…in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

                                                                                                         Ephesians 6:16-17 

Today we will examine the last three pieces of the armor of God. 

Armor Piece #4: The Shield Of Faith

Paul tells us that in addition to knowing the truth, receiving the righteousness of Christ, and proclaiming the gospel, we are to take up the shield of faith. A shield is something that we can hold in our hand and manipulate. It serves as an extension of the armor that we actually wear. Unlike some pieces that are strapped to our bodies, the shield is movable and can be used in a variety of situations. Of course the shield represents our faith in Christ. We might think that our level of faith has to match our expectations of the miraculous. Actually, it is the exact opposite. Consider the following:

…for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. 

                                                                                                            Matthew 17:20b

Jesus doesn’t teach us that we have to have faith the size of a mountain to see the result of a mustard seed, He proclaims that if our faith is that of a mustard seed (extremely small) then we will see mountain moving results and nothing we will be impossible for us. When we struggle in the area of faith, it may not be that our faith is too small it may be that our concept of God is. When we put our faith in Jesus, the impossible becomes possible.

Also, faith is what drives a powerful prayer life. Jesus spoke on asking this way:

Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

                                                                                                            Mark 11:24 

We don’t have to work up some kind of spiritual fervor to speak to God and we certainly don’t have to beg Him for answers (Matthew 6:8). But when we ask, we should pray with an expectation of receiving what we ask. Some make this concept out to be contrary to scripture, but actually this is exactly the way that Jesus is teaching us to pray. For us to dismiss this and consider anything else would be to forfeit our rights to powerfully praying in faith. Praying in faith without any doubting will produce effective results (James 1:5-8).

But in addition to faith producing miraculous results and driving our prayer life, Paul reminds us that this same faith acts as a shield and is capable of extinguishing all of the flaming arrows of the evil one. Consider the following:

…in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

                                                                                                            Ephesians 6:16 

Remembering that Paul’s purpose for revealing the pieces of spiritual armor is to equip us for spiritual battle, we need to realize the tremendous power that faith plays in our lives. Armed with truth, righteousness, and the gospel, we can now walk by faith and that faith will act as a shield to guard us against fiery arrows and not just some of the enemies attempts to deceive us but this shield, our faith, will protect us against them all. 

Armor Piece #5: The Helmet Of Salvation

The helmet protects the head and by extension our minds. I believe that Paul’s description of salvation as a helmet is a reminder to us that we must know that we are saved. The enemy will attempt to sow seeds of doubt about our security in Christ, but the helmet of salvation will act as a buffer against those efforts. There are several things we must biblically know about salvation in order for us to receive salvation.

First, everyone is equally in need of being saved. Consider the following:

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.

                                                                                                            Isaiah 53:6 

The idea that “good” people go to heaven and “bad” people go to hell is a spiritual falsity and is not based on the truth of scripture. In reality, there are no “good” people. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s original design for our lives (Romans 3:23, James 2:10, Romans 5:18). But equally as exciting is that God loves us and has made a way for us to be saved, redeemed, and healed (Isaiah 53:6, Romans 5:18). When the Bible says that all of us have strayed, it means all of us. Everyone is in need of salvation.

Secondly, Jesus is the only means by which we can be saved. Consider the following: 

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.

                                                                                                                       Acts 4:12 

We have a choice whether to receive this truth or reject it, but a dismissal of this reality is to decline the very offer of salvation given to us. No religion, doctrine, or denomination alone is capable of saving our souls. Only when we are born again and enter into a personal relationship with Christ are we eternally secure. To suggest otherwise is to mock the suffering, shame, and scorn of the cross. Salvation is in Christ and Christ alone.

Thirdly, there are only two types of people in the world (eternally speaking). Jesus put it this way:

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

                                                                                                                 John 3:17-18

God sent Jesus into the world, not to condemn, but for the purpose of salvation. Jesus’ use of the word “world” three times demonstrates the purpose of God. Christ came to the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. Salvation comes when we put our faith in what Jesus has already done for us on the cross. Jesus refers to this as being “born again” (John 3:3). Once we have been spiritually reborn, we are eternally secure because it is our receiving this gift of salvation by faith that secures that position. “Those who believe (trust) in Jesus are not judged (or condemned).” “Those who do not believe (trust) in Jesus are already judged (or condemned).” The Bible even tells us why these people are not saved. It is “because they have not believed.” It is highly accurate to refer to people spiritually and eternally as either “believers” or “non-believers.” That is the distinction that Christ makes and it should be ours as well.

Finally, salvation is by believing Jesus (in your heart) and confessing Jesus (with your mouth). Paul proclaims the simplicity of the gospel this way: 

…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved…

                                                                                                                   Romans 10:9 

The assurance of salvation is in these two actions. You will be saved when you believe and confess Jesus Christ. I have learned over the years to never question two things when it comes to others: their sincerity or their salvation. I am wholly inadequate and incapable of moving into someone’s heart and mind and evaluating what it there. The only two people capable of that are the individual and God Himself.

Faith is a private matter but also a public one. It is private in the sense that receiving salvation by faith in your heart is an unseen event to the world. But salvation is also to be public in that we are to confess our trust in Christ to the world. Our faith brings with it righteousness but it is our confession that brings salvation. I believe that the two are inseparable. Those who are saved will confess Jesus and those who confess Jesus are truly saved (1 John 4:15, Matthew 10:32). Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? 

Armor Piece #6: The Sword Of The Spirit (The Word Of God)

Finally, Paul concludes his instructions on the armor of God with one last piece. This is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. You may notice that this is the only offensive part of the armor. Belts, breastplates, shoes, shields, and helmets are all used to protect, as in defensive, but a sword is to be wielded. Paul describes this weapon as the sword of the Spirit, meaning that this is how the Spirit effectively moves in us. This sword is the word of God, the Bible. I believe Paul is explaining that as we dive into scripture, we are opening up the power of the Spirit of God to speak to us and reveal Himself to us. I personally do not understand someone who confesses the name of Jesus and claims to be a follower of Christ yet never even cracks open the pages of scripture. Perhaps it is because they may be avoiding God. Consider this description of the Bible: 

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

                                                                                                                 Hebrews 4:12 

I believe that many non-Christians avoid scripture because they innately know that it is the word of God and that by engaging it they will be exposing themselves to a world of conviction. But for the believer, scripture is not something to be avoided rather embraced and fed upon everyday. Everything we read in scripture has been written, compiled, and disseminated by God for the purpose of spiritual renewal. Consider the following: 

All Scripture is inspired by God (God breathed) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

                                                                                                         2 Timothy 3:16-17

The sword is to be first utilized in our own life then we can properly use it as we interact with others. To avoid scripture is to spiritually starve oneself. The Bible is the sword of the Spirit!

We are in a spiritual battle. We have an enemy who seeks to devour whoever he can (1 Peter 5:8). The way we are to engage in this battle is to protect ourselves by putting on the whole armor of God. Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the Bible are the pieces of armor in which we, as believers, use. This armor will not only prove to be profitable to us but it will keep us from falling into the deception of the enemy! 

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit… 

                                                                               Ephesians 6:18a