We have begun this series on Ephesians 6 verses 10-18. This passage of scripture is a familiar one for most christians. I’m sure that most of you at some time have done a Bible study or heard sermons preached on "The Whole Armour of God". And although we have heard before the Lord has laid it upon my heart to share with you again. Maybe you will find something new in these familiar words. We began two weeks ago talking about this preperation thatwe as soldiers of Christ need to go through. The first week we noted that as soldiers we needed to listen and hear what the commander says. Last week we looked at the first piece of the armour that we are to have. It is commonly referred to as "the belt of truth". We noted that it does not say,"put on the belt of truth" it said "14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth," meaning that it is something you are already equipped with. We discussed what the belt was for the soldier and what it represents in this spiritual picture that Paul is drawing for us. The truth is Jesus Christ! He says I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father except by me! The first thing we have to do as christians. to walk in the christian life is to have Christ. We can be religous and not have Christ. we can believe there is a God and not have Christ. But, to truly be a christian we must receive Christ as Lord and Saviour. We put on Christ when we receive Him as Lord. Without Christ we do not need the rest of the armour, because we are on the wrong side of the battle! If we are not with Christ we are against Him.
This morning we will continue to look at the armour that God has provided for our protection in this spiritual battle. Today we will finish verse 14. Which says, "14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;" We will see today, what the breastplate is, what it represents, why is it second in our preperation for battle?
Let’s read our passage over again, starting at verse 10....
" 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
1. What is the Breast plate?
As a literal piece of armour the breastplate is quite easy to imagine. It was made up of small metal plates which were tied together in a similar fashion to the way roof tiles are placed on a roof. The armour was then placed over the shoulders to protect both the front and back of the soldier. The bottom of the armour was tied to the belt. On a Roman Soldier’s armor, the breastplate was custom made to fit that soldier. It was specifically designed for him to protect him from attacks. This breastplate protected the soldier’s heart and major organs from a potentially devastating wound by protecting their area of weakness. Paul refers to this part of the armour as the breastplate of righteousness...
2. What does it represent?
Righteousness? But what does righteousness mean? I have met an awful lot of self righteous people. People who by their good works, and effort appear righteous in their own eyes, and maybe even to others.
Here’s a story of Self righteousness...
"I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven’s door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
"But it was the folks in Heaven Who made me sputter and gasp The thieves, the liars, the sinners, The alcoholics and the trash. "There stood the kid from seventh grade Who swiped my lunch money twice. Next to him was my old neighbor Who never said anything nice. Herb, who I always thought Was rotting away in hell, Was sitting pretty on cloud nine, Looking incredibly well. "I nudged Jesus, ’What’s the deal? I would love to hear Your take. How’d all these sinners get up here? God must’ve made a mistake. "’And why’s everyone so quiet, So somber -- give me a clue.’ "’Hush, child,’ He said, ’they’re all in shock. At the thought of seeing you.’"
But remember here the battle we are fighting is a spiritual one. For every good and right and just thing they may have done , the enemy, the devil, can hurl back three fold the unjust, unrighteouss things they have done. If clothed in their own breastplate of righteousness, I think it would be full of holes and ineffective! Romans 3:10 says "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"But, remember we are not instructed to put on the whole armour of Jamie, or Bob, or Judy, but the whole armour of God. Ezekiel 33:13 says this "13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it."
Now is God righteous? Can the enemy penetrate his armour. Do you think he has any chinks in His armour, any hidden secrets of unrighteousness? I hope not, because if He had any of those things, He wouldn’t be God would He? God is holy and perfect and righteous. He cannot accept any less into heaven. We can never be righteous. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isaiah 64:6
God gives us perfect armour to wear.
Righteousness is described in two ways for the believer:
a. Imputed
Done for us By God through Christ
b. Imparted
Done Through us, by Christ livng in us
a. Imputed righteousness
Done for us By God through Christ
When a person put his faith in Jesus Christ, we were given a status or right of being righteous. This righteousness is God’s gift to us based on what Christ did for us on the cross.
" For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:19
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Corinth 5:21
"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:" Romans 3:22
b. Imparted
Done Through us, by Christ livng in us
"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." 1 John 3:7
If we are imputed with righteousness, then as a result Christ’ righteousness should flow out of us in righteous living!
"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness." Romans 6:18,19
Righteousness is something, because of Christ in us, we should strive for. Matthew 5, Jesus says "6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." in chapter 6 He says "33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
So which one of these two are the righteousness that is the breastplate? Or, do they work together?
The imputed righteousness defends against the enemys strikes concerning our standing with God. "You are not worthy!" declares the evil one. In the strength of the flesh, he is right. But we are standing strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We are made righteous by the Son of God! We are worthy! "How can you stand against evil, when you are a sinner?" Again in the flesh we have no strength to stand, but it tells us to stand! And we can because God has imputed righteousness to us, He aslo imparts righteousness through us. We are not slaves to sin, but to righteousness! These two types of righteousness are meshed together in the breastplate, they gaurd our hearts against the attacks of the devil, whether he attacks our standing before God or our moral purity. Theyare welded together because it is all of God. It is never our righteousness! He gives us righteousness and He produces righteousness through us, not by us, by Him!
3.Why is this piece second in our preperation for battle?
If you remember in describing the breastplate it was said that the bottom of it was tied to the belt of truth or anchored to the belt of truth. Truth being Jesus Himself. Righteousness comes to us by way of faith in Christ. It is tied to and anchored to Jesus. Again remembering that this part of the armor appears to be something that we don’t put on, but something we have already received. It is the second because without Christ we simply cannot have true righteousness. Our armour would be full of holes and useless in a spiritual battle!
So far in our preperation we have our belt of truth fixed firmly, Jesus. We have also the breastplate of righteousness to guard our heart against the attacks of the wicked one. Remember it is not a self righteouss breatsplate full of holes. but the breastplate of the righteousness of God! Next week we will look at the footware needed for battle.
