Christian Living

The Armor I —You're in the Army Now

by J.W. Phillips
02/03/25
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The Armor I ♪♪ You’re in the Army Now ♪♪

Here in the United States we have an all-voluntary army. Those citizens who find serving in the military as their calling will drop by the recruiters office one day, sign-up, get their bonus, get their orders, and march off to training.

Others prefer an entirely different way of life. As civilians, they shop at malls, dine at fine restaurants, watch movies on the weekends, and drive down the road with their music on and no surveillance alarm to use.

This may be hard to hear for those who prefer life on easy street, but according to Scripture, there is no all-voluntary army in Heaven. All Christians are told to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:3).

After we become a Christian, there will come a day when the summons is sent, the bugle blows, and, yes—you’re in the army now!

This may not be what we had in mind when we became a Christian.

For a long while, whenever we read our Bible, we looked for poetry in Psalms, philosophy in Proverbs, purity in Leviticus, philanthropy in the Gospels.

But the Bible isn’t just a book of poetry and philosophy; although it has both. Nor is it just a book of purity and philanthropy; although it commends both.

The Bible is a book of power!

Within its pages we read of waters parting, fire descending, angels showing up to do battle, and men being airlifted to glory. Indeed, the word of God is so powerful it brought the entire universe into existence!

As voluminous as the Bible is—hundreds of pages chronicling events that took place over thousands of years—it effectively tells us in just a couple of paragraphs how to lay hold of evil-overcoming power.

Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 10-18, provides a condensed summary of principles that need to be activated if we’re going to stand strong in our fight against an evil empire.

When the Bible instructs us to “put on the whole armor of God” (vs.11)—belt and breastplate, shoes and shield, helmet and sword—it implies, in these few words, some very important truths.

First, this armor won’t automatically be on us just because we are a Christian. We may know what the armor is. We may believe this armor will do everything God said it will do. But if we haven’t put it on, then it’s not on!

It is for this reason that our role in this preparation is re-stressed in verse 13, where we are told to “take” this armor. This clearly calls for some initiative on our part. God isn’t going to track us down and force it on us.

Second, the double stress on “the whole armor” (vss.11, 13) implies that this armor shouldn’t be put on partially, for that part of the armor we leave off is exactly the area Satan will attack. Therefore, each part of the armor is to be put on each day in the prescribed order the Bible describes its application.

Third, when saying this armor is “of God,” we are made to know that the putting on of this armor is really appreciating and appropriating Jesus.

For example, the first part of the armor deals with truth. And who is the Truth? Jesus! John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life ....”

The second part of the armor deals with righteousness. And who is our righteousness? Jesus! I Corinthians 1:30 says he is our righteousness.

The third part of the armor deals with peace. And who is our peace? Jesus! Ephesians 2:14 says he is our peace.

The fourth part of the armor deals with faith. And who is the author and finisher of our faith? Jesus! According to Hebrews 12:2, before we had any faith of our own, he was there to provide it.

The fifth part of the armor deals with our salvation. And who is our salvation? Jesus! In fact, according to Matthew 1:21, that’s what his name means. He came not only to bring salvation; he is that salvation.

The last part of the armor is referred to as the Word. And who is the Word? Jesus! According to John 1:1, he is the Eternal Word ever present with God long before the world was created.

This whole armor metaphor, then, is designed to help us rightly regard Jesus and the help he will give us in our struggle against evil.

Next time we will look at the first part of the armor, that piece of the armor most misunderstood, that piece which, if not put on right, will cause the rest of the armor to fail.

Until then:

Attention! About face! … Dismissed!