Sermon Central
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Armor Of God/ Breastplate Of Righteousness Series
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Oct 13, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: This is part of a sermon series on the Armor of God. This looking at the breastplate of righteousness.
Armor of God
Breastplate of righteousness
Intro-
Before we had our centennial service last week, we had been looking at the pieces of armor. Explained to us in Ephesians 6.
Lets read that this morning Ephesians 6:10-18.
We talked about being strong in the Lord, being mighty in His strength.
We talked about putting on the full armor of God when we go to battle for the Lord.
We said that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against authorities in the spirit realm.
We talked about it not being a matter if you will be in a spiritual battle, but what you would do and how you would handle it when you were in that battle.
(V13)
“Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, our feet being fitted with readiness from the gospel of peace. These are defensive tools of armor. These are the things that we need to be grounded in before we make any attempt to live a successful Christian life.
Belt of truth is the first piece, it is the piece that holds everything together.
Truth is the clarity of a sound doctrine. What do you believe? Are you willing to die for it?
Truth in our heart makes us teachable to God.
Applying the belt of truth:
check our lives daily and making sure we are right with God.
Sin in our lives that we are aware of, we desire to get rid of it.
Relationship with others , if there is a problem, we want to fix it.
The second piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness.
For a roman soldier , it is the piece that covers his chest. It is made out of metal and held by leather straps. A soldier in full armor can attack with authority because he knows that his vital body organs are protected.
Belt of truth, shows you truth, clarity of what you believe, a breastplate of righteousness allows you to do that. Without the breastplate of righteousness, our faith would be like any mere religion.
A form of godliness, but no power to act
Satan would knock us down, and in our own strength, we would not be able to stand.
What is the breastplate of righteousness?
To be righteous, it is being in a right relationship to God.
We do not earn righteousness, it is God’s gift.
It is given to us through Christ.
“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the law and the prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice , because in his forebearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.”
God wants us to live a holy lives.
Not walking in sin or compromising our faith.
The power of Christ inside us allows us to do that.
The life and power of Christ changes us into his likeliness everyday.
The Holy Spirit within us now giving us the life and power to live above sin.
Imputed righteousness- what Christ gives to you the believer(what He did on the cross)
Imparted righteousness- what Christ is working in you(power of Holy Spirit in you).
Righteousness is double sided for a believer.
What is God’s will for our lives?
“Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
That is God’s will....for each one of us
God’s armor brings victory because it is far more than a protective covering.
The Word says....clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 13)
He becomes our hiding place, becomes our shelter. He is our safe haven.
“I am the vine, you are the branches, if a man abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
We are only righteous through Christ. Not ourselves.
Apostle Paul learned this as a pharisee. He was in a league of his own.
A disciple of the great Gamiel, highly respected member of the Sanhedrin.
