What is the armor of God, piece by piece?
The armor of God is God's provision for standing in the fight: truth, righteousness, the good news of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God, and prayer. It is not a call to try harder on our own. It is the way we are strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might, piece by piece, standing where Christ has already won.
This question arose from studying What is spiritual warfare?.
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What the Scripture says
The strength comes from the Lord first
Paul's command is not first 'put on the armor' but 'be strong in the Lord': the armor is how we lean into His strength, not a list of self-improvement tasks. David sang that the Lord is his rock and his shield, and Paul boasted that when he was weak, then he was strong in Christ's power. Every piece of armor is a gift to be received before it is a discipline to be worn.
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
The belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness
Truth is what everything else hangs on: Jesus says He is the truth, and the Psalmist asks God for truth in the inward parts. The breastplate guards the heart with righteousness, which in the gospel is first Christ's righteousness credited to us and then His righteousness worked in us. When the accuser aims at your heart, the breastplate answers with what God says is true about the one who is in Christ.
Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
The shoes of peace and the shield of faith
The shoes make us ready to go with the good news of peace, free to move even in hostile territory, carrying reconciliation rather than our own resentments. The shield of faith is taken up above all, because faith receives what God has promised and quenches the fiery darts of doubt, fear, and accusation. Faith does not mean feeling strong; it means holding onto the stronger one who has already overcome the world.
and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory— receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
The helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit
The helmet protects the mind with the certainty of salvation: hope set on what God has done and promised. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God, the only offensive weapon in the list, and Jesus wielded it against the tempter by quoting Scripture, not by arguing in His own strength. The word is living and active, able to cut through lies and to be the sword we carry into every fight.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation.But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Prayer is the motion of the whole armor
Paul ends with prayer at all times in the Spirit, with all perseverance, for all the saints: the armor is worn standing still, but prayer is the breathing in which the soldier lives and moves. We put on the armor and then we pray, because the battle is the Lord's and we ask Him to fight it. None of the pieces work apart from reliance on the one who gives them.
with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
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How do I fight sin in my life?→Our Walk with Him trail“Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”What is faith, exactly?→The Gospel trail“Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”How do I pray?→Prayer trail“Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. ’After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
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