Ephesians 6:10–17
In Part 1, we talked about fighting our battles with worship. But Paul also gives us another picture of how believers fight — by putting on the whole armor of God.
He reminds us:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10–11)
Paul uses the image of a Roman soldier’s armor to show us how to stand firm in a spiritual war. Roman soldiers never went into battle halfway dressed. If even one piece of armor was missing, it left them vulnerable. The same is true for us spiritually. Let’s look at each piece and see how it applies to our daily lives.
1. The Belt of Truth
For Roman soldiers, the belt was what held the rest of the armor together. Without it, the breastplate would slip and the sword couldn’t be carried.
For us, truth is what holds everything in place. God’s truth keeps us from falling for the enemy’s lies. Practically, this means building our lives on God’s Word, not our feelings, opinions, or what culture says. Every day, we “tighten” the belt by asking: Am I living by God’s truth or my own version of it?
2. The Breastplate of Righteousness
A soldier’s breastplate protected the heart and vital organs from fatal blows.
For us, righteousness means living rightly before God. It doesn’t mean perfection, but choosing holiness, obedience, and integrity. The enemy will try to pierce us with guilt, shame, and compromise — but when we guard our hearts with righteousness, those attacks don’t take root.
3. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
Roman soldiers wore thick, studded sandals that gave them stability in battle and allowed them to march long distances without slipping.
For us, peace is both stability and mobility. The gospel gives us a firm footing when life gets shaky, and it also makes us ready to carry good news wherever we go. We fight spiritual battles by walking in peace, not chaos, and by bringing peace into our relationships, workplaces, and homes.
4. The Shield of Faith
A Roman shield was large enough to cover the whole body, made of wood wrapped in leather, and soaked in water to extinguish flaming arrows.
For us, faith is believing what God says even when we can’t yet see it. The enemy shoots arrows of doubt, fear, and discouragement — but our shield of faith blocks them. The more we feed our faith with God’s Word, the stronger our shield becomes.
5. The Helmet of Salvation
A soldier’s helmet protected his head from deadly strikes.
For us, salvation guards our minds. When we know who we are in Christ — forgiven, redeemed, loved, victorious — we think differently. The enemy wants to attack our thoughts with lies and confusion, but salvation reminds us that our identity is secure in Jesus. Daily, we must renew our minds with God’s truth.
6. The Sword of the Spirit
Unlike the other pieces, the sword was both defensive and offensive. Soldiers used it to block attacks and strike back.
For us, the sword is the Word of God. Scripture isn’t just for encouragement — it’s a weapon. Jesus Himself fought temptation by saying, “It is written.” When we speak God’s Word over our lives and against the enemy, we push back the darkness.
Paul later tells us in Romans 13:14 to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” To put on Christ is to put on victory. We don’t fight for victory — we fight from victory. Jesus has already won, and our armor keeps us standing strong in that truth.
So, how do we fight as believers? We worship, we put on the armor daily, and we stand firm in Christ.
