Breastplate of righteousness part 2
Ephesians 6:14 (NLT) “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armour of God’s righteousness.”
At salvation, a “breastplate” is issued to each. It is specially designed by God to protect our heart and soul from evil and deception through faith. Our own righteous acts are no match for Satan’s attacks. Wearing this breastplate creates a lifestyle of putting into practice what we believe in our hearts. As our lives become conformed to the image of Christ our choices become more righteous, and these godly choices also protect us from further temptation and deception
Proverbs 8:20 (ESV) “I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice”
Psalm 23:3 (ESV) “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
God provides the ‘breastplate’ – Romans 4:5 (NLT) “But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners”
As believers, we must conduct ourselves righteously – Romans 6:13 ESV “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness”.
The ‘breastplate of righteousness’ insures integrity – 1 Peter 3:16 (ESV) “having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame”
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (NIV) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
In and of ourselves, not a single human being is “in the right.” But this was not acceptable to God, and so He decided to make His own perfect righteousness available to us. This is what Paul has in mind when he writes here about the breastplate of righteousness.
To put on the breastplate of righteousness, we must first recognise that, just as with all the pieces of Spiritual armour, the breastplate of righteousness belongs to God. But before we can wear the breastplate, we must have it. And as just indicated, we receive the righteousness of God by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. We cannot earn or buy the breastplate of righteousness for ourselves. It is the free gift of God to anyone and everyone who simply and only believes in Jesus for it. Once we have received the righteousness of God, we must make sure we put it on and wear it.
Righteousness keeps us healthy and strong as soldiers of Jesus Christ so that we can fight against wicked forces in spiritual warfare.