The Whole Armor of God
A Sermon on the Armor of God from Ephesians 6:13-15
Originally preached Jan. 14, 1962
Scripture
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Sermon Description
Followers of Jesus fight a daily battle of spiritual warfare as the enemy tries to steal, kill, and destroy. Since this truth has been revealed in God’s word, how does the Christian take a stand and fight against the devil and his schemes? How do they obtain victory in spiritual battles rather than continually experience defeat? In this sermon on the whole armor of God from Ephesians 6:14, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones uncovers the only answer to these questions as he digs deep into the true meaning of standing strong in the Lord and putting on the whole armor of God. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains how these two essential factors go hand in hand, equipping the Christian to be victorious over the enemy. He addresses four key points Christians must consider when understanding how to fight spiritual battles. Each of these points sheds light on how Christians are to stand strong in the Lord, and put on the whole armor of God as protection against the enemy. This truth shows that God’s followers have been given the battle plans on how to fight spiritual battles and how to equip themselves with the armor they need to live in victory.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul uses the imagery of a soldier's armor to illustrate the Christian life as a spiritual battle.
- We must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. This is essential for standing against the devil's schemes.
- The armor of God is necessary for protection and defense. Though we have strength in the Lord, we still need protection.
- The armor is called the "armor of God" because it is provided by God, designed for spiritual battle, and can only be used by Christians.
- The armor consists of understanding and applying the Gospel. Only Christians can utilize this armor.
- We must put on the "whole" armor of God. We cannot pick and choose which parts we want to use. Every part is essential.
- The whole armor means taking in the whole doctrine of Scripture and allowing it to influence our whole being - mind, heart, and will.
- Though we consider the armor as a whole, every individual piece is also important. We must consider both the whole and the details.
Sermon Q&A
What Does "Put on the Whole Armor of God" Mean According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
What is the significance of the order in which Paul presents his instructions in Ephesians 6?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Paul presents two essential requirements for Christian warfare in a specific order for important reasons. First, he tells believers to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might" before instructing them to "put on the whole armor of God." This order reflects the difference between strategy and tactics in warfare - the overall approach must precede specific actions. It also reflects the difference between the positive/offensive aspects of Christian warfare and the defensive measures. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "if you enter into this spiritual conflict on the defensive only and have entirely forgotten the offensive and the positive, you're already defeated."
Why is the armor of God necessary even after we've received spiritual strength?
Even though believers receive strength in the Lord, the armor remains essential because we need constant protection against Satan's subtle attacks. Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains: "Though you and I may be very strong, though we may have grown in grace so marvellously and have had great victories, we must never rely upon that." He references 1 Corinthians 10:12: "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed, lest he fall." The enemy is powerful, subtle, and constantly watching for moments of slackness. Lloyd-Jones insists there is "never a holiday in the spiritual realm" - we must maintain our defenses at all times.
Why does Paul specify it as the "armor of God" rather than just armor?
The phrase "armor of God" indicates several crucial truths according to Lloyd-Jones: 1. It is armor provided by God - "Everything that you need is provided by God" 2. It can only be used by Christians - "There is only one person who can ever put on and use this armor, and that is the Christian" 3. It consists of understanding and applying gospel truth 4. It cannot be replaced by human wisdom, reasoning, psychology, or willpower Lloyd-Jones states emphatically: "The moment you start taking on the enemy in argument with your own reason and understanding, you're already defeated. He'll beat you every time."
Why does Paul emphasize the "whole" armor of God?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that Paul twice emphasizes putting on the "whole" armor of God, indicating believers cannot pick and choose which parts to use. He explains: "The moment you begin to say, 'Oh, well, of course I need this helmet, but I don't need the breastplate,' you're already defeated." This means Christians must: 1. Take the complete doctrine, not just favorite parts 2. Read the whole Bible, not just select portions 3. Protect every aspect of themselves - mind (helmet), heart (breastplate), and will Lloyd-Jones warns that neglecting any aspect leads to defeat: "Nothing causes such weakness and failure in the christian church as a failure on our part to take on the whole armor of God."
How does the armor of God relate to the complete Christian life?
The armor of God addresses the whole person - intellectually, emotionally, and volitionally. Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts this with worldly approaches: "You can have your intellectual societies in the world. They're cold and heartless. You can have your emotional, sentimental interests in the world. They've got nothing for your head." Christianity uniquely "takes in the whole man, that covers the entire personality." The armor imagery shows the beautiful balance of Christianity - concerning both the whole person and every detailed aspect of life and doctrine.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.