A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse, from his roots a branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him ……and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth…..Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

(Isa 11.1-5)

The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice…He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head…

(Isa 59.15&17)

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

(Eph 4.22-24)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world…Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.

(Eph 6.10-13)

I serve a warrior King. My Lord is the ruler of heaven’s armies, the victor in a cosmic battle for the soul of humankind and the glory of God.

My King has given me a new heart – his own heart, beating in time with the heart of God, filled with God’s passionate, persistent, sacrificial love for the world.

My King has given me a new nature – his own nature, his righteousness for my sinfulness; his purity for my pollution; his eternal life, for my living death.

My King has work for me to do – his work, for his glory, in calling sinners to repentance, acting as a responsible steward of his resources, enjoying all the good things he supplies by sharing them with his children and giving him the praise and thanks.

But, I serve a warrior King. And his new nature in me, is also that of a warrior. I am made new to be a soldier in heaven’s army; to obey orders, to put forth my strength in obedience for the sake of my brethren, for those who are in peril, and for the glory of my King. I cannot choose to be a conscientious objector in this conflict, and I cannot choose to dictate a compromise with the enemy.

My King has won the victory, but his enemies continue to wage fierce and merciless war against him, even as they see their final defeat approaching. I am called to stand my ground, to wield my sword in defence and in trust that the foe cannot overturn the victory which is won on my behalf. Christ in me is always and everywhere my strength – I must choose to believe it.

Therefore, when I ‘put on’ my new self – that is, when I choose daily to live out of the truth of my new nature, to act on the basis that I am God’s new creation in Christ – then I must put on the full armour of God. It is not an optional extra for believers who are particularly interested, it is who I am and how I must live.

The biblical imagery of the new life of believers is not meant simply to entertain or amuse us, it is teaching us about the way in which we should live once we have accepted Christ and been adopted into God’s family. We are clothed in the righteousness of Christ, like bridal garments – a picture of how God now sees us, pure and worthy to be called his children. We are priests in his kingdom – a picture of how we now reflect God’s holiness to others, intercede for them and offer spiritual sacrifices. We are different parts of one body – a picture of how we depend upon and should honour one another, serving in love, and sharing in the common life we receive from our head, Jesus the Lord.

And we are warriors, enlisted under Christ our captain to the privilege of serving him in maintaining the prize which Christ has won – the church – against the onslaught of evil. If I choose to hold back from this task, and refuse to recognise my place in the battle line, I become a weakness, a place where the devil can attack – harming not only myself, but the wider community of faith.

I praise God that the victory is won, and that in Christ I have all the resources I need to be a faithful and obedient soldier. I thank God that I am called only to ‘stand’, and that as in prayer I appropriate this armour, making these resources my weapon and defence, so I am inspired and guided by the Spirit, and do my duty. The outcome of the battle rests with God, let me only do my part and leave my safety and the final victory in the hands of the one who has cried “It is finished!” All hail to the King.