Evil is everywhere! For example, wicked spiritual beings in an unseen realm influence people and governments: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) Thankfully, God has provided us with various defenses and an offensive weapon to counteract trouble: heavenly armor. Here, I’ll introduce what can keep you safe from ungodly spiritual forces. In Part Two, we’ll focus on its ‘Shield of Faith.’

Here’s an interesting fact: Paul’s description of heavenly armor is partly based on Isaiah 59:16-17, which mentions the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation (below). The context of the Isaiah reference is God arming Himself in wrath as He deals with the unfaithful. This is in direct contrast to Paul’s use of the Old Testament text, which presents heavenly armor—including salvation and righteousness—that humans can wear to repel unwanted spiritual forces. Was Paul being careless or dishonest? No, he was simply using a text that the Jews would have recognized to emphasize clothing ourselves with the same armor God used when fighting evil.

So, wear the six-piece spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6:11-13. There, Paul explains the protection God’s children automatically receive: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” I want to emphasize that ALL of God’s children have access to the heavenly armor. It can be helpful to remember what God has given by imagining ourselves putting them on regularly—maybe every morning? Here are the individual pieces:

Belt of truth. Jesus Christ’s truth secures our faith and provides the foundation of the universal Christian Church.

Breastplate of Righteousness. Just as the breastplate protects the physical heart, the righteousness of Christ protects our mind (spiritual heart.

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace. When we wear them, we share the good news of God’s Kingdom brought near to people through Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection (primarily through behaving as Kingdom citizens).

Shield of Faith. Faith protects us from fear, doubt, or anxiety. God provides more of this when we’re low.

Helmet of Salvation. With it, we can take every thought captive and avoid sinful pursuits, knowing we will be rescued (saved) from God’s wrath.

Sword of the Spirit. This ‘offensive’ weapon is “able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart,” according to Hebrews 4:12. With it, we can discern God’s truth from the lies of the Evil One.

In summary, God has given us the good news of His Kingdom (the gospel of peace), His standard (righteousness), and His ultimate rescue (salvation). We also have the truth Christ taught, protection from doubt (faith), and God’s truth (to combat falsehoods). Next time, we’ll explore faith and the ‘shield of faith’ more deeply before explaining righteousness further.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Ron Braley, MDiv, DMin.