Like a lot of guys, I played football growing up. Sometimes, that meant getting together with my buddies in the backyard after church on Sunday. But I also played for my team at school.
With my friends, we never used pads, and we escaped unscathed, for the most part. But I would never have played for my school team without gearing up. It was just too dangerous to play those games without pads.
In a sense, that was Paul’s message to Christ followers in Ephesians 6:10-20. The Christian life can be a full-contact sport. And it’s too dangerous to fight those battles without the full armor of God.
Key Takeaways
- The Armor of God Is for an Active War: Paul wrote Ephesians 6 to believers who were in a real spiritual battle, and the armor he described is designed for those who intend to fight.
- Each Piece Has a Purpose: Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and Scripture are not abstract concepts but specific weapons with specific jobs in spiritual warfare.
- The Belt of Truth Holds Everything Together: Without a commitment to God’s truth as the foundation, none of the other pieces of armor function the way they are designed to.
- Faith Is Your Shield: The shield of faith is not passive belief but an active trust in God that extinguishes the attacks the enemy aims at you.
- Prayer Is Essential: Paul closes his description of the armor of God with a call to prayer, making it the ongoing posture that keeps everything else in place.
The Image of Armor
The biblical book of Ephesians is a letter written by Paul to believers in Ephesus. Ephesus was a major metropolis in the Roman Empire. It was among the ancient world’s largest cities, and its port made it an economic power.
Paul had spent more than two years in Ephesus, sharing the gospel and helping new Christians grow in their faith (Acts 19). He also faced intense opposition, both from Jews (vv. 8-9) and from Gentile craftsmen who made and sold idols for a living (vv. 23-41).
The city’s influence and the persecution of believers meant Ephesian Christians would have been familiar with two very different kinds of warfare. On one hand, the presence of Roman troops probably was a common sight for them. On the other hand, they understood what Paul was saying when he wrote about spiritual enemies who fought against the purposes of God.
So, it made sense for Paul to use the imagery of the “full armor of God.”
Two Important Reminders
Before Paul detailed the different pieces of the armor of God in Ephesians 6, he reminded his readers of two important truths. First, he emphasized that every spiritual battle really belongs to the Lord. We are called to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (v. 10).
As men and dads, we like to think we’re strong and can tackle any problem on our own. But Paul’s focus on the armor of God reminds us that we cannot win any battle in our own power. We’re just not strong enough. That’s why we need His full armor to protect ourselves and our families.
Second, our enemy is unseen, but very real. Paul said that Satan and his evil forces scheme against God and His people (v. 11), implying craft and deception. But he also wrote that the devil can be aggressive, hurling “flaming darts” designed to damage our faith (v. 16). He wants to hurt us, our wives, and our kids.
We might not be able to see our enemy with physical eyes, but we see the devastation and chaos he causes. And we can be sure he will not ignore our attempts to become more like Jesus each day. Whether by sneakiness or savagery, he is going to attack.
God’s armor is our only protection.
The Armor of God
While we find the listing of God’s armor in the New Testament, it’s important to see the connections to the Old Testament. For example, Old Testament writers often referred to God as their shield or their helmet. They highlighted the importance of God’s truth and His righteousness. Most importantly, they recognized that battles, both physical and spiritual, belong to the Lord.
In other words, the full armor of God represents a timeless truth. God has always been in the business of protecting His people. That’s why He gave us His armor and why we need to suit up every day.
1. The Belt of Truth
For ancient soldiers, a belt was like a holster. They could use it to carry weapons, but it also held the rest of the armor in place. Likewise, the truth of God holds the rest of the armor of God in place. We live in a world where “truth” is relative and easily manipulated. Without God’s truth, everything else falls apart. Our lives and our homes should be grounded in godly truth.
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness
A soldier’s breastplate was a crafted metal piece covering the torso. It protected the heart and other vital organs. In Ephesians 6, a believer’s breastplate is made of righteousness (or right living). Proverbs 4:23 challenges us to “[k]eep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Our hearts are vital, and we guard them through wise choices and godly behavior.
