Ephesians 6: How to wear The Armor of God (Bible Study)

Life is a spiritual battle, and following Jesus is not a piece of cake! Believe it or not, the fight doesn't suddenly end just because you become a Christian. The truth is there are spiritual enemies out there, the devil wants to destroy God's people by separating them from God. But you do not go unequipped and alone into this struggle. Jesus is beside you, and you have been given spiritual armor that helps you win the fight.
The Apostle Paul wrote about the armor of God in his letter to the church in Ephesus:

¹³ 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. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:13 - 17

There are 6 elements to the armor of God, these are:

• The Belt of Truth
• The Breastplate of Righteousness
• The shoes of the Gospel of Peace
• The Shield of Faith
• The Helmet of Salvation
• The Sword of the Spirit (which is The Word of God)

1. The Belt of Truth

³¹ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free".

John 8: 31 - 32

The belt holds the armor together; without the belt, the soldier’s armor would come loose and fall apart. Jesus is the truth, and his true words are written in the Bible, we must hold firm to what Jesus tells us otherwise our Christian journey will fall apart. Truth, grounded in God’s Word, guards against deception and ensures a solid foundation for Christian living. Lies are one of the devil’s favorite tools. He lies to Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:4, where he contradicts the words of God in Genesis 2:17), and he continues to lie to believers today.

As a disciple of Jesus, we must hold onto the Truth that sets us free. This isn’t optional, the passage above begins with a caveat ‘If you abide in my word’: we need to obey Jesus’s every word, and the only way we can do this is by reading the bible and applying it to our lives.

How to use it:

• Study the Bible and apply the words of Jesus to your life.
• Be on the lookout for the lies of the devil, ignore them, and instead pray, and reflect on what God is telling you.

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Romans 8:1

Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” ¹¹ She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

John 8:10

In a battle, the breastplate would protect the warrior's chest and heart from the attacks of the enemy. The breastplate of righteousness guards the heart against attacks of guilt and condemnation. We have sinned and led imperfect lives, but Christ lived a perfect life, always pleasing God. And so, It is in no way our righteousness we are equipped with, but Jesus's righteousness. Jesus' righteousness protects us from the consequences of our sins. All we need to do is repent of our sins and dedicate our lives to Jesus, with this he removes the marks of sin from our hearts.

We must not treat Christ's gift to us like a 'get out of jail free' card. Jesus makes it clear to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:10) that although she faces no condemnation, she is expected to go and 'from now on sin no more'.

How to use it:

• Repent of your sins and recognize that Jesus has saved you, that his righteousness protects you.
• Aim to live righteously, but recognize that ultimately our righteousness is through faith in Christ.
• Like the woman caught in adultery; Jesus says to us 'sin no more'.

3. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:7

God equips us for the journey, and guides our path! Shoes protect your feet, and the gospel of peace provides stability and protects your path. All believers have to pass through rocky moments in their journey with Christ, perhaps difficult situations at work, school, or college, and maybe some people ridicule you or mock you for your faith. In these moments it can feel impossible to cope. The gospel tells us the good news of salvation through Jesus, which has brought peace and reconciliation between God and humanity. We can find day-to-day peace in this knowledge, no matter how challenging our circumstances may be, that our lives are now safe in God's hands.

The shoes of the gospel of peace also symbolize a readiness to share the message of salvation with our friends and colleagues.

How to use:

• Be prepared to share the Gospel
• Let the peace of Christ guide your steps in every circumstance
• Seek to promote peace in all situations.

4. The Shield of Faith

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:1

Faith protects you from the enemy! A shield protects you from arrows; faith protects you from the devil's attacks. Faith helps you defend yourself against the devil's accusations, doubts, and temptations. But a shield is not easy to carry! A Roman shield was a substantial, weighty, and cumbersome piece of equipment. It required real strength and endurance to carry over a long period. Similarly, faith, when faced with life's trials and uncertainties, can feel weighty and demanding. It requires perseverance and strength to hold onto one's beliefs despite challenges, and doing so increases spiritual endurance and resilience. The challenges faced in life can make faith seem like a hassle, but in those very moments that you hold onto your convictions, you are being refined and strengthened. Next time, as your assurance grows, your shield will not feel so heavy!

How to use it:

• In times of doubt and temptation, hold firmly onto your faith in Jesus.
• Try to resolve your doubts, and strengthen your spiritual resilience.

5. The Helmet of Salvation

"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,"

2 Corinthians 10:5

Jesus saves! The helmet protects the head, and in the same way, when firm in the assurance of salvation through Christ, we are protected against doubt, fear, and negative thoughts. If someone tries to rationalize away our faith in Jesus or use clever arguments to try and trick us or back us into a corner, we can confidently stand firm, knowing that an assurance of salvation protects us from doubt. Just as a helmet safeguards the head, the Helmet of Salvation secures our minds, allowing us to defeat arguments and lofty opinions with the unwavering truth of Christ's redemptive love. In tricky moments, knowing we're saved through Christ helps us control our thoughts. We stand strong, keeping our minds focused on obeying Christ and staying firm in our faith.

How to use it:

• Guard your thoughts with the assurance of salvation through Christ
• Anchor your mind in the truth of God's love.
• Reject wrong thoughts and lies.

6. The Sword of the Spirit

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12

The word of God is the sword of the Spirit! The word of God is also described as a sword in the book of Hebrews. A sword is capable of both wounding the enemy and defending against the enemy. The word of God also does both jobs, it destroys the enemy and protects us from spiritual attacks.

Note that in Hebrews the word of God is described as both living and active, it is capable of transforming lives, families, and communities across the world. It is not just an old static text but has dynamic potential and is relevant today. It speaks to us personally and guides our lives.

The word of God can only transform us and others if we dedicate time to reading it and discerning God's will and desire for us. We must then accept guidance from it, and allow it to change us.

How to use it:

• Fight lies and temptations by declaring the truths of the Bible.
• Trust in God's word.
• Seek transformation from scripture

Ready for battle? The armor of God will give you victory!

Do you want to know more strategies to strengthen yourself in God? Keep studying and meditating on the Lord's Word:

• The Fruit of the Spirit: What Is It And How They Will Transform Your Life
• The Woman With The Issue of Blood (Passage and Meaning)
• What is an Ebenezer And What Does It Mean in The Bible