The Who What When and Why Of The Breastplate Of Righteousness

Our study on the armor of God brings us to the Breastplate of Righteousness. Why is righteousness considered such an essential piece? Why is it a weapon for good and for God? To what extent should we go after an understanding of this valuable piece of armor? These are all good questions. The answer to this last one was demonstrated in the story of one of Sir Earnest Shackleton’s expeditions. In the Antarctic summer of 1908–1909, Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished. Altogether, they trekked 127 days. On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart Of The Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food—elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. As they staggered along, suffering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive, every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating. Jesus, who also knew the ravages of food deprivation, said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS.” We can understand Shackleton’s obsession with food, which offers a glimpse of the passion Jesus intends for our quest for righteousness.¹ In the barren, and frigid world in which we live, are we to hunger after righteousness like Shackleton and his men did for food? Starving for right and righteousness, now that’s an intense thought: The Who What When and Why of the Breastplate Of Righteousness. That’s our focus on this week’s Light on Life.

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Study these individual pieces of armor and maintain the spiritual attitudes that they represent.

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Question: How has your prayer life changed since you have practiced God’s Word and put on the Breastplate of Righteousness? Share your story in the comments section below.

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We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 45 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 40 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes

The Armor of God:

Once again, let’s talk the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:14–17 (ESV) — 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

The Armor of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness

Righteousness is a big Bible word often misunderstood by Jesus’ followers.
That needs to change since it’s a piece of armor designed to cover the most vital organs in the human person.
We already are aware we need to put on the whole armor of God.
Emphasis on the word ‘whole.’
All the pieces of armor are designed to work as a unit.
The armor realizes its maximum potential works when a believer maintains the spiritual attitudes that all of the pieces represent.
You should not pick and choose your favorites and leave off the rest.
You need them all.
The helmet of salvation may be uncomfortable to wear on a smoldering day.
But, you will be glad you did once the bullets start whizzing by your head.
You may not feel much like carrying that ponderous shield – but you will be glad you did once feel the heat of those fiery darts from the enemy.

The Armor of God: Righteousness, a Big Bible Word

Righteousness is one of those words that we seem to not get right.
There are several components to the term.
There’s the ‘doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do’ part of righteousness.
That is righteousness as God’s standard for what is right and what is wrong.
No matter what this generation wants to put forth: there is right and wrong.
Those who do what they feel like they can do whatever they want to do because they feel empowered by a woke culture are in for a rude awakening.

Isaiah 6:1–5 (ESV) — In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Woke is broke besides being wrong.
Look at Isaiah, righteous Isaiah that is, right per the sacrificial offerings of God.
That’s what being righteous was during the Old Testament days of the law.
Righteous Isaiah took one look at The Standard of Right, and said, ‘Woe, I am lost, I am unclean.
Righteousness is the standard of what’s right — and it’s God’s opinion that counts here not ours.
Now, because of this mess, that man got himself into Jesus came.
By His death, burial, and resurrection Jesus purchased for us a righteousness we could never acquire on our own.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) — 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus made me righteous – it is not my fault – I was made that way.
You know how unrighteous people try to justify lustful desires by saying they were born this way?
Well, as a born-again child of the most high God, you can say that you were born righteous — that is, Born again righteous.
For when Jesus came into your heart, he made you the righteousness of God.
You were born that way.
Jesus did this.
He set me right with God so that when God looks at me, instead of seeing just me — He sees Jesus.
God sees you in Jesus and it’s His righteousness that has been imparted to you.
Walking in the light of this knowledge is breastplate material.
So, what we have are two views of righteousness: first, God’s standard of right along with Jesus becoming sin so we might acquire a standing with God.
Second, now that you are righteous, we live according to that standard, that is we do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do.
And, with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
Per the Lexham Theological Wordbook righteousness is.

Righteousness is the conformity or obedience to a standard or obligation that is normally understood to be morally good, such that the expectations and requirements of relationship toward God and neighbor are satisfied.²

So, there is power in living right.
There is protection in being pure.
Riches pursue the righteous.

Psalm 84:11 (ESV) — 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Good things come from a good God if you walk in an upright fashion.
The Hebrew word ‘upright’ means blamelessness and is translated that way twenty-two times in the Old Testament.
The word also means a state of innocence.
In the Old Testament, ‘upright’ is translated as complete, entire, integrity, and perfect.
Do you remember what God told Abraham?

Genesis 17:1 (ESV) — 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

The KJV says walk before me and be perfect.
God was telling Abraham to do the right thing because it was the right thing to do.
Uprightly means to be unblemished, to be perfect, whole, or without defect.³
Shall those who are righteous live in an unrighteous fashion?
Shall we live any old way?
Shall we sin that grace may abound?
So, once again, righteousness is a big Bible word.
In fact, the New Testament uses the term in one form or another no less than 228 times, at least 40 in Romans.
I found this about righteousness in a Study Bible and, with that thought, here is the Quote of the Day.

