The Breastplate Of Righteousness Series

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:10-17

Chenoa Baptist Church

Pastor Jefferson M. Willams

04-21-2024

Bullet Proof

In the movie “Back the Future,” Doc Brown is gunned down by the terrorists that he stole plutonium from to make the DoLorean time machine. Marty thinks he is dead but Doc has a trick up his sleeve or under his shirt.

[1:43 - stop at 2:23]

A bulletproof vest saved Doc Brown. This is an example from a movie but in real life, the stakes are higher.

Officer Tim Smith elected not to wear his bulletproof vest and was killed when he pulled over a suspect and that person opened fire on him. He left three young children behind.

This morning we come to the second piece of armor - the breastplate of righteousness. Going into this dark and dying world without the spiritual breastplate on is like not wearing a bulletproof vest while chasing bad guys.

Two weeks ago, we learned that we are all in a spiritual battle that we cannot see. The Christian life is not a playground but a battlefield.

“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.” (Eph 6:10-13)

John Stott writes:

The emphasis on “standing” shows the Apostle’s concern for stability. Wobbly Christians have no strong foothold in Christ and are easy prey to the devil.”

Last week, we studied the belt of truth and learned that truth is the foundation piece of the armor.

We must:

Believe the truth

Engage the Truth

Love out the Truth

Tell the truth

Tony Evans defines it this way:

“Truth is the absolute standard by which reality is measured. It’s God’s view on everything. God has spoken and He has not stuttered.”

Jesus said that truth has the power to set you free from the lies that steal your joy:

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Paul starts with the belt of truth and then moves on to the other pieces of armor:

“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.” (Eph 6:14-17)

If you weren’t here last week, you can always listen to or watch the sermon on our YouTube page, website, FaceBook, or Twitter.

Turn to Ephesians 6.

Prayer

What is a Breastplate?

Paul is finishing his letter to the Ephesian church and wants to warn them to be armed and ready for attacks of the evil one. He was probably chained to a Roman guard and started staring at his armor and thought, “That would make a perfect word picture for what I’m trying to communicate!”

The second piece of armor that Paul tells us to put on is the breastplate of righteousness.

The breastplate was made of tough leather, was sleeveless, and had metal plates and brass chains, that would shine brilliantly in the sun.

Contrary to what I was taught, the breastplate did cover the back of a soldier. The idea that it didn’t cover the back comes from John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress.”

It protected the most vital organs, covering the entire torso. Most combat was hand-to-hand and a sword through the chest would mean certain death.

Most importantly, the breastplate shielded the heart.

When a soldier had on his breastplate, he would be confident going into battle.

So what does Paul mean by the "breastplate of righteousness?”

Righteousness

There are two possible types of righteousness that Paul is writing about here. First, imputed righteousness.

Imputed righteousness speaks to our justification before God.

Martin Luther said that “justification by faith alone is the doctrine upon which the church stands or falls.”

Justification is a legal declaration. It’s the opposite of “condemnation” or “guilty.” Justification is the process by which God declares us “not guilty.” It is “just as if I’d never sinned.”

David Platt and Tony Merida define justification this way:

It is the

* gracious act of God

Why would God justify you? Because He loves you.

By which He declares

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Rom 5:1-2)