which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17 (NASB)

As the helmet defends the head, a principal part of the body, so this “hope of salvation” defends the soul, the principal part of man. The helmet protects the believer from dangerous or deadly impressions of sin or Satan. It defends the Christian because it is hard for temptations to snare a person who is satisfied with princely favor and who stands on the stairs of hope, expecting to be called at any time to the highest place a king can bestow.

On the other hand, weapons of rebellion are usually forged in discontent. When subjects think they are neglected by their prince, this feeling softens them to receive any impression of disloyalty that the king’s enemy attempts to stamp upon them. Thus once the soul fears God has no inheritance for him he will commit any sin, great or small, at the sound of the tempter’s trumpet.

The helmet makes the heart bold. As the helmet defends the soldier’s head from wounds, so it also protects the Christian’s heart from failing. Whoever wears this helmet need never be ashamed to boast in his holy God. For God Himself allows him to do this and confirms the rejoicing of his hope. “You shall know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me” (Isaiah 49:23).

Confidence in God made David courageous in the midst of his enemies: “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear” (Psalm 27:3). He had his helmet of salvation on and therefore could declare, “Now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me” (v. 6).

A man cannot drown as long as his head is above water, and now it is the work of hope to do this for the Christian in dangerous places. “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh” (Luke 21:28). Only Christ can tell His disciples to lift up their heads when they see other “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (v. 26).

William Gurnall

which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:17 (NASB)

“And take the helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17). These words of Scripture present us with another piece in the Christian’s armor– the helmet of salvation to cover his head in the day of battle. This helmet, together with most of the other pieces of armor, are defensive arms, to protect the Christian from sin but not to keep him from suffering.

Only one piece in the whole armor is for offense– the sword. Scripture hints that the Christian’s war lies chiefly on the defense and therefore requires defiensive arms to fight it. God has deposited a rich treasure of grace in every saint’s heart, which the devil spitefully tries to rob the Christian of by waging a bloody war against him. And so the believer overcomes his enemy when he himself is not overcome. He wins the day when he does not lose his grace, his work being to keep what is his rather than to get what is the enemy’s. Because the saint’s war lies chiefly on the defense, we must instruct the Christian how to manage combat with both Satan and his weapons of war.

As a Christian soldier you must always stand in a defensive posture with your armor on, ready to defend the treasure God has given you to keep, and to repel Satan’s assaults. But do not step outside the line of your calling which God has drawn about you. Let Satan be the assailant and come if he will to tempt you; but do not go out and tempt him to do it.

Even when the devil’s instruments of war reproach the Christian, the Gospel does not allow him to use the devil’s weapons to return them stroke for stroke. “Be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9). You have a girdle and breastplate to defend you from their bullets– the comfort of your own sincerity and holy walk. With these you can repel the sordid arsenal thrown at you– but there is no weapon for self revenge.

William Gurnall

Ephesians 6:16 (NASB)

True hope is a precious gem which no one can wear but Christ’s bride, for Christless and hopeless are joined together (Ephesians 2:12). Because hope and faith are inevitably kin, let us now look at their relationship. In regard to time, one does not come before the other; but in order of nature and operation, faith takes the precedence.

First, faith cleaves to the promise as a true and faithful word, and then hope lifts up the soul to wait for the performance of it. Who runs out to meet someone that he believes will not come? The promise is God’s love letter to His bride in which He opens His very heart and tells everything He will do for her. Faith reads and embraces it with joy, while hope looks out of the window with a longing expectation to see her husband’s chariot coming toward her.

We run away from an evil thing; but if it is good we wait for it. Both hope and faith draw their lines from the same center of the promise, but there is one important difference between them. Faith believes evil as well as good; hope will not talk about anything but good. Hope without a promise is like an anchor without ground to hold by; it carries the promise on its name. David shows where he moors his ship and casts his anchor– “I hope in thy word” (Psalm 119:81). And God’s design fits the highest hope a Christian can have: “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

Just as God has encircled all good in the promise, so He promises nothing but good. The object of hope is everything that the promise holds. God Himself is the highest good and His fullness is promised as the believer’s highest joy. Therefore true hope aims at God and lifts the soul nearer Him, “the hope of Israel” and “the fountain of living water” (Jeremiah 17:13)

William Gurnall

Ephesians 6:16 (NASB)

If faith should fail, then every grace will be put to flight. Job’s patience was wounded when his hand too tired to hold up his shield as a covering.

Similarly, no grace is safe if it is out from under the wing of faith. At a time when Peter’s zeal surpassed his faith, Christ kept him from falling from all grace by saying, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:32). Peter’s faith was the reserve that the Savior took care should be kept in order to recover his other graces when the enemy foiled him, and to deliver him, bruised and broken, from that encounter.

