Standing in Righteousness
Ephesians 6:14
Series: Armed and Dangerous
July 8, 2007
Morning Service
Introduction
Some time ago a scientific magazine published an article concerning a certain species of alligator. Being lazy beasts, they seldom hunt for their dinner but just wait for their unwary victims to come to them. They lie near the bank with open mouths, acting as if they are dead. Soon flies begin to light on their moist tongues, and several other insects gather. This crowd attracts bigger game. A lizard will crawl up to the alligator to feed on the bugs; then a frog joins the party. Presently a whole menagerie is there; then there is a sudden "earthquake" -- WHAM -- the giant jaws come together and the party is over! Here’s the lesson: don’t be lured by large groups of people. Remember, the crown is always found on the "broad way." The "narrow way" of life admits only individuals, one by one. Most people take the easy, downward path. You as a Christian must follow Jesus on the upward road; it is the only safe way.
Stand firm then, with the breastplate of righteousness in place Ephesians 6:14
Paul referred to the Breastplate of Righteousness. As Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians, he was under arrest by the Roman government. Near the end of the letter Paul says that he was an ambassador, in chains, for the gospel. This likely refers to Paul being chained to a Roman guard. The Roman government often kept prisoners under a house arrest. This made the prisoner pay for rent on the house, wages for the Roman soldiers, all personal needs and all the food for the entire house. Paul was very familiar with seeing Roman armor.
The breastplate was the largest piece of the armor and covered from the neck down over the legs. The breastplate was formed with two central pieces. One formed the covering for the front and the other connected covering the back. The armor would have been composed of metal either in rings, scales or plates. Most Roman soldiers had plate armor usually of bronze or iron. The breastplate was used to protect the heart, the lungs and all other major body organs. In essence, the breastplate was seen as protecting the life of the soldier
Paul specifically connects the breastplate with the spiritual concept of righteousness. The Greek word Paul uses here is diakaiosune which is the character or quality of being right or just. The implications were clear. Believers are made right with God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Webster defines righteousness as acting in accordance with moral or spiritual law, to be free from guilt or sin. Our English word righteous was once the word rightwise, which comes from two Old English words riht and wis, which had the meaning of having the right wisdom.
Paul combines these two concepts together beautifully. Just as the breastplate gives protection for the soldier’s life, righteousness protects the spiritual life of the Christian. Our spiritual life rests in the reality of righteousness. This is the pursuit of being made right with God.
Seven Realities of Righteousness
1. Righteousness must begin with God
For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face. Psalm 11:7
God has the ultimate quality of being right or just. The concept of righteousness is that we have been given a right standing with God. Even when we are in the wrong God wants us to live in a manner that is right.
The standard for righteousness is God Himself. There is none righteous in the entire world. God is always right and we are not. A person becomes self righteousness when they insist that they are right when they are still in the wrong.
2. Righteousness does not come from ourselves
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20
Jesus singled out two specific groups the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. The Pharisees were a Jewish sect that rigidly followed the Law and set up a system of traditional laws to keep God’s commands. The concept was to follow the law with complete exacting accuracy to ensure righteousness.
The teachers of the law were likely also the scribes. In the Old Testament the scribes were the group responsible for making copies of the scriptures. In the New Testament, the scribes had developed into an elite group of specialized scholars trained in the Law. They also acted as both teachers and as lawyers in the Jewish religious court system.
The Pharisees and scribes focused on an outward obedience to the Law without an inner life change. The way of true righteousness is through change of the heart. The only way to change the heart in a real manner is to accept and follow Jesus.
Righteousness is seen in four key ways
a.) God’s work in us, not what we do ourselves
b.) Being God centered, not self centered
c.) Seeking God’s approval, instead of the approval from people
d.) Move beyond just keeping rules and regulations
3. Righteousness proves that we belong to God
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:7-10
Remember, righteousness is nothing more than being made right with God. We do not have any righteousness on our own. The only way we gain righteousness is through Jesus. Nothing more and nothing less.
Nothing and I mean nothing that we do makes us righteous or right with God. There is no act, no good deed, no ritual or sacrifice that you can do to make yourself right with God. We will never be saved by our good works. We cannot earn a right standing with God. This is indeed good news. We are never trapped in performance driven belief system. Just doing righteous things will never make us right with God.
It is the righteousness of Christ that makes us right with God. This righteousness makes us want to do the right things and live in a right manner. We live right because we gain a right place with God through Christ.
A tree that bears good fruit is a good tree. The fruit does not make the tree good, it reveals that it is good.
4. Righteousness is to be our deep desire
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6
When Jesus gave the beatitudes they were for His disciples. These instructions were for those who were following Christ. Jesus makes it clear that having a deep desire for righteousness is not optional, it is an expectation. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness it shows that we have the values of Christ’s Kingdom in mind. Our desire for righteousness also reveals that we are showing true faith.
Three Keys to being hungry for Righteousness
a.) Desire to be righteous: This is to be forgiven and accepted by God. This is to be made right with God.
b.) Desire to do what is right: We have the desire to do what God commands. This is living our lives imitating and reflecting God’s righteousness
c.) Desire to see right done: Our desire to help bring God’s will into this world
5. Righteousness needs to be our top priority
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
Jesus tells the disciples to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Seek is a direct command of continued obligation. Instead of this being a one time or occasional understanding, it is a command of ongoing action. It is to start seeking and to never stop.
First is an issue of priorities and loyalty. When Jesus told the disciples God’s righteousness was to be first it was an understanding of absolute loyalty and unswerving commitment.
Seeking first meant to make God the priority of your life, to make Him first. It also meant not only to make Him first but to live in such a manner to keep Him first.
Seeking the kingdom of God meant to submit, in every way, to His divine authority. It was recognizing God’s sovereignty and rule over all things and to expect His coming future Kingdom.
Seeking His righteousness was to live as God would want for us to live. It was to seek the desires of God’s heart for our own.
6. Righteousness is given by Christ
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 1 Peter 3:18
Peter makes one thing abundantly clear in his letter; Jesus died for those who were unrighteous. This means that He gave His life for anyone with a less than perfect relationship with God. In other words, He died for us.
Jesus lived out a sinless life and was innocent when He was crucified. He lived out a perfect righteousness, He died an innocent death and was raised to an endless life. It was Christ’s righteousness that made Him an acceptable sacrifice for sin.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness – Edward Mote
Jesus gave His life to bring the unrighteous to God. He even said as much to the Pharisees. "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17 Jesus gives us the benefits of His righteousness
a.) We gain His perfect standing with God the Father
b.) We gain His personal relationship with the Father
c.) We are viewed from His right position with God
Christ seeks to save us from sin and then transform us into His likeness. He wants us to pursue His righteousness.
7. Righteousness brings eternal rewards
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8
Paul again speaks of our standing before Christ to be judged but here Paul puts the focus on righteousness. We will be rewarded with the power of Christ to make us right with the Father. Jesus puts upon us the righteousness that He earned in our place. So that, when we stand in heaven, we are seen as having the standard of complete righteousness.
Even though Paul was about to die, he knew that he would be vindicated by the reward and presence of Christ. Paul held the confident expectation that his faith, his obedience and his life would be given the greatest reward of being right with God.
Conclusion
The Chinese character for "righteousness" is most interesting. It is composed of two separate characters one standing for a lamb, the other for me. When "lamb" is placed directly above "me," a new character "righteousness" is formed. This is a helpful picture of the grace of God. Between me, the sinner, and God, the Holy One, there is interposed by faith the Lamb of God. By virtue of his sacrifice, he has received me on the ground of faith, and I have become righteous in his sight.
