Armor of God
Breastplate of righteousness
Ephesians 6:10-18
Intro-
Before we had our centennial service last week, we had been looking at the pieces of armor. Explained to us in Ephesians 6.
Lets read that this morning Ephesians 6:10-18.
We talked about being strong in the Lord, being mighty in His strength.
We talked about putting on the full armor of God when we go to battle for the Lord.
We said that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against authorities in the spirit realm.
We talked about it not being a matter if you will be in a spiritual battle, but what you would do and how you would handle it when you were in that battle.
(V13)
“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 the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, our feet being fitted with readiness from the gospel of peace. These are defensive tools of armor. These are the things that we need to be grounded in before we make any attempt to live a successful Christian life.
Belt of truth is the first piece, it is the piece that holds everything together.
Truth is the clarity of a sound doctrine. What do you believe? Are you willing to die for it?
Truth in our heart makes us teachable to God.
Applying the belt of truth:
check our lives daily and making sure we are right with God.
Sin in our lives that we are aware of, we desire to get rid of it.
Relationship with others , if there is a problem, we want to fix it.
The second piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness.
For a roman soldier , it is the piece that covers his chest. It is made out of metal and held by leather straps. A soldier in full armor can attack with authority because he knows that his vital body organs are protected.
Belt of truth, shows you truth, clarity of what you believe, a breastplate of righteousness allows you to do that. Without the breastplate of righteousness, our faith would be like any mere religion.
A form of godliness, but no power to act
Satan would knock us down, and in our own strength, we would not be able to stand.
What is the breastplate of righteousness?
To be righteous, it is being in a right relationship to God.
We do not earn righteousness, it is God’s gift.
It is given to us through Christ.
Romans 3:21-25
“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the law and the prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice , because in his forebearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.”
God wants us to live a holy lives.
Not walking in sin or compromising our faith.
The power of Christ inside us allows us to do that.
The life and power of Christ changes us into his likeliness everyday.
The Holy Spirit within us now giving us the life and power to live above sin.
Imputed righteousness- what Christ gives to you the believer(what He did on the cross)
Imparted righteousness- what Christ is working in you(power of Holy Spirit in you).
Righteousness is double sided for a believer.
What is God’s will for our lives?
“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
That is God’s will....for each one of us
God’s armor brings victory because it is far more than a protective covering.
The Word says....clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 13)
He becomes our hiding place, becomes our shelter. He is our safe haven.
“I am the vine, you are the branches, if a man abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
We are only righteous through Christ. Not ourselves.
Apostle Paul learned this as a pharisee. He was in a league of his own.
A disciple of the great Gamiel, highly respected member of the Sanhedrin.
Fanatical about the law. But when he discovered the righteousness of Christ- he said all those things are rubbish, garbage, worthless.
God made Him(Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. . 2 Corinthians 5:21
The breastplate of righteousness protects us from the enemy, does not allow us to be vulnerable in our heart, and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us gives us the power we need by faith to be victorious.
Putting on the righteousness of Christ keeps us focused on the authority of Christ. Protects us from spiritual arrogance and a self confidence that would have us self righteous.
By putting on the righteousness of Christ, Christ protects us from the feelings and guilt of condemnation. He protects us from being paralyzed by unworthiness, hopelessness, discouragement, and past failures.
God says that if we put Christ first in our lives, we focus on what He did for us, that we can move past the past because it is under the blood. The blood makes us a new creation.
Song:
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; For my cleansing this my plea, Nothing but the blood of Jesus
This is all my hope and peace, Nothing but the blood of Jesus; This is all my righteousness, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
That is for someone this morning. Hold unto that
You are not all those things because Christ dwells inside and because of his righteousness, you are a child of the King.
confess that there is now no condemnation for me because I am in Christ. (Rom 8:1).
By his grace, we have been forgiven, cleansed, and declared righteous in Jesus Christ .
It’s not that we are good enough, but that Christ had made us righteous.
I’m working my way to close- no guarantee
Greek word for righteous is dikaiosune, it means “The condition acceptable to God”.
The only way we get there is by faith in what Jesus Christ did for us. God takes Jesus perfect righteousness and imparts it to us by our faith and obedience we have in the perfect one.
How do we put on the breastplate?
By faith, clothe yourself with Jesus Christ
How do we maintain the breastplate?
Making sure we are in the right relationship with Jesus and not doing things we know to be wrong.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Live in love of Christ, and take it to the world.
He who pursues righteousness an love finds life, prosperity and honor. Prov 21:21
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Matt 5:6)
The world will not teach you about God’s righteousness.
“What is the biggest problem in America”
General Norman Swarzkoft- “Lack of integrity”
God gave us battle gear- Godly ways to be victorious.
Mans power
Teddy Roosevelt- “walk softly and carry a big stick”
Lincoln- “In a time of peace, prepare for war”
Almighty God
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people Prov. 14:34
lets do it God’s way
Altar call:
