Eph. 6:11, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” This familiar verse gives us some core reminders for Christian living:
- We need to be always ready for battle—don’t get ready, be ready.
- It’s the armor God Himself has given you!
- Put on the whole armor, don’t pick and choose.
- You have to put it on yourself, no one can do it for you.
When we put on the armor of God we are really putting on specific elements of the nature of Christ. Romans 13:12-14 says, “…let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
The purpose of putting on this armor is to stand strong against the evil schemes that the devil is actively crafting against us. We must resist him “in the faith” (1 Pet. 5:8-9) and know that unforgiveness holds the door open to demonic attack (2 Cor. 2:4-11). See also Joshua 23:6, Mark 13:22, 2 Cor. 11:12-15, Eph. 4:11-16, Col. 1:21-23.