What is the armor of God? How do you put on the armor of God?

Quick Answer: What is the armor of God? How do you put on the armor of God? The armor of God represents who Jesus Christ is to us and how He is our defense against the fiery darts of the enemy. The belt of truth? Jesus is the Truth. The breastplate of righteousness? Jesus is our righteousness. Feet shod with the gospel of peace? Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The helmet of salvation? Jesus is our salvation. Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God)? Jesus is the living Word! The bottom line is that Jesus Himself is our greatest defense and offense in spiritual battle.

Diving Deeper: Some teaching suggests that the armor of God, as seen in Ephesians 6, is righteous behavior. When we live righteously, they claim, we will have the protection we need from the Devil. However, this is not the point of the passage nor the true meaning of the armor of God.

Ephesians 6 invites readers to put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11). This armor is from God and has nothing to do with our own behavior. It’s not something we do; it’s Jesus Himself. Consider the parts of the armor in Ephesians 6 and how they relate to Christ in us:

1. The belt of truth: Jesus is the truth (John 14:6).
2. The breastplate of righteousness: Jesus is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30).
3. Feet shod with the gospel of peace: Jesus is our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and the Gospel is about Him.
4. The helmet of salvation: Jesus is our salvation (Hebrews 5:9).
5. The sword of the Spirit (word of God): Jesus is the living Word of God (John 1:1).
6. The shield of faith. Faith in whom? In Jesus Christ, of course.

This is how we weather the spiritual attacks of the enemy. We don’t need to perform in order to become more equipped for spiritual attack. We already have everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). We simply need to trust in the armor given to us by God: Christ who lives in us. He keeps us safe from the Devil’s schemes (1 John 5:18).

So, just as Paul says “put on love” (Colossians 3:14) and “put on Christ” (Romans 13:14), here in Ephesians 6, Paul is inviting us to look to Jesus Christ as our spiritual protection in every way. This is what it means to put on the armor of God.

Let’s Make It a Conversation!
1. What has been your understanding of spiritual warfare? Your exposure to it?
2. What have you been taught about the armor of God in Ephesians 6?
3. React to this statement: The armor of God is Jesus Himself.
4. Which aspect of the armor of God means the most to you? Why?