The Armor Of God Part 2 - Righteousness Series

In this sermon series of Spiritual Warfare, We have looked at varying aspects of this battle we fight every day. Last week we started considering how we fight these battles and we are reviewing the Armor of God. Last week we looked at the belt of truth and this week we will examine the breastplate of righteousness. Between the truth and righteousness, integrity and right living are the two basic equipment in the Christian arsenal. These two qualities are important because through them we become more like the likeness of God. Our focus today is on the second part of Ephesians 6:14 which is on the breastplate of righteousness. Let us consider the our focal verse in context:

Ephesians 6:14–18

We tend to be self-righteous. Some years ago a member of the Missouri legislature accepted $25,000 for his vote in regard to a certain bill. Later he received $50,000 from the other side, and returned the $25,000. When the man, the legislator, who had turned state’s evidence, related the story on the stand, the examining attorney asked him, “Why was it that you returned the $25,000?” The legislator drew himself up to his full height, and in a voice that showed his scorn of the lawyer for such a question, answered: “I’d have you to know that I’m too conscientious to take money from both sides!” [1]

“I’m righteous in my own eyes.” That is the sort of thing that is getting our country in trouble today. History repeats itself. Some 3,300 years ago the same thing was happening in ancient Israel:

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

And we know about how Israel, the chosen people of God, had departed from the Lord after God brought them up from the land of Egypt and performed all those miracles in sight of all the people. Yet the people did as they pleased. The writer of proverbs summed this up quite nicely:

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

It is not about how we think we should live right, it is how God, through His word to us, says we should live.

What is the meaning of righteousness? The word means to make right. The root word means straightness. Righteousness and justice and justification are from the same root in the Greek. God is righteous in all that He does. God establishes the standards of righteousness because He is Judge:

Psalm 50:6 And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is judge. Selah.

As we will see, our righteousness, or right living before God is only done in our obedience to God, according to His purposes resulting in purity and blamelessness. Our accuser before God is Satan and with right living before God we take away Satan’s ammunition. Paul proclaimed:

Romans 1:16–17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Our focus today, as we examine the armor of God, is breastplate of righteousness. When the Roman soldier puts on his armor, he starts with his belt so that he can have freedom of movement. Next he puts on the breastplate – often these breastplates covered the front as well as the back. They were a stiff leather vest with metal plates attached, they were used to protect the major organs, like the heart.

Right living will protect our vital organs, like our heart.

Ephesians 6:14b and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,

Remember, Paul is writing this to the Christians in the Church of Ephesus. These are not unsaved people. These are those who know the Lord and Paul is giving them instructions.

Notice the words “HAVING PUT” In the Greek it is in the Aorist tense, meaning it is a snapshot of an action in the past. This is true at the beginning of this verse (having girded your loins) and the next verse (vs 15 - having shod your feet), these are actions that the Christians should have already accomplished. As Christians, we have already put on the breastplate of righteousness. The implication here is twofold: One we have the righteousness of God, as a result of what Jesus had done for us on the cross.

And second, by virtue of that righteousness imparted to us by the work of Jesus that we are able, by the Spirit, to live righteously. The two together is important. Warren Wiersbe said: “But our positional righteousness in Christ, without practical righteousness in the daily life, only gives Satan opportunity to attack us.” [2]