The Armor of God (pt. 7)

 

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:13-20 ESV).

 

The sixth piece of armor that Paul discusses in our reading is “…the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God” (v. 17). For a Roman soldier, the sword served as an offensive weapon against enemies. When sharpened, the sword could pierce through just about anything, making it a very dangerous weapon. To understand the connection between the sword and the Word of God, it is first important to understand the power of God’s word. The writer of Hebrews says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

 

Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit using the Scripture, we can distinguish between right and wrong. As a result, we can strive to live in a way that is free from destructive influence of sin. Scripture is true and we can find confidence in knowing it is our greatest weapon. If we are lacking in knowledge of the bible, we will struggle to fight against the enemy. However, those who seek the wisdom available to us through the Holy Spirit will be blessed. Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).

 

In addition, the sword of the spirit is unique in that it can be used as both a defensive and offensive weapon. While it can protect us from the lies of the enemy, it can also counter attacks (cf. Matthew 4). We are not called to do this by our own strength. When facing trials, we can find peace in knowing that God is on our side. The apostle says, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). With God on our side, we are unstoppable.