The Breastplate of Righteousness
Ephesians chapter 6:1-6:20
Introduction-
We are still in the series “Putting on the whole armor of God.” Today we will be looking at the breastplate of righteousness.
Ephesians chapter 6:10-6:20
Let’s recap this so far and I hope that you are taking notes and writing things down.
First, we learned
“Be Strong in the Lord”- the key being in the Lord
That is not an easy task and is not for wimps.
Standing in your faith and realizing that you are in a spiritual battle.
It is not a playground, it is a battleground.
The first piece of armor that we put on is the belt of truth.
The belt of truth is realizing that we are not called to go toe to toe with the enemy in our own strength, but that the battle is the Lord’s and the truth that we stand on are the truths of Christ.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
We are standing in the truth of Jesus Christ and in His authority, the devil must flee.
God has Believers boot camp for all those willing to submit to God and learn to use the armor of God as a protection and as strength in times of trial and temptation.
We closed last week:
We must admit you cannot do this on your own.
You have to draw near to God and allow God to fight the battle.
You have to make time and let Him apply truths to your life.
You have to be willing for change.
Now, we are ready to effectively wear the armor of God and fight the battle of life.
The belt of truth is around your waist- that is the first piece. Now let’s go to second piece- the breastplate of righteousness.
Remember the Apostle Paul uses the roman soldier as an analogy of the spiritual battle we all face.
The breastplate goes from the neck down the front of the soldier and connects to the belt of truth.
Down the front of the soldier.
Made of leather and metal.
It is designed to protect all the soldier’s internal organs.
Why would Paul call this shield of the body a breastplate of righteousness?
To find the answer to that we have to go to the Greek for their word righteousness.
It is Diakaiosune. (Di-a-k-os-su-ne)
Diankaiosune- Righteousness
State of him who is as he ought to be, the condition that is acceptable to God.
The way in which man may attain a state of approval of God.
The key to understanding this (bear with me a minute) is “condition acceptable to God.”
The only way, to reach this acceptable condition is through faith in Jesus Christ (repeat)
In exchange for our faith- God counts us righteous, acceptable in His sight.
Phil. 3:8-9
“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Any righteousness outside of Christ is self-righteousness and the prophet Isaiah tells us that it as filthy rages to God.
In our own condition, we have no righteousness.
The only righteousness acceptable is Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus Christ.
We put on the righteousness of God.
Our righteousness through the blood of Jesus Christ imported to us by faith in Christ.
Our obedience in obeying God’s commandments is essential to keep our hearts in agreement with God and will keep our faith genuine.
Let’s try to keep this as simple as possible
Without Christ in our lives- you cannot put on the armor of God.
Our faith is a link that connects our breastplate with God’s infinite power (repeat)
Believing in Jesus Christ allows us to receive all the power and benefits of being righteous in God’s sight. (That is all that matters)
No Christ- no righteousness
No Christ- no breastplate to spiritually protect our vital organs of heart and soul.
No shortcut- you cannot do this or have this without Christ.
How to maintain the breastplate of righteousness
1. Keep your relationship strong with Jesus Christ.
2. By faith, you are righteous in the eyes of God. As long as Jesus Christ is Lord of your life. Don’t let the devil steal that away from you.
3. Protect your heart- do not give the devil a foothold. You are a blood bought believer of Jesus Christ. The righteousness of God covers me and protects me from the enemy.
4. Obey God’s commandments- this is how we exercise our faith and stay plugged into the power of God working in our lives.
God gave us the power to live obediently through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Roman 8:13-14
“For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
There are benefits for living righteous
Protection-
“The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.” Proverbs 11:6.
Prosperity and honor
“He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Proverbs 21:21
Peace
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace, the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” Isaiah 32:17
When we realize that we cannot be righteous in ourselves and we begin to accepting the righteousness of Christ in our lives, we begin to experience the armor of God protecting us with the peace and confidence that can only come through Christ.
Self-righteousness is denial of the redemptive work of Christ
You cannot put the righteousness of God over our righteousness.
To trust in ours is to reject Christ.
Protect your heart
Back to the soldier:
The Christian soldier is to strive after the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and to live righteous in this world.
Satan will attack our hearts- emotions, self-worth, trust of God. God’s breastplate protects our heart and assures his approval.
That is good stuff!
Righteous lifestyle is the pursuit of holiness, and holiness is seeking after the things of God.
Life application-
Are you still trying to be good by your own righteousness? It will not happen!
Are you being beat up by the devil for things you have given over to the Lord? Stop it!
When you came to Christ, you became a new creation in Christ. The old has gone, the new has come. (That is God’s Word)
When The devil tells you –
You are not righteous- (answer) you are in the righteousness in Christ who died for your sins.
You are not worthy- (answer) you are in the grace and sacrifice of Christ.
When the devil reminds you of your pasts- remind him of his future!
He is a defeated foe, and you are forgiven! Amen.
Closing,
You are justified by Christ- you were acquitted of charges. (sin)
You are righteous- in Christ, and because of His righteousness, you can be right in your standing with God.
(visual) motion to put on the belt of Truth
(visual) you strap the breastplate of righteousness on.
Face the enemy. There is no protection for the back.
A Christian is not to retreat.
I will say this every week we are in this series- “When you have done all that you know to do, stand firm in the Lord.”
Illustration-(SermonCentral)
ARMOR THAT HOLDS UP
I came across what I thought was a rather interesting story this week as I was preparing for this message. It was a story detailing a class action law suit aimed at a company called Second Chance Body Armor.
Second Chance manufactures bullet proof vests for police officers and security personnel. Their products are used by hundreds of police departments throughout the country.
Apparently several policemen have been killed recently even though they were wearing the vest. Following some independent field tests on several of their vests it was discovered that there was a flaw with some of their products and it wouldn't actually stop a bullet that was fired at it.
So apparently some rather picky quality control people got all bent out of shape and decided to sue this manufacturer for misrepresenting the quality of its product. The lawsuit alleged that the company withheld information about known defects in its bulletproof vests and sold them anyway.
But in all fairness you have to give the company its due -- Trying to maintain its image as being a caring and compassionate business the company responded by participating in a voluntary replacement program for anyone who had purchased one of the potentially lethal vests at no cost to the end user.
(So if you have a vest and you haven't been shot yet, they are willing to give you another one.) Along with its replacement program the company has on its website an apology for any inconvenience that their faulty vests may have caused anyone.
Now I think that was rather nice of them, don't you? – (sarcastic) To offer an apology for the inconveniences of a bulletproof vest that doesn't work?
"Hey we're not too proud to admit when we're wrong.
We just didn't realize at the time that you wanted every single vest to work. Sorry for the misunderstanding."
When you hear stories like that doesn't it bother you?
When you're dealing with something as serious a bulletproof vests -- what margin of error is acceptable? Absolutely none, right?
The thought of someone being careless or more concerned about money than safety when it comes to protecting the lives of police officers is unimaginable. When you got someone shooting at you, you want to know that the armor you're wearing is actually going to work, right?
If you are in Christ, this armor or protection is working for you.
We do not have to be afraid that it will not work, but we have to put it on and we have to be in a right relationship with Him to have it working properly because we do not do this in our own strength.
Amen.
