A Battle Plan (Pt. 8)
C. The Purpose of the Armour: What then is the purpose of this armour? Many become embroiled in deep discussions over each piece of the armour whilst missing the essential point as to why the armour is given. It is important to clear away the clutter so that we can see, adjudge, and obey God’s word. To direct us in the way, we need to listen to the Apostle’s words in verses 11 and 13:
Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Everything else in this passage of Scripture is governed by these words. It is in these words that we find the purpose for all the rest of Paul’s words. The armour is given so that the Christian may “resist” and “stand firm”. This point needs to be understood and proclaimed. As I look at Christians and Christianity today, the words ‘resist’ and ‘stand firm’ are not the words that readily spring to mind as apt descriptors. The more appropriate terms would be “capitulate” and “lie down”.
Therefore, my brethren, may I urge you to understand what the Holy Spirit is here saying to the Church through the apostle Paul.
When we look at verses 11 and 13 we see that they are essentially a reflection of each other. Both command the Christian to do something with God’s armour (Put on! Take up!). Both give the purpose (Stand firm! Resist!). Both tell us what to stand against (Devil’s schemes; Evil day). Please note that Paul’s argument does not admit of capitulation or compromise. There is no running away; there is no fleeing. Our obligation is to “Stand!”
Harking back to the previously quoted texts in Joshua, if we have turned our backs to our enemies it is because of disobedience to God’s command and the consequent withdrawal of His favour. When we look about the Church and we see capitulation and back turning, it is because of disobedience. This point was made earlier and you were asked to keep it in mind. Why? Precisely because that principle still operates today. God cannot and will not bless disobedience. If we are running from our enemies it is because of disobedience to God’s holy standard. We have given up on doing as God has commanded. We have respectfully but erroneously informed God that we Christians in the 21st century, having Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, the WWW, and so on, are just that bit more advanced and wiser than our forebears. We have even impugned God be inferring that we are a bit smarter than He is and that we do not need to follow His specific commands because of our enlightened status (Ring any bells? Think Adam. It ended badly!). The simple, Biblical truth, which cannot be ignored, is that we flee from our enemies only because God has withdrawn His blessing on account of our persistent disobedience!
Let’s do some reverse engineering here with Paul’s logic. Paul commands that we take up the armour of God that we might stand firm. If we turn this around, the question is this: Christian, do you have any intention of fighting or standing firm? If not, it is disobedience and you will not need the armour. In such a situation, the armour will only hinder your running away and ‘lying down’. If you answer yes, it is obedience and the only way you can achieve your goal is by being clothed in Christ Jesus. Thus, we all have one very specific question that we must ask and answer; Flee or Fight?
Please understand that I speak foolishly as according to man. For the text does not admit, at any point, of the Christian having such a choice (though to look at some quarters of the Church you could be forgiven for believing that such a choice existed). Paul is insistent that our only option is to stand. Therefore, we must be arrayed in the Armour of God.
Paul’s insistence is clearly evident in the text. We have looked at verses 11 and 13. Now, please look at the opening of verse 14. Paul opens his explanation of the armour with a command – Stand Firm! Paul has twice commanded the Christian to take up the armour so as to be clothed appropriately. In those places, Paul has subordinated the purpose – standing firm – to the taking up of the armour. Here, that changes. Paul now opens with the command to “Stand firm!” With the command issued, Paul then moves on to the specifics of each piece of armour. In other words, Paul is insistent on two things – take the armour and stand firm!
Please try and grasp this. Paul wants every Christian to walk the victorious life in Christ – the life of the soldier. Pauline writings are replete with the symbols of Christ’s victory. Because Christ Jesus is victor, His redeemed ones are to be likewise victorious. We bring no glory to our God or to Jesus our Redeemer when we are defeated because of disobedience. Consequently, Paul gives us the keys to victory. We must stand firm and we can only stand firm when we are fully clothed in Christ. We cannot stand without the armour and the armour is useless if we will not stand. This is not an ‘either / or’ situation. It is a ‘both / and’ situation.
If we decide to stand, but do so without armour, we are being disobedient and will therefore fail. If we have no resolve to stand in obedience to God’s command, then being clothed in the finest armour avails nought. This too is disobedience.
Understood in this manner, Paul is really giving only one clear command – “To victory in Jesus Christ!” However, Paul does this by giving us two unambiguous commands. The first is the command of purpose – “Christian, you must stand!” The second is the command of instrument – “Put on God’s panoply!”
Maybe, with a bit of poetic licence, we could bring Paul to life. Imagine him as the general in front of His troops delivering a rousing speech. In short sharp words and with authority and conviction, Paul is heard to say: “This is the evil day, the day of battle. The enemy approaches. Honour Jesus! – Your King who died for you. Make your stand; give no ground. Make you stand. Clothe yourself in Christ Jesus, the very Armour of God! Clothe yourself, I say, and make your stand. For this is the ‘making sure of your calling and election!” (2 Peter 1:10-11; Ephesians 4:1-6; Philemon 2; 2 Timothy 2:3)
Therefore, please understand this imperative. God’s Armour is given to the Christian for a purpose. That purpose is so that, in obedience to His calling as a soldier, you may stand firm. God’s Armour ensures obedience to God’s command and therefore the wonderful state of being blessed by God.
Brethren, let is dwell in the blessing and victory that is ours through Jesus Christ by clothing ourselves in God’s armour with the full resolve that, with all our might and with all Spiritual aid, we shall stand firm in the evil day.
