I was talking to my cousin, who had been struggling with his walk, and the verses and talk I gave him are the basis for the body of this work.

    When Paul wrote his epistle to the Ephesian church, he was already in prison in Rome. Though he was under the equivalent of house arrest, and guarded day and night by roman soldiers, his friends were free to come and go, and send epistles and report back of the progress of the church while the emperor Nero decided what to do with Paul specifically and the burgeoning growth of chistianity generally. Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, which we commonly call Ephesians, is full to the brim with Paul's love in how to continue to grow and mature in the christian faith.
    In the book of Revelation, Jesus had some very nice things to say about the church at Ephusus...

Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

    Yet Jesus also had something against the church at Ephusus....

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

     Paul wrote this remarkable epistle abut 61AD, and yet just thirty years later, when Revelation was written by the Apostle John, one of the revelations is that the church at Ephusus had already lost their first love within thirty years of Paul's epistle to the Ephesians! Jesus reveals that though they were encouraged and uplifted by Paul's epistle, in thirty short years they had already lost what they had! And this is the best church that Jesus deals with of the seven churches in Revelation.
    I don't know about you, friend, but that gives me both encouragement and a challenge. The encouragement comes from knowing that if we mess up and lose our first love, 1 John 1:9 and 10 tells us that God is faithful to forgive us, and cleanse us from all iniquity when we repent and turn back to our first love. It is also a challenge, because although the churches of the first century did not have the Bible as we know it today, but they did have copies of most of Paul's other epistles which were sent from church to church, and they also had copies of the gospels except John's by the time the epistle to the church in Ephusus was written.     It is a challenge, because with today's many distractions and entertainments, it is easy for us to lose sight of our first love and stray off the narrow path of righteousness either into the ditch of lawlessness or the ditch of legalism. We stray into the Ditch of Lawlessness when we reject God's will for our lives, and wander off into our own will, into sin. As Paul said of the Gentiles in Romans 2:13, we become a law unto ourselves. We stray into the Ditch of Legalism when we decide for ourselves that something is alright even thou it does not match up completly with the Bible or with God's Will. As Paul states in Ephesians, this can cause us to wander away from our first love and first focus, which should be on God and the worthy things of the Bible, and we can allow a stronghold to develop legalistically in our lives.
    Therefore, when we approach what Paul stated about the whole armor of God, it's important to know the armor's purpose, reasoning, and what is and is not protected. And what is protected, and why.
    Ephesians begins by telling the believers that they were specifically chosen and sealed by God. The great passage of Ephesians 2:8-10 reveals that we are saved by grace through faith, and not of works. Grace is enabled by the shedding of blood and death of Jesus on the cross, and Paul reveals that we access that Grace through our faith unto salvation. He then further tells the believers that we are all united in one body and equal in the body of Christ.
    Let me pause here a moment before moving on to the rest of Ephesians. Friends, I simply cannot count how many people who have excellent skills and talents like serving, or helping, or administration, or mercy/compassion; and yet who are not only unknowing or unsatisfied with the skills and gifts that God Himself gave them, and instead envy for the skills and gifts that have to do with understanding, teaching, and the application of wisdom from that as well as teaching and pastoring. What they do not understand is that God has specifically given them the gifts and skills they have so as to be a useful vessel in the Body of Christ.
    Friends, don't be dismayed if you do not know the Bible that well. God has made all these skills and gifts equally valid! So do not covet the skills and gifts that God did not give you, but rather glory in that God did equip you with gifts and talents and skills for the specific role you play in the Body. If we all were the head, how would we move around, feed ourselves, etc? If there are no arms to help, or hands to serve, or mercy to give, or administration to undertake, then likewise the Body of Christ is not a full body.
    So take heart that God specifically equipped you in a way to minister to the Saints, so that each of us has a role in the Body of Christ that is equally valid. He has done this, so that, as James would say, the Body of Christ is complete and lacking in nothing. So take encouragement from this, and do not despair or envy, because Paul has made these equippings equally valid! And, do not let anyone else let you feel inadequate, because God your Father does not think that way.
    Continuing on, Paul continues in how to practise christianity, to use our gifts, talents, and skills properly, and to stay away from our former lives. Finally, in chapter six, Paul delves into the protection of the believer, the Whole Armor of God.     The biggest reason I could give why we need this protection from the Whole Armor of God is found here....

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

    Our own righteousness is as filthy rags. Our own power is insufficient to save us, let alone make us strong. Therefore, when we come to the realisation that in submitting ourselves to God in total surrender, our weakness becomes strength in our God. Our righteousness becomes God's righteousness, and in our weakness, we are make perfect in Him. Our infirmities are for the purpose of keeping us humble and in focus to the power of Christ resting on us!
    Paul also shows the reason for the need of the Whole Armor of God in 1st Corinthians 15:42-44....