The word “righteous” goes back to a base word meaning “move in a straight line.” Thus, “righteous” (rightwise) means “in the straight (or right) way.” Used with reference to morality, “righteous” means living or acting in the right way.⁴

Well, this Quote of the Day lines up with the Definition of the Day, doesn’t it?
Walking in a straight line means walking perfectly, walking blamelessly, or walking uprightly.

The Armor of God: The Vital Nature of Righteousness

We know from the Word of God that Goliath was a behemoth of a man.
We are talking nine feet — nine and one-half inches warrior tall.
His breastplate?
We are talking about a massive 125 lbs of weight strapped to the front of his chest.
That will stop a few fiery darts, won’t it?
How massive is your understanding of righteousness?
That’s what we are aspiring to grasp.
As believers in Jesus, we need to possess a massive understanding of our right standing with God.
We need a breastplate that is more than a match for any of the flaming missiles of the enemy.
But, why do you need a breastplate?
Think about it for a moment.
Why would God provide you with a breastplate of righteousness and strongly encourage you to wear it?
Don’t you already possess the shield of faith?
Isn’t your faith shield adequate against enemy projectiles?
Well, of course, it is but, there are obviously some enemy darts that can navigate around or zip past the shield.
Why would we need a breastplate if we have the Sword of the Spirit?
Well, what if your enemy launches an attack before you have a chance to swing your sword?
You know your titanium-sharpened sword will slice any demon in two?
But yet, you must have a breastplate on.
So, successful Spirit life can’t just be all swordplay — it’s not just all the shield of faith.
Faith is important — faith is vital — but faith is its own piece of armor.
If you could get everything done by faith, by the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, you wouldn’t need these other pieces of armor.
Just go out there into battle, no helmet, no breastplate, no shield, no gospel shoes — just go out there hacking with your sword.
The answer here is no – put on the whole armor of God.
When fiery darts of condemnation come your way, know that the Breastplate of Righteousness is there and needs to be in place.

The Armor of God: Righteousness and Condemnation

If you are walking around condemned, that’s a good sign that you are improperly dressed.

Romans 8:1–2 (ESV) — 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

You see one of those fiery darts that the enemy propels your way is a sense that you are not right with God.
You’re a mess.
You can’t do anything right.
You are so jacked up, how could God ever use you?
With that nuclear dart comes a sense of condemnation.
But, the scripture is clear — There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.
Being seasoned with this truth is like oiling your breastplate.

The Word ‘Therefore’ in the Phrase ‘There is Therefore Now No Condemnation

Romans eight and verse one begin with the word ‘therefore.’
The old adage, and I am sure you heard it, is if you see the word therefore, find out what it’s there for.
‘Therefore’ is a linking word.
It links what Paul is getting ready to say in chapter eight to everything he has already said in the previous seven chapters.
The marvelous blessings of chapter eight pile up your plate when walking in the understanding of the seven chapters that precede.
What’s in those seven chapters?
You must accept the gospel.

Romans 1:16–17 (ESV) — 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

The righteous shall live by faith, did you hear that?
That is, you must come to Jesus by faith.
Faith and righteousness are linked — again put on the whole armor of God because everything is linked.
So, if I am righteous, then I am not depending on any good works to gain access to God’s favor.
I stand humbled knowing that God has already provided that for me — I don’t have to work for this standing with God.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV) — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

So now, because you have accepted God’s free gift of righteousness by faith apart from works, therefore there is no condemnation.
So, here we come to the word ’now.’ — ‘There is therefore now no condemnation.’
Romans eight, verse one, is an outstanding verse.
Many believers have it in their scriptural arsenal and quote it as the need arises.
That’s working with the breastplate of righteousness.
To thicken the breastplate to Goliath proportions, quote it with understanding.
There is therefore now.
Now that we have salvation.
Now that we have received Jesus as our personal Savior.
Now that we have become members of the family of God.
Now that Jesus has died and risen again.
But if you read Romans chapters 1–7, the word ‘now’ — there is thereof now no condemnation, also means.

Romans 5:1 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So now — now that we have been justified and have peace with God and since we do, there is no condemnation.

Romans 6:6 (ESV) — 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Here is the word ‘now’ again.
Now, that we have been crucified with Him and the body of sin is brought to nothing, there is therefore now, no condemnation.
These are marvelous truths that will add heft to your breastplate.

Romans 6:7 (ESV) — 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Now — now that we have died with Jesus there is no condemnation.
How could there be?
What about this next passage?

Romans 7:6 (ESV) — 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

So, now, there is therefore now, — now that we are divorced from the law there is no condemnation.
If we are separated from the law how can we be condemned by the law – thou shalt not do this or thou shalt not do that?
You see ‘now’ is a big word.

Romans 7:25 (ESV) — 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Now that I am free to serve the law of God Romans 7:25 style, there is no condemnation.
‘Now’ is a big word.
Paul is saying ‘now’ that all of this which I have talked about in the first seven chapters is true, there is therefore now no condemnation.

