The Armor of God

Throughout history, whenever a soldier went to war, he would arm himself. Peasants would grab whatever they had available to them. It may be a pitchfork, a club, or anything else they could carry. The rank and file might get a weapon and maybe some light armor depending on their role. The elite soldiers such as knights are given a full set of armor plus the best weapons they could get along with the best training.

We are soldiers of God. We fight a different kind of war than regular soldiers do. We fight on the spiritual battlefield. And on that battlefield, we need a different kind of armor and weapon. In the Book of Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 10-18, Paul describes how we are supposed to protect ourselves by wearing the Armor of God.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ephesians-Chapter-6/#10

For some unknown reason, I had never heard of that passage before. I came across it while I was researching online. Having studied warfare for years, this piqued my interest. My first thought was of a Roman Soldier dressed in banded armor, scutum (shield), galea (helm), and wielding a gladius (sword). It is a majestic site. But what is God’s Armor and what does it look like?

One disclaimer first: I would like to say that I am not an expert on this topic. I know a fair amount about medieval armor but I'm still fairly new to God's armor. I thought about holding off on writing about this until I knew more about it. However, I find it way too important to keep to myself. What I would recommend is that you do some searching about this topic yourself. Hopefully, though my article will create enough interest for you so that you do your research.

The 6 pieces include:

The Belt Of Truth

I like the fact that the belt is the very first item mentioned. Belts are used to tie an outfit together. You can also use a belt to hold up tools or a cell phone. The belt of truth speaks for itself. You must view the Bible and God's Word as the ultimate truth. Everything starts there! Remember, Satan is the father of lies. We use God's truth to combat it.

The Breastplate of Righteousness

The role of the breastplate is to protect your vital organs, especially your heart. When it comes to spiritual matters, we need to rely on God. Jesus died on the cross for our forgiveness of our sins. His sacrifice wraps around us like a breastplate and keeps our hearts safe from Satan. By accepting this truth, we secure the breastplate with the belt of truth.

Shoes of Peace

Shoes are important to a soldier for several reasons. First, it keeps the bottom of the feet safe from sharp objects like sticks or rocks. Shoes also provide traction and can keep us from slipping. When evil comes, we can find ourselves on unstable terrain. We can turn to the gospel for the good news we need to find peace in our hearts and traction on slippery ground.

Shield of Faith

A scutum is a large Roman shield that partly wraps around you. The biggest advantage of this shield is that multiple soldiers standing next to each other could link up to form a protective wall. Believe that the spiritual shield provides us with two protections. Our faith in God helps protect us but when we combine it with our religious community, we create an even stronger protection.

I also learned that these shields had a layer of leather on them that was generally wet. The shields were made of plywood which made them flammable. The wet leather protected against flaming arrows. The shield of faith similarly protects us from temptation and doubt.

Helmet of Salvation

The helmet protects our most vital organ. Without the brain, the body cannot live. The Helmet of God protects our souls. If we wear the armor God provides, then our eternal soul is safe from harm. There is no greater prize than salvation.

Sword of the Spirit

The sword of the spirit is attached to the belt of truth. It is the only part of the armor that can be used offensively. When it comes to the Armor of God, the sword is the Word of God. This applies to both the spoken and written word. Bible verses can be used to cast out demons and to give us the strength to avoid sinning.

Putting on the Armor

Like regular armor, we need to put it on before going into any battles. We put it on by using prayer. Prayer helps solidify God’s truth, God’s righteousness, God’s Gospel, Faith in God, Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, and the strength of the Holy Spirit. Through these gifts from our Heavenly Father, we cannot be defeated.

Parting Thoughts

The armor pieces listed above are all tools God gives us. We do not own them. We have to ask God for them. All the pieces work together to protect us. Take off one piece of the armor and there are holes that the enemy can exploit. we must keep our mind on the overall message from God. It all starts with truth. If we do not believe that what we read in the Bible is true, then the rest of the armor will not protect us.

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