the truth abiding in it. (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 2 Peter 1:12; 1 John 3:19; 2 John 2)

The “belt of truth” is descriptive of an attribute of Jesus Christ. As used in Ephesians, it is indicative of His immediate, victorious, living (zoe) presence within the New Testament church. The indwelling Christ provides the only means by which it can “stand firm” and “resist” the schemes of the devil characterized by falsehood.

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Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14):

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“Stand firm therefore….having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” (Ephesians 6:14)

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

Jesus is the only source of righteousness on earth. He is the embodiment of righteousness.

Like the “belt of truth”, the “breastplate of righteousness” is descriptive of the person of Jesus Christ. He is the living (zoe) righteousness of God within the New Testament church. (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Acts 3:14; 7:52; 22:14; Philippians 3:9; 1 John 2:1; 29)

The indwelling life (zoe) of Christ is the only source of righteousness for the New Testament church. His righteousness is more than able to protect His body, the New Testament church, from the schemes of the devil characterized by accusations of unrighteousness.

The “breastplate of righteousness” is not indicative of righteousness derived from “good” works. Therefore, any argument that attempts to defend the “breastplate of righteousness” as self-righteousness derived from “good” works radically misunderstands both the fallen nature of man and the grace of God. Not only can human works not contribute to the righteousness of the ecclesia but they constitute the very means used by the devil to accuse the New Testament church of unrighteousness.

“Now that no one is justified by the law (self-righteousness) before God is evident; for, ‘The righteous man shall live by faith’.” (Galatians 3:11)

The Apostle Paul commanded the New Testament church to “put on” the “breastplate of righteousness”. As clarified, it does not put it on by the performance of “good” works. Instead, sharing life with Christ, it is already clothed with His indwelling life (zoe) and, therefore, His living (zoe) righteousness. (Galatians 3:27) The New Testament church was equipped with the “breastplate of righteousness” in the past when it was first joined with Christ in a union of shared life (past tense: “having put on”). He is its solitary source of righteousness.

Legally and organically positioned “in Christ,” the New Testament church shares His living (zoe) presence, characterized by the attribute of righteousness. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The “breastplate of righteousness” is descriptive of an attribute of Jesus Christ. As used in Ephesians, it is indicative of His immediate, victorious, living (zoe) presence within the New Testament church.

The righteousness of the indwelling Christ provides the only means by which the New Testament church can “stand firm” and “resist” the schemes of the devil characterized by accusations of unrighteousness. Joined to Christ, it shares His righteousness and thus, is “holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (Colossians 1:5) Therefore, accusations of unrighteousness by the devil and his angels have been rendered powerless.

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Shoes of Peace (Ephesians 6:15):

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“Stand firm therefore….having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15)

Although often misunderstood, the “shoes of peace” do not describe the sharing of the Gospel with the unbelieving world (“having shod your feed with the preparation of the Gospel of peace”). Instead, peace is an attribute of divine life (zoe). Consequently, like truth and righteousness, the “shoes of peace” are descriptive of the person of Jesus Christ.

“For He Himself is our peace.” (Ephesians 2:14)

While evangelism is an essential activity for the New Testament church, it is not relevant to the context of spiritual warfare as discussed by Paul in the sixth chapter of Ephesians. Moreover, evangelism is not efficacious for standing firm against the schemes of the devil.

Jesus Christ is the living (zoe) peace of God within the New Testament church. (Romans 1:7; 5:1, 11; 8:6; 14:17; 16:20; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 14:33; etc.) He is the source and embodiment of all peace. Characterized by the attribute of peace, His indwelling presence is more than able to protect His body, the New Testament church, from the schemes of the devil that attempt to identify God as the source of conflict, difficulty, and suffering.

The New Testament church does not “put on” the “shoes of peace” by either presenting the Gospel to the unbelieving world or pursuing peace with others. Instead, the Apostle had a more specific intent. By the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ, the New Testament church is already clothed with Him and, therefore, His living (zoe) peace. (Galatians 3:27) It was equipped with the “shoes of peace” in the past when it was first joined with Christ in a union of shared life (past tense: “having shod”). As a result, the indwelling Christ is the source of peace for His ecclesia.

By His redemptive work, Jesus Christ established unconditional peace between God and the New Testament church. Legally and organically positioned “in Christ,” it shares His living (zoe) presence, characterized by the attribute of peace. “…having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) Consequently, God is never angry with His children and never the source of their conflict, difficulty, and suffering.

Nevertheless, it is a common scheme of the devil to try and turn the ecclesia from dependence on God. He does so by attempting to identify God as the source of the believer’s trials and tribulations. Ultimately, Satan’s motive is to influence the New Testament church to blame God and, consequently, turn away from its sole source of protection and deliverance in the “evil day.”

The “shoes of peace” are descriptive of an attribute of Jesus Christ. As used in Ephesians, they are indicative of His immediate, victorious, living (zoe) presence within the New Testament church. The indwelling Christ provides the only means by which it can “stand firm” and “resist” the schemes of the devil that attempt to identify God as the source of conflict, difficulty, and suffering.

Jesus Christ is the armor of God. As clarified, the “belt of truth,” “breastplate of righteousness,” and “shoes of peace” are indicative of attributes of His life (zoe) indwelling the New Testament church. There is no greater protection against the schemes of the devil. “Stand firm” in faith and “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

© 2023 James Hiatt

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