THE ARMOR OF GOD: PART ONE
THE BELT OF TRUTH AND THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
EPHESIANS 6:14
WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING PAUL’S TEACHING ON SPIRITUAL WARFARE, AND HAVE, OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS BEEN CONCENTRATING ON THE FIRST THREE VERSES OF THIS PASSAGE.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE ACCEPT CHRIST AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, THAT WE ARE BEGINNING A LIFELONG SPIRITUAL BATTLE AGAINST SATAN AND HIS FORCES. HIS ULTIMATE GOAL IS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME POWERS AS GOD, HE EITHER DOES NOT RECOGNIZE HIS DEFEAT AT CALVARY, OR HE KNOWS HE HAS BEEN DEFEATED AND IS TRYING TO TAKE AS MANY SOULS WITH HIM AS HE CAN.
AS CHRISTIANS, WE REPRESENT CHRIST TO THE WORLD. WHEN PEOPLE SEE US THEY TRANSFER WHAT WE DO AND SAY AS BEING THINGS THAT CHRIST WOULD DO OR SAY. THEREFORE SATAN WILL ATTACK US, AND IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL, DESTROY SOME OF THE REPUTATION OF GOD IN THE PROCESS.
THE FIRST STEP OF ANY SUCCESSFUL MILITARY CAMPAIGN, IS TO LEARN AS MUCH AS WE CAN ABLOUT OUR ENEMY. THIS IS WHAT PAUL TEACHES US TO DO IN THE FIRST THREE VERSES. WE ARE TO STUDY SATAN, WHO HE HAS TO HELP HIM, AND THE WAYS THAT HE CAN ATTACK. WE MUST ALWAYS KNOW OUR ENEMY, AND ALWAYS WORK UNDER THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT OUR ENEMY KNOWS MORE THAN WE DO, AND THAT OUR ENEMY CAN ATTACK AT ANY TIME AND ANY PLACE.
THESE ASSUMPTIONS ARE SO TRUE ABOUT SATAN. HE DOES KNOW MORE THAN WE DO IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE. GOD HAS BEEN THE ONLY ONE TO DEFEAT HIM, SO LEFT TO OUR OWN DEVICES WE DO NOT STAND A CHANCE. SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS ALWAYS LOST FOR ONE OF TWO REASONS:
1. WE EITHER TRY TO FIGHT THE BATTLE IN OUR OWN POWER
2. WE FAIL TO PROPERLY PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD, LEAVING US VULNERABLE TO ATTACK.
EPHESIANS 6 IS THE MOST DETAILED ACCOUNT OF PAUL’S TEACHING CONCERNING THE SPIRITUAL ARMOR OF GOD. EQUALLY IMPORTANT ARE THE PIECES MENTIONED, AND THE ORDER THAT THEY ARE MENTIONED IN. EACH PIECE IS WOVEN INTO THE FRAMEWORK OF ANOTHER AND IT PROPERLY APPLIED, WILL GIVE THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER MULTIPLE LEVELS OF PROTECTION WHEN ENGAGED IN SPIRITUAL CONFLICT.
LET US ALSO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE AS WE STUDY PAUL’S TEACHING. PAUL WAS IN PRISON WHEN HE PENNED THESE WORDS TO THE EPHESIANS. A PRISONER AT THAT TIME WAS NOT ONLY LOCKED IN A CELL, BUT WAS ALSO CHAINED TO A SOLDIER AS WELL.
UNKNOWINGLY, THE ROMAN LEGIONARY TO WHOM PAUL WAS CHAINED BECAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS TEACHING. EVERY DETAIL OF HIS UNIFORM WAS PRESSED INTO ACTION BY THE GREAT SPIRITUAL INSIGHT AND IMAGINATION OF PAUL.
EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS THE REALIZATION THAT OUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR MUST BE PUT ON BEFORE GOING INTO BATTLE. NOW IS THE TIME TO LEARN HOW TO PROPERLY PREPARE TO DEFEND AGAINST SPIRITUAL ATTACKS FROM SATAN, NOT WHEN THEY OCCUR. SATAN IS DECEPTIVE AND MOST TIMES WE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE A SPIRITUAL ATTACK UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE TO STOP IT. IF A SAILOR PUT OFF LEARNING NAVIGATION TILL THE WIND WAS HOWLING AND A REEF LAY AHEAD, HIS CORPSE WOULD BE CAST ON THE CRUEL ROCKS.