1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

    This is also a very good reason for the need of the Whole Armor of God. We are born into corruption due to the sin nature legacy of Adam. We are raised from the dead in incorruption, we are born into dishonor, and raised in glory. We are born into weakness and raised in power. We are born a natural person, and raised a spiritual person. This is important because of the tempations, trials, and tribulations that we all must endure to grow as a christian (see the article "O Ye of Little Faith" for how that occurs).
    If we choose to get rid of the temptation in our own weak, flawed power, then we fail to overcome the temptation and rest in His power. Temptations are suffered in the flesh, and so the Whole Armor of God protects our flesh and helps us fight off the temptations of the flesh and remain in the Spirit. Paul illustrates this much better than I in Galatians 5...

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

    As Paul illustrates here, we suffer temptation in the flesh. We overcome temptation by putting off instant gratification for the long term goal of growth as a christian. We overcome temptation by denying the flesh and putting of our weak fix for the problem and instead exercise our patience to await God's way of escape (1st Cor 10:13). Therefore, the Whole Armor of God helps protect us from the temptations of the flesh that we stumble into all on our own, and keeps us from the wiles of the Enemy as well, so long as we PROPERLY USE IT.
    So what is the Whole Armor of God, where does it come from, and how does it work? Read what Paul wrote about the Whole Armor of God....

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

    Paul's experience about personal body armor would have been limited to roman army, hebrew temple guards, and perhaps a study of the greeks in his course of study. Since the armor most describes the roman leginnaires armor, that is the example I will use.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

    Part of the purpose of the Whole Armor of God is to help us to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. The greek word for 'strong' is "endunamoō" which means "to make strong, to enable to increase in strength." By wearing the Whole Armor of God, we are not only helped to be strong in the Lord, but his might becomes ours through perseverance of temptations, trials, and tribulations.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Another reason we need the Whole Armor of God is to stand against the wiles of the devil. The greek word for 'put on' is "enduō," which has the meaning the sense to sink into clothing, to array or wear or endue. We are to put it on immediately and to let it remain on at all times.

    Paul specifically mentions the armor to be put on a certain way. The historical examples Paul would have had to work with were the hebrew temple guards and Rome's legions, which had conquered most of the known world at the time of Paul's writing of Ephesians. In fact, Judea would become so much more a trouble spot for the roman empire, that just nine short years after the approximate writing of Ephesians, Roman armies under the general Titus would level Jerusalem in 70AD.
    Therefore, I use the model of the legionnaires armor, as I believe Paul did as well, since Paul spent a great deal of time with roman guards while in prison in Rome.
    First, the legionnaire (miles legionarius) would dress in a red tunic that came to the waist. In very cold climates in the north, the legionnaires would also wear woolen leggings that went to about the knee. Over this basic uniform went the roman legionnaires armor....

Eph 6:14a Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.

    Paul instructs us to specifically girt our loins with the Belt of Truth. The greek word for 'loins' has as it's definition "the hip, but specifically the procreative power." The Belt of Truth is then put on first to protect our groin. The military belt (cingulum militare) did not directly protect the groin, as it fastened around the waist. Attached to the front of the belt were leather strips with metal disks were riveted, and these metal-covered leather strips are actually what protected the groin from injury.
    The greek word for Truth' in the Belt of Truth is alētheia and which means "true, truly verity." I cannot sum this up better than the Apostle Paul did himself....

Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

    The Belt of Truth then represents those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, and of praise, specifically in regards to the Bible and our God. While this also can be true of the spirited writings of great christian leaders of the day, those writings by christian leaders like Max Lucado, Allister Begg, Charles Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, and others; should not supercede or take the place of the Bible and God. The Belt of Truth also guards our loins, which represents both lust and a preparedness to go if and when God tells us to go.
    Since the Belt of Truth, and specifically those metal covered strips covers our loins, they protect us against sexual lusts and sins. Sins like adultery, fornication, the homosexual abomination, and other specific types of sexual sin. There is something very important about fornication and the homosexual sin that are talked about in the Bible.....

1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

    As we can see, sexual sins carry more than just sinning against the Will of God. Sexual sins also carry their own penalty. Indirectly, the Belt of Truth also protects us against general lusts, along with the Breastplate of Righteousness. A good deal of the sins that we find ourselves commiting are about those things which God is the author of, and which in the right time and place are totally wholesome and desireable. They become sin when we reject God's Counsel, and instead make our own time and/or own place in which to do the sin. One example of this is rampant in the Church today, and that is having premarital sex. Hebrews 13:4 tells us that only the marriage bed is undefiled, and so we should put those sinful things away.
    Lastly, the Belt of Truth is what we hang our Sword of the Spirit on when we are not using it during those times that God has given us a season of rest. Paul then talks about the Breastplate of Righteousness....

Eph 6:14b ... and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

    For the roman legionnaire, the Breastplate of Righteousness was a corselet made of curved strips of metal fastened together with leather thongs (lorica segmentata) obviously being a segmented armor made of leather. In Ephesians 6:14 the greek word for righteousnes is 'dikaiosunē' and means "the condition acceptable to God, the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God, integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting.�
    Obviously, our righteousness is as filthy rags, according to Isaiah in Isaiah 64:6. Therefore, our righteousness can never qualify or equal the meaning of the greek word for righteousness. When we become saved by grace through faith, God exchanges our righteousness with His. He does not have to, but He does. We access his righteousness by believing that the Father raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:10a).
    What the breastplate does for us spiritually is to cover all our vital organs, as it was for the legionnaire. The main difference is spiritual. Thus there are many things spiritually that the Breastplate protects us from....

Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Act 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Pro 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

    Thus our Breastplate of Righteousness protects us from the deceitful lusts of the flesh, and from the harmful things we say. It protects us from breathing out all slander, and from living for our bellies instead of God, and our liver from strong drink and other harmful substances. It protects us from external influences, whether of those who seek to gossip with us, to the wiles of the Enemy; and it also protects us from our own decietful lusts. Paul states something very important in the 5th chapter of Galatians. He starts off telling us that the christian walk is a constant struggle to daily mortify the deeds of the flesh, and to walk in the Spirit. The Belt of Truth and Breastplate of Righteousness help us to do so and walk in the Spirit.
    Paul then tells us about all the deeds of the flesh, which we will not suffer if we concentrate on wearing the armor. Then he tells us about the Fruits of the Spirit, which we can cultivate if we wear the armor. Remember, we cannot sin unless we first take off the piece of armor that goes with the sin we intend.
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

    The legionnaire wore military boots (caligae) which were heavy leather sandals which were laced above the ankle for stability and security. Lastly, the military boots would have carefully placed hobnails on the soles for traction. The greek word for peace is �eirēnē� and means �a state of national tranquillity, peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord, and security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous).�
    The spiritual sandals are for various reasons. We are shod in order to go out and take the message of the Gospel. We are shod also so as not to go where we should not go. The hobnails give us traction in all sorts of ground, so that we can stand, and even plant ourselves into the ground, when needed to fight the good fight. It keeps us in place except to move forward in the way that God would have us go, and incidentally protects our feet.
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

    The legionnaires shield (scutum) usually a curved rectangular shape though sometimes oval; this was made of leather and canvas stretched over a wooden frame and was often decorated with individual designs representing his service, century, and cohort. Over the handgrip was a round metal boss that provided room for his hand and was useful for deflecting blows. The greek word for faith is �pistis� and means �Conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man�s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.�
     Our Shield of Faith works the same way as the legionnaires. It can help deflect the blows that our armor does not protect us with, and specifically shields us from the fiery darts of the wicked one. We gain faith by exercising our patience for God�s way of escape during trials and tribulations (James 1, 1st Cor 10:13) and the exercising of our faith gains us experience, and the experience faith, and the added faith brings about hope (Romans 5:1-5) for further overcoming of future trials and tribulations (For a more in-depth look at this, see the article, �O Ye of Little Faith� in this same section.

Eph 6:17a And take the helmet of salvation...

    The helmet (galea) protects us from wicked thoughts and allows for righteous, pure thoughts. The greek word for salvation here is �sōtērion� and means, �Saving, bringing salvation, he who embodies this salvation, or through whom God is about to achieve it, the hope of (future) salvation.� It is specifially our salvation by grace through faith which is being spoken about here.

Eph 6:17b ... and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

    The roman sword (gladius) was a short sword, used for stabbing and thrusting, rather than jabbing. It is used spiritually to cut to the heart of the matter, the salvation of the lost and dying souls out there in the world. The greek word for spirit is �pneuma� and means �The third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son, sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his work and power, and never referred to as a depersonalised force�.
     Our Sword of the Spirit is the working of the Holy Spirit in our life and the life of the lost. It is the Holy Spirit�s Job to convict, our job is simply to love them and lead them to our Master so that they can be saved like us. This is the only portion of armor that is not designed for defense, it is designed for offence. It is speicifically the word of God, our Holy Bible. It is not to be used to beat up the lost, but rather to get to the heart of the matter. The best verse I can think of that sums this us is....

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

    There are three points to mention before I conclude this study of the Whole Armor of God. The first is that unlike the legionnaire, we do not start the same. He gets the full armor, we get minimal armor. Our Belt of truth may be less than half an inch thick. Our Breastplate of Righteousness may only cover the upper part of our chest. The Shoes may be slippery on terrain and easy to slip off. Our Shield of Faith may only be the size of a mustard seed buckler, barely covering the hand. Our Helmet may just cover the top of our heads, and our Sword might be a Knife.
    The second point is this, that our current level of Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, Salvation, and Spirit is dictated by the level of our walk with God in His Will. As we grow from a Babe in Christ to a mature Christian being, then all those good things grow as well, causing all that armor to grow and be more protected as well. Lastly, both the hebrew temple guard armor and the roman armor works best when directly facing the enemy. If we turn to run, then the armor on our backside is minimal, and the Enemy will easily have his way with us for a time.
    My prayer for you is that if you have not already come to Christ, then think about coming to him. If you haven�t been wearing your armor, then put it on, and leave it on. Then walk in it and do His Will, growing in what He has for you.