The Armor of God (Part 4)
What Is the Shield of Faith?
When Paul listed the spiritual armaments in Ephesians 6, he emphasized faith, saying that “above all” we need to take the shield. In Greek, this phrase tells us to add the shield to every other piece of armor that came before it—that the shield of faith is to be used in addition to the rest of the armor of God.
By examining some of the attributes and spiritual benefits of faith, we can begin to understand and value its importance.
- We are justified by faith. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).
- Faith makes it possible to please God. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).
- Faith enables us to overcome. “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).
- Faith allows us to shield each other. “From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16). ~Dave Johnson
