Sermons on the Full Armour of God
Sermons on the "full armor of God" typically draw their primary inspiration from Ephesians 6:10-18, where the Apostle Paul exhorts believers to "put on the complete armour of God, with a view to your having power to stand against the strategies of the adversary" [2]. This passage describes a spiritual panoply, an image readily suggested by the Roman armory, given Paul's imprisonment in Rome at the time of writing [9]. The armor is not merely a metaphor for passive defense but is intended to enable believers to "withstand in the evil day" [7].
The components of this spiritual armor are enumerated as follows:
- The Belt of Truth: Paul begins with the "loins girt about with truth" [10]. This truth is understood not only as adherence to divine revelation but also as an internal sincerity and integrity [3]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, connects this to the Gospel itself, which is "the word of truth" [8]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, similarly refers to "the doctrine of truth received immediately from God" [6].
- The Breastplate of Righteousness: This piece protects the vital organs, symbolizing the need for a righteous life and character [10]. This righteousness is often interpreted as both the imputed righteousness of Christ and the practical righteousness that flows from a transformed life [9].
- The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace: The feet "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" [10] signify readiness to spread the message of peace and reconciliation that the Gospel offers [6]. This readiness implies stability and firm footing in one's faith, enabling movement and action in the spiritual battle.
- The Shield of Faith: This is presented as the means "to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one" [10]. Faith here is not merely intellectual assent but a dynamic trust in God's power and promises, acting as a defensive barrier against Satan's attacks [9].
- The Helmet of Salvation: Protecting the head, the helmet represents the assurance of salvation [10]. This certainty provides hope and guards the mind against doubt and despair, which are common spiritual assaults [4].
- The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: This is the only offensive weapon in the armor [10]. The "word of God" refers to the divine revelation, particularly as found in Scripture, which is powerful and effective in spiritual combat [3]. Preaching the "word of truth" is also seen as a manifestation of this spiritual sword [6, 8].
The concept of "the armor of God" emphasizes that this equipment is divinely provided and empowered [5]. It is not carnal but spiritual, designed for "fighting the Lord's battles" [5]. The efficacy of this armor is understood to come from God himself [5]. Augustine, an early Church Father, identifies Christ as the armor itself, stating, "our armour is Christ" [10]. This perspective suggests that putting on the armor is intrinsically linked to being united with Christ and living out the "new man in Him" [9].
While the apostle details the pieces of armor, he concludes the passage by emphasizing the necessity of "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" [11]. Adam Clarke notes that prayer is not listed as a piece of armor itself, but rather as an essential practice for the equipped spiritual soldier to successfully resist the spiritual forces of evil [11]. This highlights that the armor, while complete, requires constant spiritual engagement through prayer to be effective against "principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and the spiritual wickednesses in heavenly places" [11]. The overall message underscores a call to active, sustained spiritual vigilance and reliance on divine provision in the Christian life [1].
Sources
- Acts “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. -- Acts 28:31”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 6:11 (Rotherham) — Put on the complete armour of God, with a view to your having power to stand against the strategies of the adversary;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Truth — God is a God of -- De 32:4; Ps 31:15. Christ is -- Joh 14:6; 7:18. Christ was full of -- Joh 1:14. Christ spoke -- Joh 8:45. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of -- Joh 14:17. The Holy Spirit guides into all -- Joh 16:13. The word of God is -- Da 10:21; Joh 17:17. God regards, with favour -- Jer 5:3. The judgments of God are according to -- Ps 96:13; Ro 2:2. Saints should Worship God in. -- Joh 4:24; Ps 145:18. Serve God in. -- Jos 24:14; 1Sa 12:24. Walk before God in. -- 1Ki 2:4; 2Ki 20:3. Keep religious feasts with. -- 1Co 5:8. Esteem, as inestimable. -- Pr 23:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Second Coming of Christ, The — Time of, unknown -- Mt 24:36; Mr 13:32. Called the Times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. -- Ac 3:19. Times of restitution of all things. -- Ac 3:21; Ro 8:21. Last time. -- 1Pe 1:5. Appearing of Jesus Christ. -- 1Pe 1:7. Revelation of Jesus Christ. -- 1Pe 1:13. Glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour. -- Tit 2:13. Coming of the day of God. -- 2Pe 3:12. Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- 1Co 1:8. Foretold by Prophets. -- Da 7:13; Jude 1:14. Himself. -- Mt 25:31; Joh 14:3. Apostles. -- Ac 3:20; 1Ti 6:14. Angels. -- A”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 6:11: Put on the whole armour of God,.... Not that which God himself is sometimes clothed with, and uses against his enemies; but what he has provided for his people, and furnishes them with; the particulars of which are after mentioned: and it is called "the armour of God", because it is prepared by him for his people, and is bestowed on them by him; and because it is in its own nature divine and spiritual, and not carnal; and because it is provided for fighting the Lord's battles, and is used in them; and because the efficacy of it is from him, and the execution it doe”
- 2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 6:7: By the word of truth - The doctrine of truth received immediately from God, and faithfully and affectionately preached to men. By the power of God - Confirming this doctrine, not only by the miracles which we were enabled to work, but also by the application of that truth to the souls of the people by the energy of God. By the armor of righteousness - Such as that described by the apostle, Eph 6:13-17, which he calls there the whole armor of God, consisting of the following pieces: the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel ”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 6:13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,.... This is a repetition of the exhortation in Eph 6:11; which repetition seems necessary by reason of the many powerful enemies mentioned in the preceding verse, and serves to explain what is meant by putting it on: and leads on the apostle to give an account of the several parts of this armour: the end of taking it is much the same as before, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day; that is, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles and stratagems of Satan, against his power and might, to oppose his”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 6:6: By the word of truth,.... By preaching the Gospel, truly, sincerely, without any adulteration of it, which comes from the God of truth, has for its subject matter Christ, who is the truth, and into which ministers are guided by the Spirit of truth, and every doctrine of which is truth: by the power of God; accompanying the word to the conversion and salvation of multitudes of souls; or by the signs, wonders, and miracles which were wrought for the confirmation of it: by the armour of righteousness, on the right hand, and on the left: meaning, either the whol”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 6:11: the whole armour--the armor of light (Rom 13:12); on the right hand and left (Co2 6:7). The panoply offensive and defensive. An image readily suggested by the Roman armory, Paul being now in Rome. Repeated emphatically, Eph 6:13. In Rom 13:14 it is, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ"; in putting on Him, and the new man in Him, we put on "the whole armor of God." No opening at the head, the feet, the heart, the belly, the eye, the ear, or the tongue, is to be given to Satan. Believers have once for all overcome him; but on the ground of this fundament”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 1: Augustine — Confessions, Letters — CHAP. I.--I. I have received by Cyprian, deacon, three letters, or rather three little books, at the same time, from your Excellency, containing what you call sundry questions, but what I feel to be a (part 1): I. But our armour is Christ; it is that which the Apostle Paul prescribes when, writing to the Ephesians, he says, ','Take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day;" and again, "Stand, therefore, having your loins gin about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet s”
- Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 6:18: Praying always - The apostle does not put praying among the armor; had he done so he would have referred it, as he has done all the rest, to some of the Grecian armor; but as he does not do this, therefore we conclude that his account of the armor is ended, and that now, having equipped his spiritual soldier, he shows him the necessity of praying, that he may successfully resist those principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and the spiritual wickednesses in heavenly places, with whom he has to contend. The panoply, or whole armor of God,”