Christ could not do many miracles for His own countrymen “because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58). And neither can Satan harm the Christian seriously when faith is in its place. It is true that the devil skillfully aims to fight faith above all, because it is the grace which keeps him from conquering the rest of the graces. Although a saint may be humble, patient, and devout, Satan can easily tear a hole in these graces and break in if faith does not completely cover each piece of armor. But God’s design is still our best defense; He causes faith to be the grace which makes Satan turn and run.

Faith alone gains acceptance with God for all the other graces and their works. Even the obedient Christian who works hard all day does not expect to take his accomplishment home at night and find God’s acceptance for the sake of his human effort. It is only by faith that he can present it through Christ to God. We “offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5) – that is, by faith in Christ. Faith can so prevail with God that He will take even the smallest broken pieces of human effort from its hand. But He takes nothing unless the hand of faith brings it to Him.

William Gurnall

Ephesians 6:16 (NASB)

Apart from Christ, Satan has successfully deceived every man who ever lived. It was Christ’s prerogative to be tempted but not to be led into temptation. And Job, a chief in God’s army of saints, whom the Father calls “perfect and upright” (Job 1:1) , is himself seriously injured by Satan’s arrows. Yet in His time God is faithful to pluck him out of the devil’s grip and bring healing and restoration to His servant.

Satan’s warlike provision includes not just arrows but “fiery darts.” Some scholars believe the term “fiery” denotes a particular type of temptation, such as blasphemy or despair; but since faith is a shield for all temptations, we see that every one of Satan’s arrows is fiery. But why does Scripture call these darts “fiery”?

First, Satan shoots them in fiery wrath. This dragon spits fire full of indignation against God and every one of His saints. Saul breathes out “threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). As one who is inwardly inflamed, his breath is hot– a fiery stream of persecuting rage comes out of him like a burning furnace. Such temptation is the breath of the devil’s fury.

Further, these darts are called fiery because they lead to hell-fire if they are not quenched. There is a spark of hell in every temptation; and all the sparks fly to their own element. So then all temptations are bound for hell and damnation, according to Satan’s intent and purpose.

Finally and most important, the devil’s darts are said to be fiery because of the malignant effect they have on men’s spirits, kindling a fire in their hearts and consciences. The apostle alludes to the custom of cruel enemies who used to dip the heads of their arrows in poison, making them even more deadly. They not only wounded the part where they penetrated the victim, but infected the whole body, a condition which made healing almost impossible.

William Gurnall

Ephesians 6:16 (NASB)

In old times the shield was prized by a soldier above all other pieces of armor. He counted it a greater shame to lose his shield than to lose the battle; and therefore he would not part with it even when he was under the very foot of the enemy, but esteemed it an honor to die with his shield in his hand. It was the charge which one mother laid upon her son going into war: “Either bring your shield home with you or be brought home upon your shield.” She would rather have seen her son dead with his shield than alive without it.

The apostle further attached another noble effect to faith. We are commanded to take the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and so on, but it is not specified what each one of them could do. Yet when the apostle spoke of faith he ascribed the whole victory to it. This quenches “all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16). And why is this true? Are the other graces useless, and does faith do everything? If so, why must the Christian arm himself with more than this one piece?

I answer that every piece has its vital use in the Christian’s warfare. No one part can be spared in the day of battle. But the reason that no single effect is attributed to each of these, but that all is ascribed to faith, is to let us know that these graces– their power and our benefit from them– must operate in conjunction with faith.

Plainly it is the design of God’s Spirit to give faith the precedence among all those graces entrusted to our keeping. But be careful not to become indifferent or careless in your dealings with the other graces just because you are more excited about getting and keeping this one. Could we warn a soldier to beware of a wound at his heart but forget to guard his head? Truly, we would deserve cracked crowns to cure us of such foolishness.

William Gurnall

Ephesians 6:16 (NASB)

The apostle compares faith to a shield because of a double resemblance between this grace and that particular piece of armor.

The first likeness is that shield is not for the defense for any one part of the body, as most other pieces are. The helmet is fitted for the head and plate designed for the breast, but the shield is intended for the defense of the whole body. Therefore it was to be made very large and was called a “gate” or “door” because it was so long and large that it covered the whole body. And if the shield was not large enough to cover every part at once, this skillful soldier could turn it this way or that way, to stop the swords or the arrows, no matter where they were directed. This resemblance reminds us of the importance of faith in the life of a Christian. It defends the whole man– every part of the Christian is preserved by it.

Sometimes the temptation is leveled at the head– at the saint’s reasoning. Satan will dispute truth and, if he can, will make a Christian question the validity of faith merely because his understanding cannot comprehend it. And sometimes he prevails, blotting out a person’s beliefs in the deity of Christ and in other great and profound truths of the Gospel. But faith intervenes between the believer and this arrow, coming to the relief of the Christian’s weak understanding.

