What is the armor of God?

What is the armor of God? The armor of God is the battle gear for Christians listed by Paul in Ephesians 6:10-18. In this passage, Paul relates the battle gear of a Christian to that of a Roman soldier. The correlation is as follows:

“Having girded your waist with truth” (Ephesians 6:14a).

A soldier’s belt was more than just a strap of leather used to help hold his pants up. It would have been wide with huge strips of leather hanging down to help protect the lower half of the body. Also, he would take up his garments and tuck them into it to allow him to move about more freely. Spiritually, truth in the believer’s life protects him from the father of lies and allows him to move freely through life with integrity.

“Having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14b).

A soldier’s breastplate was made of hard leather or metal and covered the entire torso (front and back). Righteousness here is not the righteousness of Christ. All believers receive that at salvation. This protective righteousness is the righteous character of the believer as he or she lives out faith in a way that honors the Lord.

“And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15).

A soldier’s feet were shod with hard, studded shoes to give him a firm stance in battle. As Christians, we can stand firm and in peace upon the sure foundation that is Christ Jesus so that we may defend or spread the Gospel.

“Above all, taking the shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16).

“Above all” may mean that the shield was used to defend all forms of attack. A Roman shield measured 2 ½ feet wide by 4 feet tall—small enough to carry, yet large enough to duck behind for cover. For the believer, there is no stronger defense against the attacks of the enemy than a strong faith in the Almighty Savior.

“Take the helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17a).

In addition to protecting the head, a soldier’s helmet made him look taller and more impressive. For the believer, the assurance of salvation protects you from doubt and helps you to stand firm in confidence that you belong to an awesome God.

“And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians:17b).

Take note that this is the only offensive weapon listed. Also, know that this is talking about using specific Scripture verses that apply to the specific battle at hand. Therefore, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the Word of God daily is vital in the life of each believer.