The Armor of God

Panoplia (πανοπλία) is the heavy armor used by Roman soldiers for defense. This type of armor serves as a metaphor concerning overcoming Satan. God has provided us with a heavy defensive armor relating to the spiritual, enabling us realm to withstand all Satan’s methodologies.

Putting on the armor begins with a focus on our position in Christ. We are to be clothed in the might of His strength (Ephesians 6:10). The term might (κράτος) expresses the ability of resident strength, the quality of being able, while Ischus (ἰσχύς) is potential strength.

Our spiritual battle begins with recognizing our position in Christ. We have been co-crucified with Christ and are therefore co-risen with Him to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4-5). When the Word of God abides in us—feels as ease—we have victory over the malignantly evil one (1 John 2:14). Christ now indwells us; therefore, we possess eternal life (1 John 5:12). Christ living out through us is resurrection life (Galatians 2:20).

We have no authority over demons, nor do we need authority over them. The disciples and the Apostles were given authority over demons as they presented the truth of the Gospels of the Kingdom and of God. Since this authority was for a sign to the Jews (Acts 19:11-12), and demons cannot touch those in the Church (1 John 5:18), there is no need for the Church to have authority over demons. Our attitude concerning demons should be the same as Michael when he was disputing with Satan. Michael did not dare blasphemy, but said, “The Lord rebukes you” (Jude 9). We are instructed to resist the Devil, not rebuke him. (James 4:7). We resist by the faith (1 Peter 5:9). The faith is the specific instructions for battling Satan and his demons.

The Armor of God is also known as the Faith. It describes the process that we use to defend ourselves against Satan’s methodologies (Ephesians 6:11).

Our battle is spiritual in nature, not physical (Ephesians 6:12). We wrestle against principalities, authorities, the world rulers of darkness—malignant evil spirits in the heavens. Principalities, authorities, and those having strength in the world describe angelic positions of authority. When Christ was raised from the dead, in His humanity, He was placed above the authorities of angels, including those of demons (Ephesians 1:21). God the Son created the governmental positions for the angelic realm (Colossians 1:16). In His death for sin, and resurrection, Christ disarmed the principalities and authorities of this world (Colossians 2:15). Since we are joined with God in our spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17) and out battle is spiritual in nature, we have victory over Satan in a rational manner, seeing things as they really are, by putting on the armor from God and standing firm.

On the malignantly evil day—the day we are attacked by Satan (or one of his demons), we are to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:13). Our focus should not be only on the area that he is attacking us in, but with the entire array of his methodologies because he will employ varying tactics.

The intent of Satan’s methodologies is to get us to act independently from God and ensnare us to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26). Therefore he will use independence from God (James 4:13-17), pride (1 Timothy 3:6), disappointment (Job 3:1-26), discouragement (Job 10:1-22), bitterness (Job 7:11), doubt (James 1:6), cowardice in spiritual things (Luke 22:31), lying (Acts 5:1-4), an ungracious spirit (2 Corinthians 2:10-11), stealing (Ephesians 4:27-30), corrupt communication (Ephesians 4:27-30), laziness in spiritual things (1 Timothy 5:11-15), gossip (1 Timothy 5:13), and busybody (1 Timothy 5:13).

Each part of the armor is designed to defend against different methods that Satan will use to overcome us. Putting on the armor represents a deliberate mental process of aligning our thoughts with God’s will to counter Satan’s methodologies, enabling us to stand firm (Ephesians 6:13). This resistance is not accomplished in our own strength but by submitting to God and drawing near to Him (James 4:7–8).

The girding up of the loins with truth (Ephesians 6:14) involves seeing things as they really are, which protects the sensitive part of our mind— our thoughts (1 Peter 1:13). This metaphor is not referring to the physical body, it is a spiritual battle, not of flesh and blood. Paul is instructing us to use truth to protect our thoughts. As Satan seeks to influence the way we think, we are to reject his way and follow God. This involves setting our minds on the things above (Colossians 3:1-2). Our thoughts are now enlightened so that we see the truth (Ephesians 1:18). Prior to salvation, we were alienated and enemies of God in our thoughts (Colossians 1:21). Satan seeks to persuade us to think in this manner again. Girding up the loins (sensitive part of the mind) with truth protects against lying (Acts 5:1-5), and rejects gossip (1 Timothy 5:13).

