The Armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6:13-18, is a powerful metaphor that helps us understand the spiritual protection and strength that we receive from God. Each piece of the armor is significant in its own right, and together they form a complete defense against the attacks of the enemy.
The Belt of Truth, the first piece of armor that we put on, is the foundation that holds everything else in place. Just as a Roman soldier’s belt held his armor together, so too does the Belt of Truth keep us firmly rooted in God’s truth. We must walk in truth at all costs and not be swayed by the lies of the world.
The Breastplate of Righteousness protects our vital organs from the unseen attacks and accusations of the enemy. It is not something we can earn or achieve through good deeds, but rather a gift from Jesus that covers us in His authority and protection.
The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace allow us to march confidently into battle, knowing that we are anchored in God’s peace. We can find peace when we acknowledge God’s sovereignty over the things outside of our control.
The Shield of Faith protects us from the fiery darts of the enemy, just as a Roman soldier’s shield would extinguish the flames of arrows. Our faith needs to be replenished every day, just as the soldiers would dip their shields in water before battle.
The Helmet of Salvation protects our minds and thoughts, the CPU of our bodies, and enables us to keep fighting for God’s kingdom. We can trust and lean on what God did for us through the cross and resurrection.
The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, is the only offensive weapon in the Armor of God. We must read and understand the Bible so that we can arm ourselves with God’s truth and take action for good.
We put on the entire Armor of God through active prayer, meaning that we not only communicate with God but partner with Him for life. We must act on the promises God gives us in His Word, using our unique strengths and qualities to serve His good.
Every Christian needs to arm themselves with the Armor of God in order to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy. Through God’s mighty power and provision, we can not only survive, but overcome and defeat the enemy.
Ephesians 6:13-18
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:11-18
In this passage the apostle Paul is using the familiar image of the armor of a Roman soldier to help his readers understand what the armor of God actually was.