The 6 Pieces of the Armor of God

The Shield of Faith

The shield of the Roman legionnaire wasn’t just a small thing. It was a full three feet tall and curved around the body. One could fully crouch behind it and be safe. By lining up behind a forward line, rear guard legionnaire’s could lift them to provide cover. In Biblical Greek, the word for faith and trust are identical, and the faith is shared within the Church. Trusting each other, faith keeps us protected as a community.

The Helmet of Salvation

Like the one you wear while riding a bicycle, Roman helmets protected the head against damage. Just so, knowing that we have been saved by Christ, are being saved by the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in us and will be saved with Jesus’ return can keep us secure against the despair and doubt that can plague us in day-to-day life. In Philippians, Paul writes that the “peace of the Lord…surpasses all understanding.” For all the things we think about and try to get our head around, or the rules and religions we fit Jesus into, the end of the gospel message is salvation itself.