Part 1: The Spiritual Armor of Ephesians 6
Did you know that when Paul talked about putting on our “spiritual armor” in Ephesians, he was teaching from the Old Testament?
Ephesians 6 is a well-known passage many Believers can recite word for word, in the importance of learning how to be protected and equipped to stand against the enemy of our souls.
I would argue to say that this passage given to us is so important for our understanding on how to be equipped for spiritual warfare. We are getting some detailed instructions in Ephesians 6. After all, Paul introduces this need for putting on the armor by saying:
“Therefore take up the whole armor of Elohim, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
But here’s the thing: As Paul introduces the pieces of our spiritual armor, the instructions that Paul is giving us on how to put on our spiritual armor is coming straight from the Old Testament! He wasn’t telling us anything new, he was reminding us of what the Scriptures already say about how to put on our spiritual armor.
As with many other teachings in Scripture, the instructions given to us in the “New” Testament, can already be found in the “Old” Testament. The New Testament really doesn’t teach us anything “new.” It magnifies and emphasizes what is already written. I cannot stress the importance of having the foundation of all of our understanding being rooted in the Tanak (Old Testament) in order to equip ourselves in the Word of Yah.
The instructions on how to put on the armor of Yah were already given to us, and here are the witnesses in Scripture that teach us about this armor that is important for our protection.
Let's take a look at how Paul was actually teaching from the Tanakh when it comes to equipping ourselves with spiritual armor.
“Loins girded with truth” (Ephesians 6:14)
“Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of his waist.”Isaiah 11:5
“Breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians 6:14)
“For he put on righteousness as a breastplate...”
Isaiah 59:17
“Feet prepared with the good news of peace” (Ephesians 6:15)
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your Elohim reigns!’”
Isaiah 52:7
“Shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16)
“Every word of Eloah is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”Proverbs 30:5
“Yahuah is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.”
Psalm 28:7
“Helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17)
“For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head...”Isaiah 59:17
“Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word” (Ephesians 6:17)
“Let the high praises of El be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.”Psalm 149:6
“He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
Psalm 18:34
Part 2: A Deeper Look at the Breastplate of Righteousness and the Belt of Truth
There are two things I want to unpack a bit deeper in Part 2. If our instructions for putting on our spiritual armor was found in the “Old” Testament first, it should change our understanding of the definitions of what certain words mean.
For example, let’s look at the definitions of ‘righteousness’ and ‘truth.’ The reason I want to examine those words deeper is because we saw in Isaiah, how righteousness is to be used as both a breastplate and a belt. As Ephesians reiterates, our loins are to be girded with truth and we are to put on the breastplate of righteousness.
The reason these two go together is because in real life, you can’t put on the breastplate without putting on the belt first. The breastplate is designed to snap into the slots of the belt that went around the waist so you could fasten the breastplate in its proper position.
In other words, righteousness is properly harnessed when one has a proper knowledge of truth. We have to put the belt of truth on first before we can strap on the breastplate of righteousness.
But here’s the issue...
The majority of Believers today do not understand how to put on their spiritual armor because they don’t understand the way that Scripture defines what “righteousness” and “truth” are. Our definitions and understanding of all things must come from the Word itself. Yahuah gives us those definitions, which don’t change. We should be thankful that His Word is not subjective and open to interpretation.
What is righteousness?
“...All of your commandments are righteousness.”
Psalm 119:172
“Hearken to me, you that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law (torah).”
Isaiah 51:7
Isaiah 51:6 & 51:8 say the same thing in different ways, in which verse 6 says “my righteousness will not be abolished” and verse 8 says “my righteousness shall be forever.”
What is truth?
“...All your commandments are truth.”
Psalm 119:152
“Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth.”
Psalm 119:142
Two or three witnesses must establish every matter according to Scripture.
The Most High is giving us the unchangeable definition of righteousness and truth.
These definitions are not something to be debated. His Word tells us what truth is, and we adjust our understanding TO His word. Anything that attempts to change these definitions is idolatry. The definition of righteousness and truth is the Father’s commandments, and our Messiah embodied this perfectly. He never changed these definitions. He never spoke or did anything contrary to Yah’s Word.
We have to humbly sit with this truth.
“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”
Romans 3:31
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
Matthew 5:17
The reason why Messiah said that He is the truth (John 14:6) and why Paul said He is the goal of righteousness to all who believe (Romans 10:4), is because He was the perfect fulfillment and embodiment of what obedience looked like by loving the Father and loving one another.
Yahusha did not change the definition of righteousness and truth—He magnified it by fulfilling it perfectly by showing us that love and obedience work together. And then He said “Follow Me.”
Yes, this goes against everything we’ve been taught in Christianity. The reason people have a hard time understanding and accepting this truth is because a gospel message that teaches obedience to the Father’s torah (commandments) is not the gospel they signed up for when they placed their faith in Messiah. They were taught all about the good news, but not what it truly means to count the cost.
We’ve been taught a “gospel message” that is actually leaving us ill-equipped and without our spiritual armor. If we aren’t learning how to properly strap ourselves with spiritual armor, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks.
The reason this is so important is because people are hurting because of false teaching. They are not being protected and they’re not being taught how to be equipped to stand against the enemy.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 4:23
The piece of spiritual armor that guards your heart IS the breastplate of righteousness.
If you don’t put the breastplate of righteousness on, your heart is exposed. And Scripture tells us to guard our hearts above all else. We can’t do that without our breastplate on. But the thing is, is that armoring up with that breastplate includes an understanding of what righteousness is. And just so we’re clear—righteousness is not about sinless perfection. It’s a heart pursuit. It’s a desire to know the Father with all of your heart and allowing Yahusha to be our example. He is who we strive to be like, right? By doing what He did, right?
So many Believers have been taught that obedience is an “all or nothing” call. You either have faith or works, but you can’t have both. And that is just simply not true. Christianity, generally speaking, has made obedience look harder than it actually is by teaching that if you don’t get it all right then you’re eternally condemned, so “thank God” that Messiah came to pay the penalty of sin for us.
The commandments teach us how to love. It’s THAT simple. “If you love me, keep my commandments.” If you truly want the Father to show you how to love Him, ask Him. This walk of sanctification is a journey, not a destination.
In order to love Yahuah with all of our hearts, it first starts with an earnest desire in ASKING Him to teach you how to love Him. You’ll be surprised at how your heart begins to change with what He will show you.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of Yahuah, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of Elohim may be perfect, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17
With Love,
Stephanie Green