What does Paul mean by “putting on” the full armor of God? (Part Four)

Pastor Robert L. Taylor
Nov 14
2 min read

Paul teaches, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). The “helmet of salvation” relates to Jesus as the assurance of eternal life and victory over sin and doubt, which is a gift received through faith in Him. It protects the believer's mind from spiritual attacks by grounding them in the truth of Jesus' sacrifice and the promise of God's protection. Wearing the helmet is a continuous act of trusting in what Jesus has done to secure a believer's identity and future with God. The helmet of salvation is a deep-seated peace and conviction that comes from faith in Jesus, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and a life being transformed by Him. This conviction changes the fundamental nature of the warfare for a believer, transforming it to a confident stand against adversity. Being convinced of eternal life significantly affects spiritual warfare by providing assurance of ultimate victory, strength to persevere through challenges, and a shift in focus from immediate material concerns to long-term spiritual priorities. Jesus relates to the “sword of the Spirit” as an example for believers, having used the Word of God to stand against Satan during His temptation in the wilderness. He wields the Word of God to resist and remain unaffected by deceit and temptation, and His followers are encouraged to do the same by quoting Scripture to stand their ground. When Satan attacks with “If God really loved you, He wouldn’t have let this happen,” by faith in God’s Word, we reply, “It is written: All things work together for the good to them who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). When Satan comes with, “Remember what you did?” we continue standing and reply, “It is written: If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Be encouraged!