Chapter 82 - Armor of God

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The devil has been lying about the armor of God for a long time. Therefore, the armor is probably not what you have been led to believe. The armor of God is not something you put on for God each day. Instead, it is referent to Jesus Christ. He came to indwell you the moment you were born of His Spirit. All you have to do is believe.

The armor of God, Jesus Christ, is “put on” in spiritual battle by grace through faith alone. It can be summarized as follows:

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Positional Armor	Description
Belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14):	The “belt” or armor of truth is descriptive of the truth of God in Christ. (John 1:14-17; 8:32; 14:6; Ephesians 1:13; 4:21; Colossians 1:5) It is an attribute of the divine nature and therefore, descriptive of the presence of Christ actively indwelling the New Testament church. By the truth of His indwelling life (zoe), God has chosen to defend His ecclesia against falsehood promoted by the devil. The power of His life (zoe), characterized by the attribute of truth, is incomparable. Indwelling the New Testament church, it is more than able to “destroy” every lie of the devil.
Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14):	The “breastplate” or armor of righteousness is descriptive of the righteousness of God in Christ. (Jeremiah 23:6; Romans 1:16-17; 3:21; 5:17; 1 John 2:29) It is also an attribute of the divine nature and therefore, descriptive of the presence of Christ actively indwelling the New Testament church. By the righteousness of His indwelling life (zoe), God has chosen to defend His ecclesia against every accusation of unrighteousness by the devil. Self-righteousness is susceptible to devilish accusations. Only the righteousness of Christ is beyond accusation. It alone allows the New Testament church to “stand firm” in spiritual battle.
Shoes of Peace (Ephesians 6:15):	The “shoes” or armor of peace is descriptive of peace with God in Christ. (John 1:14-17; 8:32; 14:6; Ephesians 1:13; 4:21; Colossians 1:5) It too is an attribute of the divine nature and, therefore, descriptive of the presence of Christ actively indwelling the New Testament church. God is never the source of conflict in the life of the believer. He is never angry with His children, never the source of their difficulty and suffering, and never to blame for their trials and tribulations. Fully justified from all sin and joined with Christ in an intimate, inseparable union of shared life, the New Testament church is forever at peace with God.

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Cooperative Armor	Description
Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16):	The “shield of faith” is faith in the immediate presence of Jesus Christ (evidenced by the attributes of truth, righteousness, and peace). (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8-9) Active, dependent faith in the incomparable power of His indwelling life (zoe) provides a “shield” of protection for the New Testament church during spiritual battle. It allows the ecclesia to cooperate with God against schemes of the devil characterized by burning, fearful lies, accusation, and blame. The indwelling Christ is ever-present with His children in spiritual battle. Rather than fighting or working for victory, the New Testament church must actively, dependently trust in His immediate, victorious presence, the efficacy of His redemptive blood, and the incomparable power of His indwelling life (zoe).
Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6:17):	The “helmet of salvation” is the hope of deliverance from the schemes of the devil in the “evil day.” The helmet of the “hope of salvation” is graciously gifted by God. (Ephesians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 1 Peter 1:3) It is a divinely provided instrument that allows the New Testament church to cooperate with the incomparable power of the indwelling life (zoe) of Christ (evidenced by the attributes of truth, righteousness, and peace). The helmet of the “hope of salvation” recognizes that deliverance by the incomparable power of indwelling life (zoe) is an eventual certainty in the “evil day.” Therefore, it allows the New Testament church to “stand firm” and “resist” the schemes of the devil without losing hope, regardless of how long they are allowed to persist.
Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17):	The “sword of the Spirit” is the word of God. By context of usage, it is a specific word from Scripture illuminated by the Spirit and relevant to a particular scheme of the devil. Along with faith and hope, the sword of the Spirit allows the New Testament church to cooperate with the incomparable power of indwelling life (zoe) (evidenced by the attributes of truth, righteousness, and peace). It provides specific direction for the exercise of faith and hope in Christ against the particular schemes of the devil in the “evil day.” Effectively wielding the “sword of the Spirit” in spiritual battle requires the New Testament church to know the word of God and apply it in battle as illuminated by the Spirit of God. “Accurately handling the word of truth” further demands that the New Testament church must respond to the indwelling Spirit by dependent faith, fervent prayer, and a willingness to receive confirmation from brothers and sisters in the Lord. (2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 11:14)

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Interpretation

The following is a possible interpretation of Ephesians 6:10-18. It was designed to amplify and clarify:

10 Finally, be empowered with the heavenly force of the indwelling life (zoe) of Christ and the immeasurable manifestation of His provided strength.

11 The heavenly force of His indwelling life (zoe) and the immeasurable manifestation of His provided strength is experienced by putting on His full armor. It enables the New Testament church to stand firm and not be moved by the deceptive schemes of the devil.

12 The struggles of the New Testament church are not physical, perpetrated by a human enemy, but spiritual, influenced by an evil array of heavenly beings. Aligned under the authority of the devil, they temporarily rule the atmospheric heavens of this present darkened earth.

