The Armour of God

 Ephesians 6:10-20

 

I wonder if any of you have ever worn armour? I have only tried on the odd piece of armour at National Trust houses – balancing a helmet on my head; picking up chain mail – so heavy!; trying to imagine how hard it would be to move with a breastplate on. I’ve more than once come to the conclusion that armour is not for me – I’m very glad I’ve never been required even to wear full armour, let alone to fight. I’m too feeble, probably too cowardly.

 

So I’ve never really been drawn to this passage about putting on the whole armour of God – until this week. I read in a commentary that the author of the letter – who may have been Paul or may have been one of his closest associates - decided to use the image of the armour to sum up the whole of the letter. 

 

I decided to read the whole of the letter to the Ephesians and see what it says altogether, and how the image of the armour fits in.

In some translations, the passage we heard starts ‘Finally..’ – so what has been said already in the letter?

 

First of all there is a section about how God our Father has chosen people to be part of Christ’s body, the church, and through Christ given us all the blessings and gifts we need, including wisdom and vision.

 

In chapter 2, the letter talks about the grace God has given, which brings even those who were far from God – who were gentiles, not part of God’s people, into union with Christ and into fellowship with God and one another.

In chapter 3 the letter describes how the power of God can make even weak people powerful messengers of the gospel – it has that wonderful verse in it 

‘now to him who is able through the power which is at work among us to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or conceive, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus from generation to generation.’

 

In chapter 4 the letter turns to true Christian conduct – humility, gentleness, patience, seeking peace. All the gifts God gives people are listed – gifts which are there to build up the body of Christ.

In Chapter 5 Christians are described as children of light, turning away from darkness and showing through our relationships – especially as husbands and wives, but also as children and parents, even slaves and owners – what love looks like.

 

So finally…we are told what to do -  ‘put on the full armour of God’.

This is not an instruction to an individual, but to a church – this is not about going into battle on our own for what we think is right – it is about recognising that together, as a church, as the body of Christ, we have a duty to live as God’s children should.

The metaphor of ‘putting on the whole armour of God’ is not an instruction for each of us as individuals, it is for the church as a whole. As a church, as the body of Christ, we are to be ‘kitted out’ as God’s soldier.

 

There are many parts of the Hebrew scriptures where God is described as a warrior. In Isaiah chapter 59, God is even described as putting on armour.  (Isa 59: 17 ‘He put on righteousness as a breastplate and salvation as a helmet on his head, he put on the garments of vengeance ad wrapped zeal about him like a cloak’).

 

It may be that the writer of the letter to the Ephesians was deliberately echoing that scripture – but now it is not God who wears the armour – it is God’s people, the church, who together put on the armour. 

All the gifts God gives the body of Christ are there to help us stand together and stand firm as we stand in the strength of God.

 

So the full armour of God, summing up the whole of the letter to the church at Ephesus tells us.

1.   God has chosen us – we are God’s own – we are like members of an army – our individuality is not important anymore. we are one of the army, part of the body, one amongst many children of God. The uniform pulls us together and makes us one.

 

2.    We’re not fighting in our own strength – we are told to strengthen ourselves, and clothe ourselves – to put on those things which the letter has already told us God has given us - grace, truth, peace, salvation. God has promised us the strength we need to face the things in life we face. In that sense the armour of God is more like a super-hero costume: it makes the church more powerful than we are without it – because God is giving strength when we clothe ourselves in God’s powerful gifts.

 

3.   We are not given weapons to attack other people, the purpose of God’s armour is to help us to stand firm. So we put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of doing right, the shoes to proclaim peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God – the only weapon, and one of love, not fear. We are to be people chosen by God to bring blessing, grace, gentleness, and light to the world.

 

Why do we need this armour? Because we need God!

I’m sure we have all found the news of the last week difficult – the collapse of Afghanistan and the fear of its people; the terrible news from Plymouth of the shooting and death of six people; ongoing concerns about Covid.

And in our own lives I’m sure there are reasons to be concerned or even fearful about the future, anxieties about health, or family and friends, burdens we have carried with us to church this morning.

 

As we meet together we are told by the letter to the Ephesians to put on the armour of God. This is a far cry from simply being told to ‘soldier on’ or to ‘keep our chins up’. It is a reminder that God offers us the gifts to strengthen us and enable us to face any fears with 

Truth, peace, faith and love.

And today we take this bread and wine as a remembrance of Jesus Christ – whose body we are, and whose body feeds and strengthens us so that we can stand firm in God’s light.

May it be so.

Amen.