The Armor of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness

 

The Armor of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness 

(Ephesians 6:14-17) Stand therefore... having on the breastplate of righteousness...

We are told, to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness does not mean perfection, but it does mean that we are to live right.  This is a reference to sanctification (being purified by God’s Spirit, as well as set apart from the sinful world). Salvation is a free gift based on faith in Christ, accompanied with repentance of our old nature. When a person is truly saved by grace, their debts are forgiven, and their garments are washed white in the blood of the Lamb. Christ's righteousness is imputed to the saved believer. However, after we are saved, we must allow the Holy Spirit to teach us how to walk in the Spirit and allow Him to bear good fruit through us. A person cannot walk the straight and narrow path or bear good fruit by their own merit. It is only by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit that we can put down the old nature and be truly born again. We must surrender all to the Lord and allow His Spirit to transform us from the inside out. God gives us grace to learn to walk; our salvation is based upon the finished work of Christ upon the cross.  However, we can lose this precious gift if we rebelliously refuse to change our sinful ways and never truly become a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17).

The breastplate is a vitally important part of the warrior’s armor because it guards the heart, lungs, as well as other vital organs. God’s Word teaches us, that without holiness no man shall see the Father. Satan’s desire is to give a spiritual death blow to the Christian by enticing him with the lusts of the world, that is why the breastplate of righteousness is an integral piece of armor for our spiritual survival.

(Matthew 5:20) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

(2 Timothy 2:22) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

(Romans 3:25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. 

(James 3:17-18) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.