13 Empowerment with the heavenly force of the indwelling life (zoe) of Christ and the immeasurable manifestation of His provided strength available through His full armor enables the New Testament church to remain steadfast when confronted with the schemes of the devil and his wicked, spiritual forces on the day when they attempt to execute their deceptive schemes.

14-15 First, putting on the full armor of God requires knowing and trusting that the New Testament church has already been clothed in Christ. By His Spirit, He indwells and protects His body. One with God in Christ, His body shares all the attributes of His nature. They include but are in no manner limited to truth, righteousness, and peace. Having been unconditionally clothed in Christ is necessary for empowerment with the heavenly force of His indwelling life (zoe) and the immeasurable manifestation of His provided strength.

16 Second, knowing that it has already been clothed in Christ, the New Testament church is to take up faith, hope, and the Spirit-illuminated word of God. Do not stop with knowledge alone. Continually recognize that Jesus Christ is with His body during battle by taking up the “shield of faith.” Actively count on His immediate presence and trust in the empowerment of the heavenly force of His indwelling life (zoe) and the immeasurable manifestation of His provided strength. It will serve to extinguish the slow-burning lies, accusations, and conflict perpetrated by the devil.

17 In addition, know that the schemes of the devil are temporary. Therefore, on the evil day, take up hope in the certainty of deliverance by empowerment with the heavenly force of the indwelling life (zoe) of Christ and the immeasurable manifestation of His provided strength.

By faith and hope in Christ, take up the word of God. However, do not take it up in a general sense alone. The indwelling Spirit of Christ will illuminate the specific word of God that is relevant to the particular scheme of deception chosen by the devil. Thus, the heavenly force of His indwelling life (zoe) and the immeasurable manifestation of His provided strength will be released against the schemes of the devil with specificity.

18 By the leading and enlightenment of the Spirit, pray always for the empowerment of God with the heavenly force of His indwelling life (zoe) and the immeasurable manifestation of His provided strength. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the [armor] of our warfare (Jesus Christ) [is] not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

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Appropriation of Positional Armor

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Scriptural Fact:
Jesus Christ is the full armor of God. His life (zoe) indwelling the New Testament church provides it with protective armor during the "evil day."	Ephesians 6:10-18
The “belt of truth,” “breastplate of righteousness,” and “shoes of peace” are descriptive of the living (zoe) Christ indwelling the New Testament church. They are attributes of His nature and thus, evidential of His indwelling presence.	Ephesians 6:14-15

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Scriptural Faith:
Putting on the "full armor of God” is synonymous with putting on the “Lord Jesus Christ.”	Ephesians 6:11; Romans 13:14
Putting on the “Lord Jesus Christ,” the “armor of God,” is an act of faith. More specifically, it is faith in His redemptive work finished in the past, His indwelling life (zoe) in the immediate present, and His deliverance from the "evil day" in the future.	Ephesians 6:16
Truth is an attribute of the indwelling life (zoe) of Christ. “Stand firm” by faith in His truth against the schemes of the devil characterized by falsehood and lies.	Ephesians 6:14
Righteousness is an attribute of the indwelling life (zoe) of Christ. “Stand firm” by faith in His righteousness against the schemes of the devil characterized by accusations of unrighteousness.	Ephesians 6:14
Peace is an attribute of the indwelling life (zoe) of Christ. “Stand firm” by faith in His peace against the schemes of the devil that attempt to identify God as the source of conflict, difficulty, and suffering.	Ephesians 6:15

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Appropriation of Cooperative Armor

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Scriptural Fact:
Jesus Christ is the victorious Savior, not only ascended and seated in authority at the right hand of the heavenly Father but indwelling the New Testament church. Through the redemptive work of Christ, the enemy was bound; his authority was relinquished; his abode was plundered; his works were destroyed; his protective armor was removed; he was disarmed; and rendered powerless.	Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22; John 3:8; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 2:14
The “Shield of Faith,” helmet of the “hope of salvation,” and the “sword of the Spirit” are the gracious, divinely provided means of cooperating with the living (zoe), indwelling Christ during the “evil day.”	Ephesians 6:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8

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Scriptural Faith:
The “shield of faith,” the helmet of the “hope of salvation,” and the Spirit illuminated word of God are to be taken up by faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ in the immediate present.	Ephesians 6:16-17
Take up the “shield of faith” and actively trust Jesus Christ moment by moment, throughout the “evil day.”	Ephesians 6:16
Take up “as a helmet, the hope of salvation” and actively trust Jesus Christ to deliver from the “evil day.”	Ephesians 6:17; 1Thessalonians 5:8
Take up the “sword of the Spirit,” the Spirit illuminated “word of God,” according to the specific scheme of the devil during the “evil day.”	Ephesians 6:17
By grace through faith alone, put on and take up Jesus Christ (the full armor of God) continuously until victory is realized (no matter how long). Stand firm.	Ephesians 6:13; 1 Peter 5:9
Be on the alert always.	Ephesians 6:18; 1 Peter 5:8

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