LET US UNDERSTAND THAT OUR GOAL IN PUTTINT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD IS TO MAKE A SPIRITUAL STAND AGAINST SATAN. GOD HAS ALREADY ACHIEVED THE DEFEAT OF SATAN AT CALVARY AND WE CANNOT ADD TO THAT DEFEAT. DONN ING THE SPIRITUAL ARMOR, INCLUDING THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, IS ONLY FOR DEFENSE AGAINST THE ATTACK OF SATAN. SATAN ATTACK THOUGH IS ALWAYS PERSONAL, AND SOMETIMES THE OFFENSIVE THRUST OF THE SWORD OF THE WORD OF GOD BECOMES A PROPER DEFENSE AGAINST HIS ATTACK.
IT TAKES NO SMALL EFFORT TO KEEP OURSELVES IN AN ATTITUDE OF DEPENDANCE AND RECEPTIVITY, WITHOUT NONE OF THE GREAT GIFTS OF GOD COME TO US, AND LEAST OF ALL THE HABITUAL PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN VIRTUES.
THE MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY INVOLVED IN THE HABITUAL EXERCISE OF CHRISTIAN VIRTUES WILL GO FAR TO MAKE THE SOUL UNASSAILABLE BY EVIL. A MAN, BUSILY OCCUPIED AS THE APOSTLE WOULD HAVE US TO BE, MAY BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL, THOUGH LESS FREQUENTLY THE MORE HE IS IN THE MISSION, BUT ONE WHO HAS NO SUCH OCCUPATIONS AND INTERESTS TEMPTS THE DEVIL.
IF OUR LIVES ARE INWARDLY AND SECRETLY HONEYCOMBED WITH EVIL, ONLY A BREATH WILL BE NEEDED TO THROW DOWN THE STRUCTURE. IT IS POSSIBLE TO BECOME SO ACCUSTOMED TO THE CALM DELIGHTS OF GOODNESS, THAT IT WOULD NEED A MORAL MIRACLE TO MAKE A MAN FALL INTO SIN.
THE ARMOR OF GOD IS ONLY PUT ON PROPERLY WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE ARMOR OF OLD DAYS COULD ONLY BE PUT ON WITH THE HELP OF ANOTHER PULLING STRAPS, AND FIXING BUCKLES, AND LIFTING AND BRACING HEAVY SHIELDS ON ARMS, AND FASTENING HELMETS UPON HEADS; BUT WE HAVE, THROUGH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TO CLOTHE OURSELVES WITH GOD’S GREAT GIFT, WHICH IS OF NO USE TO US, AND IN NO REAL SENSE OURS, UNLESS WE DO.
THE WEAPONS THAT PAUL STATES IN THIS PASSAGE CAN ACTUALLY BE DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS. THE FIRST ARE THOSE WEAPONS WE GAIN USE OF AT THE TIME OF OUR CONVERSION. THEY ARE INSTANTANEOUS AND LISTED IN ORDER:
1. THE BELT OF TRUTH
2 THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
3. FEET FITTED WITH THE READINESS THAT COMES FROM THE
GOSPEL OF PEACE.
THE SECOND DIVISION INCLUDES THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE TO BE PUT ON OR TAKEN UP AT THE PRESENT MOMENT:
1. TAKE UP THE SHIELD OF TRUTH
2. TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION
3. TAKE UP THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.
THE FIRST ARE THINGS WE HAVE ALREADY PUT ON ONCE AND NEVER NEED TO PUT ON AGAIN. THE SECOND ARE ASPECTS OF CHRIST WHICH WE MUST TAKE UP AGAIN AND AGAIN WHENEVER WE FEEL UNDER ATTACK.
