FULL ARMOR OF GOD-BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

Ephesians 6:10-18 is the basis of our discussion.  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”   

 

In our last Blog, we discussed the first piece of equipment of the armor, the Belt of Truth.  We learned that we should communicate the truth of the Gospel message by becoming salt and light of the earth through living a Godly life.  Remember having the truth, keeps us from giving in to the world’s lies and deceit.  We need the “truth” of God’s Word (Holy Bible) to be able to stand against the world and the devil.

 

The second piece of equipment is the Breastplate of Righteousness.  Before we discuss the importance of the Breastplate, we should define what Righteousness is.  Righteousness is holy and upright living, in accordance with God’s standard.  It means being honest, good, humble and fair to others.  It means standing up for weaker people.  The word righteousness comes from a root word that means “straightness.” 

 

God’s character is the definition and source of all righteousness.  Therefore, man’s righteousness is defined in terms of God’s righteousness.  The sacrificial system in the Old Testament and the cross of Jesus in the New Testament show man’s need for righteousness.  Sin is disobedience to the terms that define man’s relationship with God and with other people.  Since the Fall in the Garden of Eden, man is inherently unrighteous.  As the prophet Isaiah said, “We are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”  (Isaiah 64:6)  Man cannot be righteous in the sight of God on his own merits.  Therefore, man must have God’s righteousness imputed, or transferred, to him. 

 

What important part of the body does the breastplate cover?  The heart. A Roman soldier’s breastplate would cover him from his neck to waist both the front and back. We put on the breastplate of righteousness when we live our life right before God. God made us with the ability to choose between right and wrong. When one chooses to tell the truth and not lie, to be kind and not hateful, to obey and not disobey, he chooses righteous living. It is the choosing the right way of life that protects ones heart with the breastplate of

righteousness.

 

Righteousness is a weapon, it is our breastplate.  How can righteousness be a weapon?  The breastplate was one of the most beautiful and shiniest piece of weaponry a Roman Solider had.  It was the first thing you noticed when you saw a Roman solider.  The devil wants to play games with your mind by telling us that we’re not righteous.  In a way, he’s right.  In ourselves we are not righteous, our righteousness can be found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”  (Philippians 3:9) The devil constantly lies to you by telling you have no value to God.  He looks for weak-minded Christians who believe they are of no value to God.  They are easy prey.  Don’t let the devil tell you who you’re not in Christ Jesus, you tell him who you are in Christ.  People who don’t know that they have been made righteous by what Jesus did on the cross, will fall for the lies of Satan.  We must believe that if God said we are righteous in his sight, then His Word must be the final authority.

 

Christ our righteousness is, therefore, our breastplate. To stand with God, to be robed with the righteousness of Christ, to be forever faithful to God's saving grace, is to give notice to the devil: "If God is for us, who can be against us? ... Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?" (Romans 8:31-34)  Our faith is the power link that connects our breastplate with God's infinite power.  By believing in Jesus, we receive all the power and benefits of being righteous in God's sight.  If we don't believe that we have God's righteousness, then our breastplate will be ineffective.    Our sin has an associated "spiritual nakedness" with it that repels God from us.  When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost their covering of purity and became spiritually and physically naked.   Their sin and nakedness separated them from fellowship with God.  Since the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23), God mercifully slaughtered an animal (s) and made clothes of skin to cover Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21).   God's actions foreshadowed the lasting sacrifice he would make by sending Jesus to die on the cross for mankind.  The blood of Christ provides atonement for our sins and clothes us with a righteousness (symbolized by a breastplate) that covers our spiritual nakedness.  We can now boldly approach God's throne without fear of punishment (Hebrews 4:16).  

Another important function of the breastplate of righteousness is revealed by the action of Christ's blood on our conscience.  The blood of Jesus spiritually washes us clean from our sin (Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:22).  This cleansing action removes potential "footholds" that would have caused us to be vulnerable to the devil's attacks.  With the breastplate of righteousness covering us through Christ's blood, the devil has nothing in us to exploit (John 14:30).  

Just as with conventional weapons of war, regular maintenance of our spiritual armor is critical to its operation in battle.  

1.     Obey God's commands for living:  We are obligated to obey God's commands, out of loving appreciation for what Jesus did for us.  This is a way of exercising our faith, which keeps us plugged in to God's power supply.  Paul wrote, "Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness" (Romans 6:19).  God gives us power to live obediently through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11,13).  

2.     Live in Love:  Love is the key activity by which we live for righteousness.  Jesus explained that all of the commandments are summed up by love your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:14).   Paul wrote: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity"  (Colossians 3:12-14).  By showing God's love to others, we will grow in righteousness toward holiness.  When we combine our faith with living in love, our breastplate is strong, like an alloy of two metals.   Here are some benefits to wearing the Breastplate of Righteousness:

• Protection:
  ”The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them:  but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.”  (Proverbs 11:6)
• Prosperity and honor:
  ”He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” (Proverbs 21:21)
• Filling with God’s Spirit:
  ”Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)
• Quietness and confidence forever:
  ”The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” (Isaiah 32:17)
• Reflection of God: 
  ”You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  (Ephesians 4:22-24)

The cross of Jesus is a public demonstration of God’s righteousness.  God accounts or transfers the righteousness of Christ to those who trust in Him.  (Romans 4:3-22; Galatians 3:6; Philippians 3:9)  We do not become righteous because of our inherent goodness; God sees us as righteous because of our identification by faith with His Son Jesus Christ.

 

Just remember our righteousness cannot be obtained on our own.  It can only be accomplished through our faith in Jesus Christ.  So, if you are one of His, your Breastplate of Righteousness is required weaponry.  Put it on!  Walk in His Righteousness daily!!!

 

In our next Blog, the next piece of equipment we will discuss is having your feet shod (prepared) with the Gospel of Peace.