3. Shoes That Spread the Gospel
Jesus told His disciples to go and share His message with the world (Matthew 28:18-20). Later, Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah in calling the feet of those who spread the gospel “beautiful” (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15). Paul’s list of God’s full armor plays on this imagery by highlighting a believer’s shoes.
First-century soldiers wore shoes with studs on their soles. This gave them the traction to stand firm in battle or to navigate rough terrain on a march. Believers are called to stand firm as they make sharing Jesus with others a part of their lives.
4. The Shield of Faith
In ancient warfare, shields served two purposes. Often, they provided protection for individuals. A soldier could use his shield to block arrows coming from a distance or swinging swords in closer combat.
But Roman soldiers also could connect their shields to protect several people at once. With God’s armor, a steadfast faith guards both individuals and the larger church (including our spouses and our children). With it, we can extinguish Satan’s fiery attacks. Without it, we are vulnerable to doubts and temptations.
5. The Helmet of Salvation
For years now, modern athletes have been looking for ways to protect their brains. Preventing “head shots” was no less important to first-century soldiers. It’s also incredibly important for believers in spiritual battles.
We are called to renew our minds (Romans 12:2). We do that by standing strong in our salvation. We have hope for today and for eternity thanks to our salvation in Christ. This piece of God’s full armor allows us to set our minds on that heavenly truth when the world tries to tear us down (Colossians 3:1).
6. The Sword of the Spirit
To this point, every piece of God’s armor has been defensive. The Spirit’s sword, however, is offensive. Paul said His sword is the Word of God, and it’s a powerful weapon. In fact, the writer of Hebrews also compared the Bible to a sword, stating that it was sharp enough to reach “the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). We need to study and memorize God’s Word. Even Jesus used Scripture in His battles with Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). We should follow His example.
Another Powerful Weapon
After listing the armor of God, Paul added a final challenge to pray (6:18-20). While prayer wasn’t compared to any piece of equipment, the apostle made it clear that only fools engaged in spiritual warfare without it.
Paul noted that prayer benefits both the one praying and the one being prayed for. He wrote that believers should “stay alert” praying for themselves and their spiritual growth. At the same time, their intercessions would equip others to stand strong and fulfill God’s plans for their lives.
That makes it another powerful weapon in the spiritual arsenal God has provided for His people. So, pray for yourself, for your wife, and for your kids.
The full armor of God is not really “full” without prayer.
Related Questions
What are the flaming darts of the evil one?
Satan’s flaming darts are His temptations. It could be a temptation to sin or a temptation to question God and His goodness. Our enemy thrives on chaos, and he hurls darts in an effort to create confusion and hinder God’s work. For believers, the shield of faith puts a solid barrier between his attacks and our hearts.
What is the gospel of peace?
The gospel of peace is the story of Jesus Christ and the salvation He provides. It begins with humanity being created in the image of God, yet falling into sin in Genesis 3. As evil devastated the world, God continued fulfilling His plans to rescue people from the bondage of sin. When the time was right, He sent His Son, Jesus (Galatians 4:4-5). Jesus lived a perfect life and died on the cross to pay the price for sin that we should have paid. And through His resurrection from the dead, we can have peace with God. Gospel means “good news,” and this is the absolute best news imaginable!
What does it mean to stand firm?
Soldiers cannot waver in battle. They are trained to hold their ground (at worst) and to move forward to claim enemy territory (at best). For Christians, the armor of God allows us to stand firm in the face of Satan and his demons. Without the armor, we would be helpless and easily defeated. But as we stand in God’s power, covered with God’s armor, we can experience victory by obeying God and remaining faithful to Him.
What does it mean to pray in the Spirit?
God sends His Spirit to encourage and equip everyone who accepts Jesus’s death as the substitute for their sin payment. Among the many blessings the Spirit provides Christ followers, He guides our prayers and helps us align them with God’s will. Paul wrote that we often don’t know how to pray (Romans 8:26-27). During those times, God’s Spirit actually prays for us, bringing our deepest needs to our heavenly Father on our behalf. The Spirit should control every aspect of our lives as believers. His leadership in prayer is part of living under His authority.
