Dressed for Victory: How to Stand Firm in the Armor of God

Dr. Spencer R. Fusselman

When you answered the call of Christ, you stepped onto a battlefield. The Christian life is not a peaceful stroll to heaven; it is an "inevitable and relentless spiritual conflict". The moment we enlist in God's army, we paint a target on our backs, inviting the attention of an enemy who despises our allegiance to the King. This thought of warfare can be unsettling, filled with connotations of struggle and grit we’d rather avoid.

But take heart. The Commander of this army has not sent us into battle unprepared. The victory has already been won by Christ. We are not fighting for victory, but fighting from a place of victory, called simply to hold the ground that our Savior has already secured. To do this, God has given us His own armor, a divine provision that equips us to stand firm against any assault. Our strength is not our own; it is found "in the Lord and in the power of His might". Let’s explore the first three pieces of this divine equipment, understanding how to consciously and deliberately arm ourselves for the spiritual realities of our day.

The Foundation: The Belt of Truth
In the Roman army, a soldier’s belt was the most critical piece of his uniform. It was not a mere accessory; it held everything together. The belt secured his tunic so he wouldn't stumble , it held the scabbard for his sword , and it was the anchor point for the rest of his armor. A soldier without his belt was dangerously unprepared, lacking his identity, his weapon, and his core stability.

Theologically, Paul presents truth as the foundational piece of the Christian life. The enemy’s primary method is not brute force, but "crafty and deceptive schemes" designed to exploit our weaknesses and sow doubt. His first point of attack is always against God’s Word. From the Garden of Eden to this very moment, his strategy begins with the subtle, destabilizing question: "Did God really say…?". If he can get a believer to loosen the belt of truth, the rest of the armor will fall apart.

This is why we must anchor ourselves to the unshakable reality of God's Word. This truth is both a person—Jesus Christ, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" —and a proposition—the Holy Scriptures, which are the very definition of truth. To put on the belt of truth is to make the Bible your ultimate authority through disciplined study. When you are grounded in doctrine, you cannot be easily deceived. Only when the sword of the Spirit is secured to the belt of truth can it be wielded effectively.

The Guard: The Breastplate of Righteousness
The Roman breastplate, or lorica, was a tough, sleeveless vest of leather or metal designed to protect the most vital organs—the heart, lungs, and bowels—from a fatal blow. Our spiritual breastplate is righteousness, and it guards our heart, the very center of our being. This righteousness is two-fold.

First, there is imputed righteousness. This is the perfect righteousness of Christ that is credited to every believer at the moment of salvation. It is not something we earn; it is a gift received through faith alone. Because of Christ's finished work, God sees us as righteous. This is our legal standing, our unshakeable identity in Him, and it demolishes the enemy's primary accusation that we are not enough.

From this foundation flows practical righteousness. This refers to the daily, moment-by-moment obedience to God and the pursuit of a holy life. This is not mere behavioral modification; it is the natural result of our new nature in Christ. We must consciously "put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness". Any unconfessed sin, any compromised attitude, becomes a gap in our moral armor, giving the enemy a clear target. But a life of integrity protects our testimony and gives the accuser no foothold to stand on. As C.S. Lewis noted, "Good and evil increase at compound interest". The small, daily decisions to say "no" to the flesh and "yes" to God are of infinite importance.

The Footing: The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace
A soldier who loses his footing in battle is an easy target. The Roman military sandal, the caliga, was designed for this reality. Its thick sole was embedded with metal spikes, providing the soldier with a sure footing, stability, and the readiness to advance on any terrain.

For the Christian, our firm footing is the Gospel of peace. We stand not on the shifting sands of our circumstances, our feelings, or the world's philosophies, but on the solid rock of Christ's death and resurrection. This Gospel brings two profound forms of peace. First, it brings peace with God. Because of Christ, the war between us and God over our sin is over. He is no longer our enemy but our Father.

Second, it brings the peace of God. This is the deep confidence and emotional stability we can have even in a world of chaos. It is the peace that guards our hearts and minds against the enemy's favorite weapons of anxiety, fear, and doubt. This sure footing not only makes us stable, but it also makes us mobile. It gives us the durability to withstand pushback and the readiness to advance, prepared to share the good news and the reason for the unshakable peace we possess.

Stand Firm
The enemy is real, his schemes are crafty, and the battle is constant. But our God has provided everything we need. He has given us His truth to be our foundation, His righteousness to be our guard, and His Gospel of peace to be our unshakeable footing.

This armor is not automatic. It requires a "conscious, deliberate, intentional act to get ready". Each day, we must choose to gird ourselves with His truth, put on His righteousness, and stand firm in the peace He provides. Remember, the armor of God has no provision for the back. There is no retreat plan. We are called to face the enemy head-on, standing firm on the victorious ground that Jesus Christ has already won

This armor is not automatic. It requires a "conscious, deliberate, intentional act to get ready". Here are some practical ways to put on these pieces of armor each day.

Girding the Belt of Truth

• Commit to Daily Study: Make the Bible your ultimate authority, not your feelings or the laws of the land. Spend time in disciplined study every day, so you know what God's Word says for your life.
• Memorize Scripture: Choose key verses to commit to memory. When the enemy tries to sow doubt, you will have God’s truth ready in your mind to counter his lies.
• Live with Integrity: Truth must be lived out. Hypocrisy is like the loose end of a tunic that will trip you up in battle. Strive for honesty in all you do.

Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness

• Affirm Your Identity: Begin each day by remembering that your righteousness comes from Christ alone. This imputed righteousness is your defense against accusation.
• Practice Quick Confession: When you sin, confess it to God immediately. This is daily maintenance that prevents gaps from forming in your armor and giving the enemy a target.
• Guard Your Heart: Be intentional about what you allow into your mind and heart. Remember that holy living guards your love for God from being corrupted by the world. Make the daily choice to say no to the flesh and yes to God.

Putting on The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

• Preach the Gospel to Yourself: When you feel anxious or afraid, remind yourself of the finished work of Christ. Your peace and firm footing are found in the good news that He has overcome the world.
• Prepare to Share: A victorious Christian is a witnessing Christian. Be ready to share the reason for the hope and peace you possess. Think through how God has changed your life so you can articulate it to others.
• Advance with the News: These shoes are for mobility. Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel and be ready to move forward when God commands.

The enemy is real, his schemes are crafty, and the battle is constant. But our God has provided everything we need. He has given us His truth to be our foundation, His righteousness to be our guard, and His Gospel of peace to be our unshakeable footing. Stand firm.