Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. I. ITS NATURE. 1. The military girdle, that which was intended to give support and firmness to the body: "Having your loins girt about with truth" — i.e., absolute sincerity in the consecration of ourselves to the service of Christ, our great Head. 2. "The breastplate of righteousness": all holiness, inward and outward. And as the breastplate defended the vital parts, so whatever injuries we may sustain, they cannot reach the conscience while this breastplate is there. And when the conscience is kept pure, all is safe. 3. "Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." This refers to the greaves and shoes, which were designed to give a firm footing and to guard against hidden traps. No man is in a state of preparation for the Christian conflict but he who is at peace with God. But pardoning love and regenerating grace, having set the man free from sin, give him firm ground, and enable him, standing fast in the Lord and the power of His might, to beat down every enemy that assails him. 4. "The shield of faith," the use of which is "to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one": in allusion to those firebrands which were sometimes shot along with the arrows, or to the arrows themselves, the iron heads of which had been previously heated, in order to inflict more intolerable pain. This shield quenches the fiery darts (1) Of persecution. (2) Of temptation and affliction. 5. "An helmet the hope of salvation." It defends the head, the very vital part. Despair chills exertion. 6. "The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." (1) Our Lord Himself has given us an instance of its defensive power in His own temptation. (2) But the Christian is to carry on an offensive warfare by zealously and consistently, on all proper occasions, proclaiming the truth of God. II. WHY IT IS CALLED "THE ARMOUR OF LIGHT." 1. With reference to its origin, which is heavenly. It is therefore well called the whole armour of God. Though it is true that sincerity, righteousness, faith, suppose acts of the will, and a certain state of the affections, yet, nevertheless, they are wrought in man by God, and are found only in the regenerate. 2. Because it is only found where Christianity exists and exerts its proper influence. No man is seen in the armour of light but a true Christian. We find no instance in which the philosophy of ancient times made a warrior such as the apostle describes, armed him with armour like this, and led him on to victory. St. Paul tried whether Pharisaism would do; so that, "touching the righteousness of the law," he was "blameless." Yet he was held in the bondage of pride, and prejudice, and anger. Take our modern infidel philosopher, with reason and virtue on his lips, and with pride, selfishness, and passion in his heart. 3. Because it corresponds with the character of our dispensation, which is a dispensation of light. III. THE MOTIVES WHICH SHOULD INDUCE US TO ARRAY OURSELVES IN THIS ARMOUR. Consider — 1. The degraded state of the man who is not invested with it. 2. The moral elevation which it gives to every one who is invested with it. 3. That you must either conquer or be conquered. (R. Watson.) Parallel Verses KJV: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. |
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