What is the "Armor of God"?

The "Armor of God" is a metaphorical concept described by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, specifically in Ephesians 6:10-18. This passage encourages Christians to equip themselves with spiritual armor to stand against the devil's schemes. Here's a breakdown of each piece of the armor:

The Belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14) - This represents living a life of honesty and integrity, where one's actions and words are true.

The Breastplate of Righteousness (Ephesians 6:14) - This piece symbolizes the righteousness received through faith in Christ, protecting the heart from spiritual attacks. It encourages living righteously through faith.

The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15) - These are to be "fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." This suggests being prepared to share the gospel, which brings peace, and to stand firm in one's faith.

The Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16) - With which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Faith acts as a shield against doubts, temptations, and attacks from the enemy.

The Helmet of Salvation (Ephesians 6:17) - The helmet protects the mind. Knowing one is saved provides mental and emotional protection against despair and doubt.

The Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) - Which is the word of God. This is the only offensive weapon in the armor, representing the use of Scripture to combat spiritual enemies and to spread the truth.

Prayer (Ephesians 6:18) - Although not a piece of armor per se, prayer is crucial. Paul urges believers to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. This emphasizes the importance of constant communication with God as part of one's spiritual defense and offense.

Paul uses this imagery to illustrate how Christians can be prepared for spiritual warfare, emphasizing that the battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces battling in the mind of every one of us. Each piece of the armor relates to an aspect of Christian life and faith, encouraging believers to actively engage in their spiritual defense through truth, righteousness, readiness to preach, faith, assurance of salvation, the word of God, and prayer.