A Christian’s Armor
The armor of God in Ephesians 6 is one of those passages I have read and heard about, but never really slowed down and put all the pieces together.—Until this week, that is. It was the topic of a Bible lesson I was teaching to a group of kids at church recently, and as I talked through each piece of the armor, a common thread drew my attention.
But, first of all, what is the armor for? Here is the first part of the passage that introduces the concept.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”(vv.10-13)
As the saved in Christ, we are in a war. But it is not a war fought against the people around us, but against Satan. It is not a war fought with physical weapons, but with the power of God’s own might working in and through us by His Spirit. The armor we are about to look at is given to us to enable spiritual victory, and every piece can be traced back to the Word of God.
Belt of Truth
“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…” (v.14a)
That phrase “girt about” has to do with fastening a belt. In the context of armor, the belt is important. It is a place to hang one’s sword, (more on that in a minute.) it keeps the soldier’s garments from getting tangled in his way as he fights. In ancient times, the belt also offered some protection, being made from a thick leather that could help ward off at least glancing blows.
And what is the Christian’s belt made out of? Truth.
In order to keep from getting tangled up in the tricks and temptations Satan throws at us, we need to know God’s Word well. The Bible tells us that Satan is a liar. (John 8:44) And the only way to keep from falling for a lie is to know the truth. And as Christians, our source of truth is the Word of God, the Bible. Seems pretty basic, right?
Breastplate of Righteousness
“and having on the breastplate of righteousness” (v.14b)
The breastplate is perhaps one of the more obvious pieces we think of when we think of armor. It protects the internal organs, and is a crucial piece of equipment for soldiers—even in modern warfare.
Righteousness—being right with God in heart and actions—is also a crucial part of the protection God gives us in fighting Satan. After all, it’s hard to yield to temptation if we’re already choosing to obey God! And if we are intentionally seeking to keep ourselves right with God, it will be easier to fight whatever Satan throws at us to get us off course.
And how do we know what righteousness looks like? By reading God’s Word, letting it sink in, and memorizing it.
Shod with the Gospel
“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (v.15)
Soldiers do a lot of marching. Even in modern times, good footwear is still a necessary part of a soldier’s equipment. So, what does it mean to have feet shod with “the preparation of the gospel of peace?” It seems to me that this simply means applying the gospel to daily life.—And the gospel is found in the Word of God. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 gives us this summary of the gospel:
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
The reality of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is the core of the gospel message. We are to repent, or turn from sin, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
The gospel of course is the message of salvation, but when we get saved, it does not lose its relevance.
If we are applying the gospel in everyday life, we will see sin as God sees it, because it took His death to pay for it. If we are applying the gospel in everyday life, we will see others as God sees them, because Christ loved them enough to die for them. To have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace will also make us ready to share the gospel with others as the Holy Spirit prompts us. Satan wants us to be cowardly with the gospel, to keep it to ourselves, or to be too busy or shy or earthly-minded to witness to anyone. Keeping the gospel as much a part of our lives as the shoes on our feet will result in being ready to share the gospel with others who need it just as much as we do.
The Shield of Faith
“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (v.16)
When I read this verse, I think of the large Roman shields behind which a soldier could kneel and be completely shielded. 1 John 5:4 says,
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
Faith clings to the Word of God, even when our circumstances and emotions seem to run contrary to what God has said. This is vital if we are to fight Satan. Look at what 1 Peter 5:8-9 says,
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are accomplished in the world.”
The Helmet of Salvation
“And take the helmet of salvation…” (v. 17a)
Helmets are important. They protect the head from injury—and we all know how important our heads are.
So, what does it mean that the Christian’s helmet is called the helmet of salvation? I think it underscores the fact that all of the rest of the armor is useless if we aren’t saved in the first place.
If we aren’t saved, we can’t quench Satan’s fiery darts with faith, because we have no faith. If we aren’t saved, we surely won’t be walking through life with the gospel in mind. If we aren’t saved, there is no breastplate of righteousness, because “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6) Without salvation, there is no belt of truth, because we have not accepted the most foundational truths about God and sin and our need to be forgiven.
Salvation is where it all starts. And once again we see a connection with the Word of God:
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17)
Saving faith comes in response to gospel truth—truth from God’s Word.
But the helmet of salvation might also have another purpose. Yes, we need to be saved in order to have the power of God working in us, “to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13), but the reality of our salvation can also protect us from Satan’s tricks and lies. When we remember that Christ saved us, we will be able to identify and reject lies about God and sin and the love God has for us.
Putting it All On
Now, what does “the whole armour of God” look like in everyday life? I think Job is a good illustration of this. When his world crumbled and he lost children, wealth, livelihood, and even his own health, he clung to the truth of God’s sovereignty in Job 1 and 2. He clung to his righteousness in Job 27:6—he would not give up seeking to be right with God, even when others assumed him guilty of heinous sin. Job 13:15 gives us a remarkable proclamation of Job’s faith, even in the midst of suffering that seemed unfair or undeserved—he kept behind that shield of faith an chose to trust, even if the suffering would last till his death.
And Job may not have known the full gospel of Christ, but we do see in Job 19:25 an understanding of God as a redeemer, who would stand on the earth—whom Job believed he would see face-to-face in his “flesh” after his body had died. He took that truth of resurrection and clung to it, even though God seemed to be against him.
Job would have had very little Scripture—possibly only the creation account. But what he had, he valued, even more than the food that was necessary to keep him alive.
He had every piece of the armor, and God did bring him through the trial with victory—though perhaps not the victory we would have expected. His life was restored, but most important of all, Job had a much clearer picture of who God was and what He was like.
The Sword of the Spirit
“and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”
There is one more piece to the armor of God which we haven’t looked at yet. While the other pieces are important in protecting us from Satan’s tricks and lies, the last piece is not just for defending, but also for attack, for gaining back ground that the enemy has taken.
It again is tied to the Word of God, which here is called the sword of the Spirit. Revelation 1:16, 2:12, and 19:15 all describe Jesus as having a sharp, double-edged sword coming out of His mouth. This is a symbol for the Word of God. Look at how this description ties in with Hebrews 4:12:
“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The Word of God is there not only to protect, but to defend us. It allows us not just to be victorious in fighting off attacks, but in pressing forward, taking the fight into enemy territory—territory that rightfully belongs to God.
As David said when facing Goliath, the battle is the Lord’s, and all victory ultimately comes from Him. (1 Samuel 17:47) Remember, dear Reader, it is not your might that makes the armor strong, but God’s. Not your strength that stands strong against temptation, but His. Put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel shoes, the helmet of salvation, and pick up the sword of the Spirit. Keep God’s Word close, fill your heart and mind with it, and then respond to it in faith and go on to victory as the Holy Spirit leads.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57