The Armor of God: Dealing with Condemnation

The Greek word condemnation means punishment, penalty, or sentence.
There is therefore now no condemnation, which means there is therefore now, no penalty, punishment, or sentence.
You can live guilt free because you are not guilty.
No condemnation does not mean not having bad feelings of conviction.
When we hear the word ‘condemnation’ in the twenty-first century, that’s what we hear, conviction or bad feeling on the inside.
Again, condemnation means no penalty, no punishment, and no sentence.
The word is a legal word.
‘There is, therefore now, no guilty verdict or death sentence imposed upon those who are in Christ Jesus’.
The death sentence, the guilty verdict, the punishment, and the max penalty, we all deserved.
Every human person on planet earth deserves this verdict because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, that’s Romans 3:23.
Meaning what?
Meaning you’re guilty, as the judge slams the gavel down.
Look no one is saying that you are perfect all by yourself.
But, you are not by yourself — you are in Him!
And being in Him means you are clothed with His righteousness and so there is no verdict, judgment, or punishment that awaits you.
That’s good news.
No matter how badly you have lived in life, the coming of Jesus coupled with the coming to Jesus eradicates condemnation.
And that my friend, is breastplate material.
We were in deep weeds my brother and sister because of sin.
There was no way out.
You couldn’t work your way, pay or pray your way out.
Now things are different — you have a clean slate.
People often say, ‘You know if I had the chance to do it all over again…’
Well, here’s the truth your record has been expunged.
You have your second chance, and third, and a fourth, and on and on.

1 John 1:9 (ESV) — 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Armor of God: No Means No

Now no means no — ‘there is therefore now NO condemnation.’
The word ‘no’ is emphasized in the Greek language.
Emphasized words in Greek sentence structure hold the first position in a sentence.
In English, nouns come first.
Romans 8:1 in Greek reads ‘NO, therefore, is there any condemnation.’
Shouting it!
Using a bullhorn to proclaim it.
Turning up the speakers on your amplifier and blasting out the sound until it peals paint off the wall.
NO!! There is NO condemnation ‘to them which are in Christ Jesus’
What does the word ‘in’ mean — in Christ Jesus?
The word means to be one with, in union with or joined closely to.
Understanding righteousness is knowing that you are in Christ Jesus — that you are in union with Christ Jesus.
Or, that you are joined with Christ Jesus.
What are the possibilities of such a union?
What are the possibilities of such a joining?
At times in the world, we hear of people who married into money.
How did their life change, when they came into a such fortune?
Think of it.
Jesus is the Son of God and you are in union with Him.
What are the possibilities of union with Deity?
God is number one. There’s no higher than He.
And now because of the gospel, you are hooked up with number one.
That’s the breastplate of righteousness.
When you are in union with Jesus, you are in union with number one.
God’s number one in finances.
God is number one in health and wholeness.
The Mayo Clinic is not number one – God is number one.
You are connected to the greatest physician, the greatest banker, the greatest planner, and the smartest dude on the block.
You hit the jackpot coming to Jesus.
You are in union with number one.
That’s breastplate material!

Now, Father God, we just praise you and give you all the glory for what you have accomplished by your great wisdom, your marvelous planning by being the big God that you are. How could we not serve you — why wouldn’t we walk with you. You have made us the righteousness of God in Christ and we totally thank for that. Help us to increase in these areas so our breastplate can grow thicker by the moment. We thank you for hearing because we know that you always hear us because of Jesus.

Did you get anything out of this podcast today?
Thank God for it.
The Who What When and Why Of The Breastplate Of Righteousness — You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

Why Jesus Is the Powerful and Blessed King

__________
References:

Source unknown, 10,000 Sermon Illustrations, Galaxie Software ↩
Garwood P. Anderson, “Righteousness,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014). ↩
Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998). ↩
The Word in Life Study Bible, New Testament Edition, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville; 1993), pp. 538–539. ↩

emeryhorvath.com

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The Who What When and Why Of The Breastplate Of Righteousness

Podcast: Light on Life Season Ten Episode Ten

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

The Armor of God:

The Armor of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness

The Armor of God: Righteousness, a Big Bible Word

The Armor of God: The Vital Nature of Righteousness

The Armor of God: Righteousness and Condemnation

The Word ‘Therefore’ in the Phrase ‘There is Therefore Now No Condemnation

The Armor of God: Dealing with Condemnation

The Armor of God: No Means No

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe in PlayerFM

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources:

We are currently teaching in the book of Ephesians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

The Armor of God:

The Armor of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness

The Armor of God: Righteousness, a Big Bible Word

The Armor of God: The Vital Nature of Righteousness

The Armor of God: Righteousness and Condemnation

The Word ‘Therefore’ in the Phrase ‘There is Therefore Now No Condemnation

The Armor of God: Dealing with Condemnation

The Armor of God: No Means No

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