EP. 259 What Does It Actually Mean to “Put On” the Armor of God?

SHOW NOTES

In Episode 259 of the Hope Rescue Podcast, we continue our careful, Scripture-driven discussion on spiritual warfare by turning our attention to the armor of God itself. Having established in the previous episode that believers are not called to fight Satan directly, but to stand firm in Christ, we now ask a crucial question: How does a Christian actually stand firm? The apostle Paul answers that question clearly and thoroughly in Ephesians 6.

Tim reminded us of a foundational principle that must shape any biblical understanding of spiritual warfare: once the armor is in place, we do not wrestle—we stand. This emphasis comes directly from the repeated language of the text. Paul’s concern is not that believers become aggressive spiritual combatants, but that they remain unmoved, faithful, and secure amid spiritual opposition.

Paul writes in Ephesians 6:13–18:

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”

An important observation from the original Greek grammar is that Paul repeatedly uses a participle that conveys completed action with ongoing benefit. The phrase “having put on” indicates something already accomplished, not something believers must continually re-achieve through effort or emotion. The armor is received, not earned.

The first piece of armor Paul mentions is the belt of truth. In Roman military equipment, the belt gathered the soldier’s tunic and provided readiness and stability. Without it, movement would be hindered. Many misunderstand this piece to mean personal honesty or moral sincerity. While truthfulness is certainly commanded in Scripture, Paul’s emphasis here is far deeper. The belt of truth refers to objective, revealed truth—specifically the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To stand firm, a believer must be grounded in what God has revealed about Himself, about sin, about salvation, and about Christ. False doctrine leaves the Christian exposed and unstable. Biblical literacy, therefore, is not optional in spiritual warfare; it is essential.

Next, Paul speaks of the breastplate of righteousness, which protects the vital organs—particularly the heart. Scripture is clear that this righteousness is not self-generated.

Paul explains this beautifully in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

This is the doctrine of imputed righteousness. At salvation, Christ’s perfect righteousness is credited to the believer by faith alone. We do not earn acceptance with God by acting righteously; rather, we act righteously because we have already been declared righteous in Christ.

Paul then describes shoes fitted with the readiness given by the gospel of peace. On a battlefield, shoes provided traction, stability, and protection. A soldier who slipped or lost footing was vulnerable. The peace Paul refers to is not inner calm or emotional tranquility, but peace with God accomplished through the gospel. Because believers are reconciled to God through Christ, they are no longer enemies but children.

Paul continues, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith.” The Greek word thyreōn refers to a large, door-shaped shield that covered the entire body of the soldier. Faith, in this context, is not subjective feeling or optimism. It is active trust in God’s character, promises, and Word. The flaming darts of the evil one—lies, accusations, temptations, and doubts—are extinguished when believers cling to what God has said rather than what they feel.

Paul then instructs believers to take the helmet of salvation. A helmet protects the mind, and this imagery is intentional. The helmet of salvation represents the believer’s assurance and future hope in Christ. Satan often targets the mind—planting doubt about salvation, distorting God’s character, and undermining confidence in eternal life. The helmet of salvation guards against these attacks by reminding believers that salvation is God’s work from beginning to end. Our hope rests not in ourselves, but in the promises of God, secured by Christ.

Unlike the other pieces of armor, the sword of the Spirit is both defensive and offensive. Paul identifies it clearly: “which is the word of God.” Scripture is the believer’s only weapon in spiritual warfare. Jesus Himself modeled this during His temptation in the wilderness, responding to Satan’s lies with the written Word of God. This underscores the necessity of knowing Scripture accurately and rightly dividing it. A neglected Bible leaves the Christian defenseless. A well-known, rightly understood Bible equips the believer to discern truth from error and to stand firm against deception.

Finally, Paul concludes with an emphasis on prayer: “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” Prayer is not an additional piece of armor, but the atmosphere in which the entire armor is worn.

Thank you for joining us on the Hope Rescue Podcast.