Contributor: Alex Alajiki

Topic: The Breastplate of Righteousness Text: Ephesians 6:14b

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.”

INTRODUCTION: Last week we considered Paul’s teaching on the first part of the armoury of a Christian; “The Belt of Truth” in Ephesians 6:14a. The rest of a soldier's armoury are connected to the belt. The way love holds the rest of the fruits of the spirit together (Gal.5:22-23), same way, truth holds the rest of the Christian armoury together. Truth is the accurate information regarding God, His kingdom and redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ. The more darkness by deception covering the earth, the more every believer must hold on to the truth that comes from the word of God. The people who are rooted and grounded in truth will be the only light bearers in this world.

There is no gospel without truth, because Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). We must deliberately know the truth and live by the truth (1John 5:20). “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” (3John 1:4)

In these last days, the greatest tricks of the devil are lies and deception, while the greatest need of man and the Church are truth and discernment.

Matt.24:24; “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

This week we are looking at the second armoury; the breastplate of righteousness.

In our previous studies in Eph. 6:11; “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”  Paul instructed believers to put on the whole armour of God so that we can be able to stand against satanic tricks because there is a conflict between God and Satan for the souls of men and believers are in the middle of that conflict.

Eph.6:12; “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

The only people who will remain standing, or make it to the end, are the people who constantly have their armouries in place.

Those who would want to live the best life possible in Christ must live by faith, and part of that is putting on the whole Armor of God, which he prepares and made available to all believers.

The Christian Armour is always made to be worn; and there is no putting off our Armour till the battle is over. There are no part time soldiers in the Lord's Army. We must be constantly dressed for battles knowing that we are fighting not to win a war, but to enforce the victory Christ already warn for us.

Col.2:15; “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

We must be able to testify, at the end of our race, like Paul in 2 Tim.4:7; “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”

There is an eternal blessing also awaiting overcomers in Rev.3:21; “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

This is why the breastplate of righteousness is a must for every believer intending to overcome the host of darkness in this world.

We should note that our armour is both for defensive and offensive battles. Every piece of Armor had its purpose. Note, there is nothing for the back; nothing to defend those who turn their back in the Christian warfare and run from battles.

                                                      Breastplate

1. The Breastplate

A breastplate or chestplate is an ancient military device worn over the torso to protect it from injury. It protects the vital organs during combat. It’s a defensive part of the armoury. The iron or bronze scaled breastplate was built in four sections to cover each shoulder and side of the chest. The plates were sewn to a stiff leather vest, which was put on like a jacket before the front plates were tied with leather straps.

2. Breastplate of Righteousness;

Why does Paul call it the breastplate of righteousness? If we are not protected with righteousness, we open ourselves up to attacks from the enemy and can fall into condemnation and sin. He attacks us by accusations and temptations to breakdown our righteousness. 

Rev. 12:10; “heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.”

Righteousness is in two dimensions for a Christian. We must arm ourselves with this knowledge.

A. Righteousness by faith; Rom.3:21-23

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The righteousness of Christ implanted in us at salvation, fortifies the heart against the attacks of Satan. The word "righteousness" simply means being right or right standing. The foundation of our Christian lives, especially to combat the devil's accusations, is knowing and applying God's truth found only in God's word that we were made righteous by faith in Christ.

B. Righteousness by lifestyle; Eph.4:21-24, Ps.106:4

“if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

“How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times!” --- Ps.106:4

The second dimension of righteousness is by practice. It is living a godly life. To know and live by God's word. To be filled with the Holy Spirit. To be working and living faithfully for the Lord. To be fighting sin in our lives that weakens us and to constantly resist every temptation of the devil to compromise with the world.

CONCLUSION

Putting on the breastplate of righteousness is to protect our hearts from condemnation when the accuser comes against us to distort the truth of our right standing with God and trying to derail us from the path of holiness. The first dimension is by grace through faith, while the second is by faith through practice or works.