Put on the Armor of the Lord – What Does This Mean? Ephesians 6:10-18
What does Ephesians 6:10-17 mean by ‘put on the armor of the Lord”? I have heard some crazy theology on this. What if it is as simple as “Put on Jesus” First, here’s what the verses say:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Belt of TRUTH: Jesus is the truth. No one comes to God except through Him. Not by law-keeping. He is the belt that holds you up.
Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS: You are the righteousness of Christ. The Bible says you have been clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. He is your righteousness.
Feet fitted with the GOSPEL of PEACE: This is a NEW gospel. A NEW covenant. One that comes from Faith in Jesus alone. The old covenant was not one of peace, but rather wrath. The New is founded on better hopes and better promises because it’s not about you. It’s about Jesus. Fit your feet with the Gospel of Peace and STAND strong in the Lord!
SHIELD of FAITH: Speaks for itself. Faith in Jesus for salvation. Nothing else saves us. Put the shield of faith up when someone causes you to doubt your identity.
HELMET of SALVATION: How does one receive salvation? Through Jesus. Hearing and believing. Put your helmet on and know you are saved. The helmet of Jesus can’t be destroyed. You’re safe. Renew your mind and agree with what Christ has already done. He’s given you salvation.
The evil one accuses us of not being qualified. Not being “good enough”. He takes our eyes off Jesus.
You are the righteousness of Jesus. Don’t let anyone cause you to think differently. Especially the Devil.
These are not ‘behavior’ verses. They are ‘identity’ verses. Put on Jesus. He fits
Author: Mike Cynar
Mike Cynar was raised in a church setting where he frequently noticed that many attendees would eventually drift away. The church labeled these individuals as ‘back sliders’ or ‘fake Christians’ just looking for ‘fire insurance’. However, Mike realized the issue was rarely with these individuals but instead with the church’s message itself. The teachings heavily emphasized behavior improvement and one’s flaws, with only a fleeting mention of one’s identity in Christ. It felt as though every sermon was tailored to the church of Corinth, who as we know or committing sins that even unbelievers don’t partake in. This trend was noticeable not just in one denomination, but across Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many other churches. Upon understanding the true essence of the gospel – that our righteousness comes from Jesus’ actions, not our own – Mike was inspired to liberate believers from lifeless sermons and reconnect them with the genuine teachings of Jesus. He believes that one can nurture a vibrant and growing bond with Jesus, unhindered by rigid religious practices. And thus, “Jesus Without Religion” was born.
It turns out that it is grace that leads to repentance. And if our heart is to get others to walk in the Spirit and live a godly life, then the best approach is not a beat down sermon, but rather to remind other that it is only when we understand our true identity in Christ that we will live it out. Yes, it’s true, if you’re convinced that God thinks you’re a dirty sinner, you will ultimately continue a lifestyle that mirrors that view, but if you truly believe that even on your worst day, you are called holy, sanctified, justified, and will be presented blameless in the end, well, it turns out this is the secret to living out on the outside what has been worked in to the inside.
