“Having Shod Your Feet with the Gospel of Peace”

By Eddie R. Littrell

There is undoubtedly an allusion here to that which was worn by the soldiers for the preparation and protection of their feet. The Greek is, literally, “having underbound the feet,” or having bound on the shoes or sandals.

The protection of the feet and ankles consisted of two parts. First the sandals were probably made to cover the foot and were often armed with spikes to give the soldier a firm foothold on whatever terrain the fighting might take place. Second, the greaves—armor plates—were fitted to the shins, and designed to defend them from any danger.

Since the Christian warrior is to “stand” he must have no unprotected or uncertain foothold. He must be prepared for the adverse places and circumstances of the battle. As his battleground will change, his strength should begin with a firm footing. His preparedness, in this regard, is found in the “gospel of peace.”

With the gospel giving him footing, the Christian can be settled, sure, and restful, just in proportion to the stress around him. He is “thoroughly furnished unto every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). &

“Taking the Shield of Faith”

By Eddie R. Littrell

It should be obvious to all that the shield was an indispensable item in the warrior’s armor. The most common shield was about four feet long and two and one-half feet wide. It was held by the left hand and could be used to protect the entire body. It was vitally important to the safety of the warrior. Joined together, these large shields could form a wall, behind which a body of troops could easily protect themselves from the rain of enemy fire.

With this figure, Paul emphasizes the extreme importance of a Christian’s faith. While it is true that the gospel serves as a firm foundation for battle, without developing a strong faith, the Christian leaves himself vulnerable to the constant onslaught of the devil. To develop the faith that can “move mountains” the Christian must give himself “wholly” to “reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 2:13, 15). To increase his faith, it is necessary to study regularly from the word of God, since “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Faith in God serves as a shield that will enable the Christian to repel all the “fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. 6:16). Paul is not here dealing with the passions and lusts within us, which must certainly be conquered, but with the constant abuse the Christian must endure at the hands of the world. A strong faith will help the Christian to over­come the slanders and threats hurled by Satan through his human instruments. The faith that has “nothing wavering” (James 1:6) will ward off and quench all the devil’s darts, so that the soul never succumbs to their heat.

This figure also extends to the strength that is found in the combination of many shields. Solomon taught us, “Two are better than one” (Eccl. 4:9, 10). In battle, the soldier must often depend upon his fellow-soldier for assistance and protection. In spiritual warfare, the Christian can look to other Christians for help in time of need. When temptation strikes, we can gain strength from the knowledge and wisdom of others. Their strong faith can help to fortify the weak faith of others. When a fellow Christian falls, other saints should be there with shield in hand, ready to defend and protect, while rescuing the fallen from the line of battle until strength can be restored (see Heb. 12:12,13). &

“Take the Helmet of Salvation”

By Eddie R. Littrell

The helmet was a cap made of thick leather or brass, fitted to the head, and usually crowned with a plume or crest as an emblem and ornament. It was designed to guard the head from a blow by a sword, war-club, or battle-axe. The hel­met defended the head—a most vital part.  Along with the other pieces of the armor, it was necessary to complete the “whole armor” of the warrior.

Paul employed this figure in a parallel passage, (1 Thess. 5:8). He said, “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” As the head is vital to the physical body, so is the mind of the spiritual warrior. The idea is that a well-founded hope of salvation will preserve us in the days of spiritual battle. It will guard us from the blows that the enemy will strike. It will defend the soul.

A military soldier will not fight well when there is no hope of victory. Likewise, a Christian could not contend with the trials, tribulations, persecutions, and temptations of this life if there were no hope of final salvation. But sustained by this, there is nothing to dread. Peter says that in spite of the “trial of your faith” you can still receive “the end of your faith—the salvation of your soul” (1 Peter 1:7-9).

Having the assurance of salvation, the Christian can engage in the spiritual battle, for he knows that “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Every Christian soldier should have the same confidence as Paul, who wrote, “nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day”   (2 Tim. 1:12). After all, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith” (1 John 5:4). &

“Take … the Sword of the Spirit”

By W. Bruce Tooley

Not only has God provided us with armor to defend against the weapons of Satan and his hordes, but He has also given us one piece of offensive weaponry. It has been said, “The best defense is a good offense.” If a soldier goes into battle without an offensive weapon, his armor will eventually fail him. The Holy Spirit has thus seen fit to put a “sword” in the hand of every Christian who chooses to take and wield it. The apostle Paul exhorts all Christians to arm themselves with “the sword the spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).

Let us ever remember that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal” (2 Cor. 10:4). In the daily struggle of our warfare we have an opportunity to use many weapons—our influence, the periodicals, our tongue. But we must make sure that we are using them properly and in conjunction with God’s word. In other words, we should not combat a false teacher by character assassination, by trying to keep him from earning a livelihood or by spreading unfounded rumors about him. We are to lovingly use the word of God to expose his errors.

The author of the epistle to the Hebrews states, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (4:12). The task God has given man of wielding this double-edged sword is awesome, for by it the world will be convicted of sin and brought to the Lord (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 4:14-15; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:22-23). The word of God and is very powerful if it is used properly. There is a saving edge, which is sharp to con­vince, to convert and to sanctify the heart of the listener. But there is also a condemning edge; by it we will be judged (John 12:48). On the day of Pentecost, those who had crucified the Lord Jesus were cut to the heart by Peter’s preaching of the gospel (Acts 2:37). Because he wielded the sword of the Spirit responsibly and ably, 3,000 men and women were able to hear, believe, repent, confess and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:37-41). &

These articles originally appeared in Know the Truth, a publication of the Eastside church of Christ in Red Bay, AL