NOTE THAT ALL PIECES ARE NEEDED TO BE PROPERLY DEFENDED. PAUL IS CLEAR HERE WHEN HE SAYS THAT WE ARE TO PUT ON THE “WHOLE” OR FULL ARMOR OF GOD. IT WOULD DO NO GOOD TO RUSH INTO BATTLE WITH YOUR BODY PROPERLY PROTECTED BUT WITHOUT YOUR HELMET. EACH PIECE IS VITAL IN OUR SPIRITUAL DEFENSE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT PUTTING ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, IS THAT EACH PIECE IS SYMBOLIC OF CHRIST. WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, YOU ARE PUTTING ON CHRIST. CHRIST IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HELP US SUCCESSFULLY WITHSTAND AN ATTACK FROM THE EVIL ONE.
LET US NOW LOOK AT THE FIRST TWO ITEMS THAT PAUL MENTIONS AS PART OF THE ARMOR OF GOD.
THE BELT OF TRUTH:
WHEN PAUL SPEAKS OF THE BELT OR THE GIRDLE OF TRUTH HE IS SPEAKING OF ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL GARMENTS OF THE ROMAN SOLDIER. THE GIRDLE FORMED A COMMON BOND TO THE WHOLE AS THE OTHER PARTS OF THE SOLDIERS UNIFORM WERE OFTEN ATTACHED TO THE GIRDLE, INCLUDING THE SOLDIER’S SWORD.
WHEN WE THINK OF A GIRDLE I WOULD DARE SAY THAT MANY OF US HAVE IN MIND A PIECE OF CLOTHING THAT IS DIFFICULT TO GET ON, AND PAINFUL TO WEAR. THERE WAS ALWAYS A TINGE OF EMBARASSMENT AROUND IT.
I REMEMBER WATCHING “GONE WITH THE WIND” AND SEEING SCARLET O’HARA PUTTING ONE ON. IT WAS LACED UP IN THE BACK, AND SHE WAS HOLDING ON TO THE POST OF HER BED AS THE SLAVE HELPING HER WOULD PULL THE LACES TIGHT. JUST THINKING ABOUT IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO BREATHE.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE THOUGH FOR THE ROMAN SOLDIER. ANCIENT WARRIORS, LIKE OTHER PEOPLE OF THE TIME, WORE LOOSEFITTING CLOTHING. WHEN APPROACHING SOME TASK, ATHLETIC EVENT OR BATTLE, THEY NEEDED TO GATHER THE CLOTHING TOGETHER TO PERMIT FREER MOVEMENT.
THE BELT OF TRUTH PICTURES THE LARGE LEATHER BELT THE ROMAN SOLDIER WORE. IT HELD OTHER WEAPONS AND KEPT HIS OUTER GARMENTS IN PLACE. TO PUT ON THE BELT OF TRUTH CAN BE UNDERSTOOD AS ACCEPTING THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE AND CHOOSING TO FOLLOW IT WITH INTEGRITY.
PAUL MAY HAVE BEEN THINKING BACK TO THE PROPHET ISAIAH WHEN HE SAW THE BELT AROUND THE MIDWAIST OF HIS ROMAN GUARD.
ISAIAH 11:4-5: BUT WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS HE WILL JUDGE THE NEEDY, WITH JUSTICE HE WILL GIVE DECISIONS FOR THE POOR OF THE EARTH. HE WILL STRIKE THE EARTH WITH THE ROD OF HIS MOUTH; WITH THE BREATH OF HIS LIPS HE WILL SLAY THE WICKED. 5 RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE HIS BELT AND FAITHFULNESS THE SASH AROUND HIS WAIST.
THE IDEA THEN OF THE ROMAN SOLDIER GUIDING HIS LOINS, WAS TO TIGHTEN THE LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING HE WAS WEARING, TO ALLOW HIM TO MOVE SWIFTLY AND WITHOUT ENCOMBERANCE WHILE IN BATTLE.
REMEMBER WHEN WAYNE GRETZKY PLAYED HOCKEY HOW HE USED TO TUCK HIS SWEATER INTO ONE OF THE HIPS OF HIS HOCKEY PANTS. HE DID THIS SO THAT OPPONANT PLAYERS COULD NOT GRAB HIS SWEATER AND STOP HIM. THE SAME PREMISE IS APPLIED HERE.
