The Panoply of God (Part 3)
In a world full of danger (1 Pet. 5:8), God has not left His children defenseless. Our fight is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12). In our study, we have noted that the armor God provides is really God’s armor! Paul’s charge was not to “do better, try harder” by pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps (something that only works in cartoons). Instead, He charges the Ephesians to be strong in the Lord “and in the strength of his might” (Eph. 6:10)! God has provided for us armor which relates directly to Him! In this article, we will briefly examine two more pieces of that armor.
The Shield of Faith
The shield God provides is both versatile and sturdy. It is to be used “in all circumstances” (Eph. 6:16a) and is able to snuff out every flaming dart Satan may shoot at us (Eph. 6:16b). Two questions come to mind based on our continued study of this text: First, why is this shield of faith so powerful? Second, how is this God’s shield if we are to be the ones who have faith? Both answers may be found when one considers some of what Paul has already written concerning faith in his letter to the Ephesians.
The Ephesians addressed in the letter are full of faith in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:1).
The Ephesians’ response to the gospel in faith resulted in them being given the Holy Spirit for a seal and guarantee for an inheritance (Eph. 1:13).
The Ephesians’ faith in Jesus and love for saints were cause for praise to God (Eph. 1:15-16).
The Ephesians experienced God’s great and immeasurable power because of their faith (Eph. 1:19).
The Ephesians received salvation by responding in faith to the grace of God (Eph. 2:8).
The Ephesians obtained bold, confident access to Jesus through their faith in Him (Eph. 3:11-12).
The Ephesians had the opportunity for Christ to dwell in their hearts through faith (Eph. 3:17) which resulted in tremendous benefits (Eph. 3:16-19).
The Ephesians were united in the Spirit by one faith (Eph. 4:5).
The shield of faith is so powerful because our faith is not in ourselves or our jobs, the news or social media, government, or even humanity. Instead, our faith is in ONE who is far more trustworthy and who never fails! It is God’s shield because our faith is in Him and not in anyone else.
The Helmet of Salvation
It is no secret that though small in proportion to the rest of our bodies, the head is incredibly vulnerable. Yet it is also a symbol of authority. As early as Genesis, God uses this vulnerability/authority idea. “He shall bruise your head” (Gen. 3:15) is more than a bump on the noggin! Later on, we read of Abimelech’s life coming to an ironic and quick end when a millstone was thrown by a woman onto his head (Jud. 9:53-54; cf. Jud. 9:5; 2 Sam. 11:21), thus ending his reign. Goliath’s terror on the battlefield ended when David struck him in the forehead with a stone and finished him off by cutting off his head (1 Sam. 17:48-51), causing the Philistines to flee.
Our heads are vulnerable, but God has given us protection—the helmet of salvation! Ephesians 1:13-14 speaks of this salvation as a past, present, and future reality! “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (ESV). In the past, the Ephesians heard the gospel of their salvation and believed. In the present, they have the Holy Spirit as a sort of “down payment” promise for what they will receive in the future—possession of the inheritance we obtain in Him (Eph. 1:11).
In a practical sense, shouldn’t God’s salvation ought to always be on our minds, fashioned securely on our heads? How much more easily will the pressures of life and the attacks of our enemy distract and destroy us if God’s salvation is not on our minds (cf. Rom. 8:18)? If we forget His salvation now, we forget the promise to come! God’s salvation is a firm protection for our heads.
My next article will complete this study of God’s armor.
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