What is the full armor of God?

Response

The term “full armor of God” originates from Ephesians 6:13-17: “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.”

Ephesians 6:12 clearly indicates that the conflict with Satan is spiritual, and therefore no tangible weapons can be effectively employed against him and his minions. We are not given a list of specific tactics Satan will use. However, the passage is quite clear that when we follow all the instructions faithfully, we will be able to stand, and we will have victory regardless of Satan’s strategy.

The first component of our armor is truth “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”, (Ephesians 6:14). This belt immediately sets the believer apart from the world, since Satan is the “father of lies” “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”, (John 8:44). Deception ranks high among the things God deems abominable. A “lying tongue” is one of the things He finds “detestable” (Proverbs 6:16-17). Therefore, we are encouraged to embrace truth for our sanctification and deliverance, as well as for the edification of those we share the gospel with.

Furthermore, in verse 14, we are instructed to put on the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate protected a warrior’s vital organs from potentially fatal blows. This righteousness is not based on human deeds but is the righteousness of Christ, credited by God and received through faith, safeguarding our hearts from Satan’s accusations and securing our innermost being from his assaults.

Verse 15 addresses the readiness of our feet for spiritual warfare. In battle, enemies may set dangerous traps in the path of advancing soldiers. The concept of preparing with the gospel of peace signifies that as we move into enemy territory, we must be alert to potential snares. The message of grace is crucial for leading souls to Christ, and we must be equipped with the gospel. Satan strategically places obstacles to impede the spread of the gospel.

The shield of faith in verse 16 “can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” When we hold up the shield of faith, Satan may hurl accusations, doubts, and discouragement, but they will have no effect. Our faith—of which Christ is “the author and perfecter” «looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. », (Hebrews 12:2)—acts as a solid and substantial shield.

The helmet of salvation in verse 17 provides protection for the head, safeguarding against the harmful influences of the world.Keeping safe a critical part of the body is essential. We could say that our way of thinking requires preservation. The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has grasped the sure hope of eternal life, will not accept false doctrine or succumb to Satan’s temptations. The unsaved individual lacks the ability to fend off the attacks of false doctrine because they lack the helmet of salvation, and their mind is unable to distinguish between spiritual truth and spiritual deception.

Verse 17 explains that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. While all the other pieces of spiritual armor serve for defense, the sword of the Spirit enables us to go on the offensive. The sword analogy illustrates the holiness and power of the Word of God. There is no greater spiritual weapon. In Jesus’ temptations in the desert, the Word of God was always His prevailing response to Satan. What a blessing that the same Word is accessible to us!

In verse 18, we are instructed to pray in the Spirit (that is, with the mind of Christ, with His heart and His priorities) in addition to putting on the full armor of God. We must not overlook prayer, as it is the means by which we receive spiritual strength from God. Without prayer, without relying on God, our efforts in spiritual warfare are in vain. The full armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer—are the tools God has provided us with, through which we can achieve spiritual victory. Satan is a defeated enemy.