THIS BELT WAS A FOUNDATIONAL GARMENT FOR THE SOLDIER. THE BELT FORMED A COMMON BOND TO THE WHOLE AS THE OTHER PARTS OF THE SOLDIERS UNIFORM WERE OFTEN ATTACHED TO THE GIRDLE, INCLUDING THE SOLDIER’S SWORD.
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER WEARS THE BELT OF TRUTH. THIS IS THE FIRST ITEM THAT IS PUT ON AND THE OTHERS FASTENED TO IT, BECAUSE INTEGRITY OF CHARACTER IS SO IMPORTANT.
TRUTH OR SINCERITY IS OUR GIRDLE. IT WAS PROPHECIED OF CHRIST THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOULD BE THE GIRDLE OF HIS LOINS AND FAITHFULNESS THE GIRDLE OF HIS REINS.
ISAIAH 11:5: RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE HIS BELT AND FAITHFULNESS THE SASH AROUND HIS WAIST.
GOD DESIRES TRUTH, THAT IS, SINCERITY, IN THE INWARD PARTS. THIS IS THE STRENGTH OF OUR LOINS, AND IT GIRDS ON ALL OTHER PIECES OF ARMOR.
JEREMIAH 13:11: FOR AS A BELT IS BOUND AROUND THE WAIST, SO I BOUND ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH TO ME,’ DECLARES THE LORD, ‘TO BE MY PEOPLE FOR MY RENOWN AND PRAISE AND HONOR. BUT THEY HAVE NOT LISTENED.’
AS A GIRDLE RESTRAINS AND KEEPS IN THE BODY. SO THE BELT OF TRUTH WILL APPLY PROPER RESTRAINT IN OUR CONDUCT IN THE WORLD.
THE LOINS ARE THE PLACE OF STRENGTH WHEN TRULY GIRT, BUT REPRESENT THE INTIMATE AFFECTIONS AND MOVEMENTS OF THE HEART. GIRDING OUR LOINS IS A WORK OF GOD DONE BY APPLYING THE TRUTH TO OUR SOULS IN HIS PRESENCE, JUDGING EVERYTHING IN US BY THIS MEANS, AND PUTTING A BRIDLE ON THE HEART THAT IT MAY ONLY MOVE UNDER HIS EYE.
THIS IS TRUE LIBERTY AND TRUE JOY, BECAUSE THE NEW MAN ENJOYS GOD IN AN UNINTERRUPTED COMMUNION, BUT HER THE SPIRIT SPEAKS OF IT WITH RESPECT TO THE SAFEGUARD WHICH IT WILL BE AGAINST THE ATTACKS OF THE ENEMY. SATAN HAS NO HOLD ON A HEART THUS KEPT IN THE TRUTH, AS REVEALED BY GOD
THE QUESTION ARISES AS TO WHETHER TRUTH HERE MEANS OBJECTIVE TRUTH – THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL, OR SUBJECTIVE TRUTH – AS WE ARE ACUSTOMED TO SAY, TRUTHFULNESS.
THE FORMER SIGNIFICATION IS RATHER INCLUDED IN THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. IT IS BEST TO REGARD THIS PHRASE AS “WITH” OR “IN” TRUTH. ABSOLUTE SINCERITY AND TRANSPARENT TRUTHFULNESS MAY WELL BE REGARDED AS THE GIRDLE WHICH ENCLOSES AND KEEPS SECURE EVERY OTHER CHRISTIAN GRACE AND VIRTUE.
THE OBJECTIVE TRUTH AND THE SUBJECTIVE TRUTH MAY BE UNITED FOR THE MAIN FACTOR IN PRODUCING THE FORMER IS THE FAITHFUL USE OF THE LATTER AND AN HONEST SUBMISSION TO ITS OPERATION.
THE WORD BRINGS TO BEAR THE MIGHTIEST MOTIVES THAT CAN SWAY LIFE. IT MOVES BY LOVE, FEAR AND HOPE. IT PURPOSES THE LOFTIEST AIM, EVEN TO IMITATE GOD AS DEAR CHILDREN. IT GIVES CLEAR DIRECTIONS, AND DRAWS STRAIGHT AND PLAIN THE PILGRIMS PATH.