The breastplate of righteousness relates to the righteousness that we have in Christ (Ephesians 6:14). In Christ, we have been given the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17). Therefore, we are no longer in a condemned state (Romans 8:1). Satan is going to try to persuade us to act independently from God, even when we know what His will is for us (James 4:13-17). Since we have been freed from the rule of the sin nature in our lives, we are now slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:18). However, this righteousness is not a manifestation of our good nature, but of Christ in us, for Christ is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). Therefore, we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, not through our own self efforts (2 Corinthians 5:21). We are righteous; therefore, we act in a righteous manner. Along with defending us against independence from God, the breastplate of righteousness will also deflect the desire to be prideful (1 Timothy 3:6). There are times when we do everything right, and the end results are spectacular. However, after examining our own works, we can rejoice without ourselves, not before others (Galatians 6:4). We need to be caution with knowledge, for it can puff a person up (1 Corinthians 8:1). As we mature in Christ, let us care enough for each other to not allow our knowledge of things to negatively impact other saints in their conduct. God has prepared good works for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). It is not by our own means that these are performed. Therefore, when Satan seeks to influence us go against God’s will or be puffed up because of our own skill and knowledge, the breastplate of righteousness will quench these methods of attack.

Preparing our feet with the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15), will protect us from stealing, spiritual laziness, and bitterness. The gospel of peace is the good news that brings peace (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). How timely are the feet that bring peace, Romans 10:15. We have been justified from faith, not by works (Romans 5:1). Freely we were given, freely we are to give (Matthew 10:8). All of the things that we have in Christ were graciously given to us (Romans 8:32). Therefore, the one who stole is to work with his hands so that he is able to give in the same manner in which he received (Ephesians 4:27-30). This preparation to give the gospel message when the opportunity arises also prevents spiritual laziness (1 Timothy 5:11-15). When we apply our salvation, we will not be idle (2 Peter 1:8). False teachers push a spiritual lazy lifestyle that is based upon following a step pattern to be righteous rather than training the senses to know wrong from what is proper (Titus 1:12). Any aspect of law is not out from faith (Galatians 3:12); this includes self-help and step methods (Galatians 3:2). Bitterness is also not going to be allowed to take root (Job 7:11). Through bitterness, Satan will seek to influence us to lie against the truth (James 3:14). Bitterness is a feeling of resentment and hostility that stems from a sense of being wronged or perceiving injustice. This type of emotion arises from unresolved hurt, disappointment, or failures that can cause a person to dwell on negative experience. It is an attitude of thinking you deserve better. However, in Christ, we have been graciously given all things and it is a thing of grace for us to suffer for His sake. Therefore, bitterness is to be put away from us (Ephesians 4:31).

The shield of faith protects us all the fiery darts of the malignant evil one (Ephesians 6:16). These darts involve doubt. Faith is taking God at His Word (Hebrews 11:1). Therefore, our faith must be based upon a promise. Doubt is questioning if God permits you to do something - knowing it is against God’s standard for you while attempting to justify doing it. Anything that is done while doubting is sin for a Christian, Romans 14:23. When we ask God for something, if we are not doing it in faith, then we are like the waves of the sea that are driven by the wind and tossed (James 1:6). Every wind of the teachings of men will shift us from one attitude towards another without ever allowing us to be settled (Ephesians 4:14). The shield of faith is for defensive protection (Revelation 4:1), not offence.

The helmet of salvation relates to our salvation (Ephesians 6:17). Satan does not want us to be stable in our belief of salvation; however, God has stated that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). With the helmet we can overcome disappointment (Romans 5:5), discouragement (Hebrews 12:3-5), spiritual cowardice (Luke 22:31), and an ungracious spirit (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).

The final part of the armor is taking up the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). This sword belongs to the Holy Spirit and is the utterances of God. Therefore, it will be effective on us against rotten speak (Ephesians 4:27-30), and busybody (1 Timothy 5:13). We are not using this sword in an attacking method; it is still defensive. When Satan attempts to influence against who we are in Christ, individual utterances from God’s word swat these desires down.

Now that we have put on the armor of God, we are to stand firm (Ephesians 6:18). A good soldier knows how to use his armor to protect himself. Each piece of the armor is designed to work with all the other parts to give us a full defense against all the methods that Satan will use to seek to persuade us to be independent from God so that we are not living out the life that we now have in Christ. Although we have gone over a list of methods that each piece of the armor is effective against, don’t be afraid to use any other part along with it. Such as with doubt, it is the shield of faith that is the primary defense; however, the sword of the Spirit, the helmet of salvation, and the breastplate of righteousness are also very effective against doubt. Let us learn to use our tools so that we wrestle in an effective manner, knowing that in Christ we are already victorious over Satan.