Why The Christian Must Be Armed

When Paul probably wrote these words to the Ephesian believers, he was probably chained to a Roman soldier. As he looked up and saw his glistening armor, he was inspired of the Holy Spirit to write a wonderful analogy of the various parts of the believer's spiritual armor.

Quite simply, we cannot “be strong in the Lord” without taking “the whole armor of God.” Before identifying the various parts of this armor, Paul gives us in verse 11 several compelling reasons for being thus armed.

Satan is a very real foe. We are no match for him. We must put on the divine armor. We must be aware of his devices (2 Cor. 2:11). We must renounce all creature might. We must take and use all the divine defenses. “Take every virtue, every grace, and fortify the whole.”