IF WE HAVE MADE GOD’S TRUTH OUR OWN, AND ARE FAITHFULLY APPLYING IT TO THE DETAILS OF DAILY LIFE AND SUBMITTING OUR WHOLE SELVES TO ITS OPERATION, WE SHALL BE TRUTHFUL AND SHALL INSTINCTIVELY SHRINK FROM ALL UNREALITY. IF WE KNOW THE TRUTH AS IT IS IN JESUS, AND WALK IN IT, THAT “TRUTH WILL MAKE US FREE” AND THAT TRUTH ABIDING IN US AND WITH US FOREVER, WILL MAKE US TRUTHFUL.
IN A HEART SO OCCUPIED AND FILLED THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THE MAKE-BELIEVES WHICH ARE BUT TOO APT TO CREEP INTO RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.
GOD’S TRUTH MUST BE RECEIVED AND ITS POWER SUBMITTED TO, IF IT IS TO IMPLANT IN US THE SUPREME GRACE OF PERFECT TRUTHFULNESS. OUR MINDS AND HEARTS MUST BE SATURATED WITH IT BY MANY AN HOUR OF SOLITARY REFLECTION, BY MEDITATION WHICH WILL DIFFUSE IT’S AROMA LIKE A FRAGRANT PERFUME THROUGH OUR CHARACTERS, AND BY THE HABIT OF BRINGING UP CIRCUMSTANCES MOODS AND DESIRES TO BE TESTED BY ITS INFALLIBLE CRITERION, AND THE UNRELUCTANT ACCEPTANCE OF ITS GUIDANCE AT EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVES.
AS CHRISTIANS WHEN WE PUT ON THE BELT OF TRUTH WE ARE PUTTING ON JESUS. HOW DID JESUS DEMONSTRATE THAT HE WAS THE TRUTH?
1. BY WHAT HE SAID. READ THE THINGS HE SAID. INCOMPARABLE THINGS. HE GAVE THE CLEAREST INSIGHTS INTO WHAT HUMAN LIFE WAS ABOUT EVER GIVEN IN THE HEARING OF MEN.
JOHN 7:46: “NO ONE EVER SPOKE THE WAY THIS MAN DOES,” THE GUARDS REPLIED
2. HE DEMONSTRATED TRUTH BY WHAT HE DID: THIS NEW TESTAMENT RECORD IS AN AMAZING ACCOUNT OF MIGHTY DEEDS AND HISTORIC EVENTS. HE CAPPED IT OFF BY SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF DEATH. HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, WHAT OTHER PERSON HAS EVER DONE THAT? JESUS CHRIST IS THE TRUTH BECAUSE HE SOLVED THE PROBLEM OF DEATH.
3. JESUS CHRIST IS THE TRUTH BECAUSE OF WHAT HE IS: WHAT HAS HE BEEN TO YOU. LOOK BACK AT YOUR OWN CHRISTIAN LIFE AND ITS BEGINNINGS. DID HE DELIVER YOU? DID HE SET YOU FREE? HAS HE BEEN YOUR FRIEND? HAS HE BROUGHT YOU PEACE?
4. TRUTH NEVER NEEDS UPDATING, NEVER NEEDS TO BE MODERNIZED. IF SOMETHING WAS TRUE A THOUSAND YEARS AGO, ITS TRUE TODAY.
HEBREWS 13:8: JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO THINK OF THIS AS PART OF THE ATTIRE FOR A CHILDREN’S SUPERHERO. THE BREATPLATE OF RIGHTOUSNESS COVERS THE VITAL PARTS OF THE SOLDIER SUCH AS THE HEART.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS PICTURES THE METAL ARMOR IN THE SHAPE OF A HUMAN TORSO COMMON TO THE ROMAN UNIFORM. TO PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE CAN BE UNDERSTOOD AS CHOOSING NOT TO HARBOR AND NURTURE KNOWN SIN. IT IS STRIVING TO BE LIKE CHRIST AND LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS WAYS ANS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
THE BREASTPLATE COVERED THE MAJOR ORGANS MUCH LIKE A BULLETPROOF VEST DOES TODAY. THE MORAL QUALITY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT CHARACTERIZED GOD IN THE ISAIAH PASSAGES, AND THAT JUSTICE IS PRIZED SO HIGHLY IN THE PROPHETS IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE ONE WHO MUST STAND AGAINST EVIL.