Abraham, “being not weak in faith…considered not his own body now dead” (Romans 4:19). If reason had had the upper hand in that business, if that holy man had put the promise to a test of sense and reason, he would have been in danger of questioning the truth of it, although God Himself was the messenger. But faith brought him through the test. “I will trust the Word of God,” says the believer, “not my own blind reason.”

William Gurnall

Ephesians 6:16 (NASB)

The fourth piece in the Christian’s armor presents itself in this verse– the shield of faith. It is a grace of graces, and is here fitly placed in the midst of its companions. It stands as the heart in the midst of the body; or as David when Samuel “anointed him in the midst of his brethren” (1 Samuel 16:13). The apostle, when he speaks of this grace, anoints it above all its fellows– “Above all, take the shield of faith.”

We discover the kind of faith the apostle commended if we consider the use and end for which it is prescribed to the Christian– to enable him to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”– that is, of the wicked one, the devil. Now, consider the several kinds of faith. Among them must be the faith which empowers the Christian to quench all of Satan’s fiery darts.

Historical faith cannot do this. This kind is so far from quenching Satan’s fiery darts that the devil himself, who shoots them, has this faith. “The devils also believe” (James 2:19).

Temporary faith cannot do it. This is so far from quenching Satan’s fiery darts that it is quenched by them. It displays a goodly blaze of profession and endures “for a while” (Matthew 13:21) but soon disappears.

Miraculous faith falls short as the others. Judas’s miraculous faith, which he used alongside the other apostles, enabled him to cast out devils from others but left him possessed by the devils of covetousness, hypocrisy, and treason. A whole legion of lusts hurled him down the hill of despair into the bottomless pit of perdition.

There is only one kind of faith which remains, and that is justifying faith. This indeed is a grace which makes him who has it a match for the devil. Satan has not so much advantage of the Christian by the superiority of his natural abilities, as the Christian has of Satan by this faith, his weapon. The apostle is so confident that he gives the victory of the Christian before the fight is fully over: “Ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:13).

William Gurnall

GOSPEL OF PEACE;
Ephesians 6:15 (NASB)

Here is the third piece of armor in the Christian’s protection– a spiritual shoe, fitted to his foot and designed to be worn as long as he battles sin and Satan. “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15). Let us now study three distinct terms from Scripture concerning this shoe: first what is meant by the Gospel; second, what is meant by peace; and third, what the word feet means here, as well as the grace intended by the preparation of the gospel of peace.

Gospel, according to the meaning of the original word, signifies good news or joyful message. Usually in Scripture the word is reserved for the doctrine of Christ and His salvation. “I bring you good tidings of great joy,” said the angel to the shepherds (Luke 2:10). And then he added, “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (v.11). Thus Gospel in the New Testament generally carries the connotation of joy and good news, and we shall use that same meaning here.

The revelation of Christ and the grace of God through Him is, without compare, the best news a sinner can hear. It is such a unique message that no good news can come before it nor bad news can follow. God’s mercy precedes His blessing to sinners: “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us” (Psalm 67:1).

Until God mercifully pardons our sins through Christ He cannot look kindly on us sinners. All our benefits are but blessings in bullion until Gospel grace– pardoning mercy– stamps them with salvation and makes them current. God cannot show any good will until Christ makes peace for us; “On earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). And what joy would it be, even to the sinner who inherited a kingdom, if he could not claim it from the joy and favor of God’s heart?

William Gurnall

Ephesians 6:14 (NASB)

David expressed keen sorrow for the unholiness in his life: “O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more” (Psalm 39:13). He did not want to die until holiness ruled his heart again. Ungodliness is a poison which drinks up all serenity of conscience and inward springs of joy. If you throw a stone into a clear brook it will soon become muddy. “He will speak peace unto his people, but let them not turn again to folly” (Psalm 85:8).

Carelessness in the walk of holiness dangerously exposes your faith, which is kept in good conscience as a jewel is protected in a cabinet. Faith is an eye, and sin casts a hazy mist before it. To faith, a holy life is like pure air to the eye; we can see farther on a clear day. Thus faith sees further into God’s promise when it looks through a holy well-ordered life.

Faith is a shield. Will a soldier drop his protection unless he has been seriously wounded? If faith fails, what will happen to hope, which cleaves to faith and draws strength from her as a nursing child takes nourishment from its mother? If faith cannot see pardon in the promise, then hope cannot look for salvation. If faith cannot claim sonship, hope will not wait for the inheritance. Faith informs the soul it has “peace with God” and then the soul rejoices “in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).

Are you trying to use the sword of the Spirit? How can you hold it when unholiness has seriously maimed the hand of faith that must carry it? This sword has two edges– one side heals but the other wounds. With one it saves and with the other it damns. The Bible does not speak a single kind word to the person who practices sin. Now– think and then think some more– is any sin worth all this confusion which will inevitably strangle and smother your soul?

William Gurnall