Wear Your Breastplate of Righteousness
Wear Your Breastplate of Righteousness
With the snow and salt slush of past weeks, I decided to give my car a birth this past weekend. Most of the cars on the road are so dirty and are begging for a wash. The problem is that after the wash, the car shines very clean; however, there is still salt and melting snow slush on the road. The decision to wash the car is based on the need to remove the salt from the car which could cause damage. Yes, it will still get dirty again. The temptation is not to drive the car after it is washed so it will continue to look clean. Then it defeats the purpose for the car, to transport one from point A to B.
We all have dirt and slush of sin that if not cleaned, we will be corroded and ruined forever. We all need a thorough birth to be made whole and clean. We need cleansing from sin though we still live in a sinful world that can still cause us to get dirty again. There is only one solution for being clean and right with God – Christ’s righteousness. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7-9
Here are some synonyms for the word “righteousness”: justice, decency, uprightness, honesty, blameless. They all help us grasp what righteousness means. I like best the word “blameless” because that is what Jesus’ righteousness makes us – blameless. Now Apostles Paul instructs us as soldiers of Christ regarding righteousness in our preparedness to war against Satan.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:13-15
We are asked to put on the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate of the then Roman soldier is “leather mesh interwoven with stones and metal bits”. The breastplate protects the heart and the vital organs. People are known to die because of heavy weights of guilt for acts they have committed and it often results to depression and maybe suicide. Christ’s righteousness as our breastplate protects our heart from guilt and shame and declares us righteous, just and blameless. This is a great HOPE and worthy of celebration and praise to our God.
We are to constantly wear this breastplate because our enemy, “the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night” (aka Satan) would heap constant condemnation on us when we are not wearing this armor.
Righteousness also implies “right-living”. We do not receive God’s grace and then abandon right living. If we have Christ’s righteousness, He must live out His right-living through us. Paul says “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Romans 6:1-2.
It is the responsibility of the soldier to “constantly check his breastplate for rips, tears and imperfections”. We must desire to live for Christ and we must “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” Hebrews 12:1. Our confidence in the breastplate of righteous is not one based on our experiences and or what we have accomplished for Christ. Our confidence and security is the righteousness Christ gave us by dying for us on the Cross.
“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ…That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 5:17-21
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”. 1 Corinthians 1:30
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God”. Philippians 1:11
“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”. 2 Peter 1:1
Lord, take away any feeling of self-righteousness from us. We confess our sins and have given them to you in exchange for your own righteousness. Help us to keep this truth in our hearts that we will not be deceived by the devil into self-righteousness. We thank you that there is now no condemnation for all who believe and trust you for righteousness. Help us also to live right in honor and appreciation of all you have done for us in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint, do not let the devil condemn you because Christ has not condemned you. You are wearing Christ’s righteousness and our sins are forgiven forever. Let’s keep wearing His breastplate of righteousness. Amen.
Let’s encourage someone who is weighed down by guilt and sin. Christ is sufficient for him/her.
With the snow and salt slush of past weeks, I decided to give my car a birth this past weekend. Most of the cars on the road are so dirty and are begging for a wash. The problem is that after the wash, the car shines very clean; however, there is still salt and melting snow slush on the road. The decision to wash the car is based on the need to remove the salt from the car which could cause damage. Yes, it will still get dirty again. The temptation is not to drive the car after it is washed so it will continue to look clean. Then it defeats the purpose for the car, to transport one from point A to B.
We all have dirt and slush of sin that if not cleaned, we will be corroded and ruined forever. We all need a thorough birth to be made whole and clean. We need cleansing from sin though we still live in a sinful world that can still cause us to get dirty again. There is only one solution for being clean and right with God – Christ’s righteousness. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7-9
Here are some synonyms for the word “righteousness”: justice, decency, uprightness, honesty, blameless. They all help us grasp what righteousness means. I like best the word “blameless” because that is what Jesus’ righteousness makes us – blameless. Now Apostles Paul instructs us as soldiers of Christ regarding righteousness in our preparedness to war against Satan.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:13-15
We are asked to put on the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate of the then Roman soldier is “leather mesh interwoven with stones and metal bits”. The breastplate protects the heart and the vital organs. People are known to die because of heavy weights of guilt for acts they have committed and it often results to depression and maybe suicide. Christ’s righteousness as our breastplate protects our heart from guilt and shame and declares us righteous, just and blameless. This is a great HOPE and worthy of celebration and praise to our God.
We are to constantly wear this breastplate because our enemy, “the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night” (aka Satan) would heap constant condemnation on us when we are not wearing this armor.
Righteousness also implies “right-living”. We do not receive God’s grace and then abandon right living. If we have Christ’s righteousness, He must live out His right-living through us. Paul says “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Romans 6:1-2.
It is the responsibility of the soldier to “constantly check his breastplate for rips, tears and imperfections”. We must desire to live for Christ and we must “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” Hebrews 12:1. Our confidence in the breastplate of righteous is not one based on our experiences and or what we have accomplished for Christ. Our confidence and security is the righteousness Christ gave us by dying for us on the Cross.
“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ…That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 5:17-21
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption”. 1 Corinthians 1:30
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God”. Philippians 1:11
“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ”. 2 Peter 1:1
Lord, take away any feeling of self-righteousness from us. We confess our sins and have given them to you in exchange for your own righteousness. Help us to keep this truth in our hearts that we will not be deceived by the devil into self-righteousness. We thank you that there is now no condemnation for all who believe and trust you for righteousness. Help us also to live right in honor and appreciation of all you have done for us in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint, do not let the devil condemn you because Christ has not condemned you. You are wearing Christ’s righteousness and our sins are forgiven forever. Let’s keep wearing His breastplate of righteousness. Amen.
Let’s encourage someone who is weighed down by guilt and sin. Christ is sufficient for him/her.
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