“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” (Ephesians 6:14 – NKJV)
The born-again believers are not fighting in spiritual warfare to win or gain victory over the devil but to appropriate, enforce, enjoy, demonstrate, or manifest the victory that Jesus Christ has already won for them and given to them through His death on the cross (1 Cor. 15:57, Col. 2:15, Heb. 2:14).
Today, we shall consider the second piece of the whole or full armor of God—the Breastplate of Righteousness.
Ephesians 6:14 – NKJV
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
The breastplate was usually a tough, sleeveless leather or heavy material with animal horns or hoofs sewn to cover the soldier’s entire torso or body, protecting his heart and other vital organs in the battle.
The believer’s breastplate of righteousness is not his self-righteousness, but the righteousness of God imputed or credited to the believer through faith in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ. The Bible calls it “the righteousness of faith” (Rom. 4:11, 13, 9:30).
The breastplate of righteousness (the righteousness of God) is not based on your good works, performance, or keeping of the law; it is simply a gracious gift of love from God to those who put their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
That is why Paul refers to the breastplate of righteousness as “the breastplate of faith and love.” (1 Thess. 5:8 NKJV).
Apostle Paul aptly explains this kind of righteousness in his epistles.
Romans 3:21-22 – NKJV
21 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.
Romans 9:30-32 – NKJV
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;
31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.
Romans 10:1-4 – NKJV
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Just as the soldier’s breastplate protects his heart and other vital organs from the enemy’s attack, so does the righteousness of God imputed or credited to the believers through faith alone in the finished work of Jesus protects the believer’s heart from Satan’s attacks.
Your self-righteousness, based on the works of the law, cannot protect your heart from the fiery arrows of guilt, condemnation, doubt, unbelief, or fear from the devil.
It is only the righteousness of God based on the perfect work of Jesus Christ that is solid and strong to shield your heart from the devil’s assaults.
How do you put on the breastplate of righteousness?
Simply by acknowledging, recognizing, and receiving the righteousness of God as a gift of love through faith in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:21-22 NKJV)!
By believing and confessing that you are indeed the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21)!
By trusting and glory in Christ Jesus as your righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)!
By holding fast to, standing firm, and walking in the righteousness of God (Phil. 3:9)!
Beloved, it is very dangerous to be engaged in spiritual warfare while trusting in, holding unto, glory in, or standing on your righteousness or good works.
It is like putting on or wearing a rag to the battlefield as your breastplate, for “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…” (Isa. 64:6 NKJV).
Therefore, resolve today never to trust and glory in your self-righteousness or to hold unto and depend on your good works or performance for victory in spiritual warfare.
But let your resolution be the same as that of Apostle Paul, who resolved to “be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” (Philip. 3:9 NKJV).
Discover more pieces of God’s whole armor for the believers and how to put them on in the second part of this piece.
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me put on the breastplate of righteousness and use it daily to appropriate, enforce, enjoy, and demonstrate the victory that Christ has already won for me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.