MICAH 6:8: HE HAS SHOWN YOU, O MORTAL, WHAT IS GOOD. AND WHAT DOESTHE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU? TO ACT JUSTLY AND TO LOVE MERCY AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IMPUTED TO US IS OUR BREASTPLATE AGAINST THE ARROWS OF DIVINE WRATH. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IMPLANTED IN US IS OUR BREASTPLATE TO FORTIFY THE HEART AGAINST THE ATTACKS WHICH SATAN MAKES AGAINST US.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:6-8:
SO THEN, LET US NOT BE LIKE OTHERS, WHO ARE ASLEEP, BUT LET US BE AWAKE AND SOBER. 7 FOR THOSE WHO SLEEP, SLEEP AT NIGHT, AND THOSE WHO GET DRUNK, GET DRUNK AT NIGHT. 8 BUT SINCE WE BELONG TO THE DAY, LET US BE SOBER, PUTTING ON FAITH AND LOVE AS A BREASTPLATE, AND THE HOPE OF SALVATION AS A HELMET.
THE BREASTPLATE WAS MADE OF METAL PLATES OR CHAINS, COVERING THE BODY FROM THE NECK TO THE WAIST, BOTH FRONT AND BACK. IT SYMBOLIZES THE BELIEVER’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IN CHRIST AS WELL AS HIS RIGHTEOUS LIFE IN CHRIST.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:21: GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
EPHESIANS 4:24: AND TO PUT ON THE NEW SELF, CREATED TO BE LIKE GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS.
SATAN IS THE ACCUSER, BUT HE CANNOT ACCUSE THE BELIEVER WHO IS LIVING A GODLY LIFE IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT. WHEN SATAN ACCUSES THE CHRISTIAN, IT IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST THAT ASSURES THE BELIEVER OF HIS SALVATION.
IT IS WHEN WE ARE WALKING WITH GOD, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, FOR THE LOVE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ITSELF, THAT WE HAVE THE BREASTPLATE ON, AND THUS WE ARE FEARLESS WHEN WE ARE CALLED TO GO FORWARD AND FACE THE ENEMY.
WHAT INTEGRITY IN SUCH A WALK, WHAT TRUTHFULNESS OF HEART WHEN NO EYE SEES US! WE CAN THEREFORE BE PEACEFUL IN OUR WAYS. GOD IS ALSO THERE. SO WALK SAYS THE APOSTLE, AND THE GOD OF GRACE SHALL BE WITH YOU.
WHEN THE HEART IS AT PEACE WITH GOD, AND HAS NOTHING TO REPROACH ITSELF WITH, WHEN THE WILL IS HELD IN CHECK, PEACE REIGNS IN THE SOUL.
WE WALK ON THE EARTH, BUT THE HEART IS ABOVE IT IN INTERCOURSE WITH OUR RELATIONS WITH GOD. HE IS THE GOD OF PEACE. PEACE, THE PEACE OF JESUS, FILLS THE HEART.
CONCLUSION:
THESE TWO PIECES OF ARMOUR WORK TOGETHER FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER. THE LOWER PART OF THE BREASTPLATE WAS USUALLY ATTACHED TO THE GIRDLE. TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE CLOSELY RELATED IDEAS. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS HERE IS ACTUAL RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER, OR HOLY LIVING, RATHER THAN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST. THE GIRDLE SUPPORTED THE SOLDIER ON THE FIELD WHEN QUICK ACTION WAS NEEDED, AND THE BREASTPLATE COVERED THE VITAL PARTS.
MORAL CHARACTER THEN BECOMES THE FOUNDATIONAL PIECES IN PUTTING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD. IF THIS IS NOT PUT ON PROPERLY, THEN ALL OTHER PIECES OF ARMOR WILL FAIL.
APPLIED PROPERLY, THEY CAN BE THE FOUNDATION OF A LIFE OF PEACE IN CHRIST AND VICTORY.
