Breastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:13–14 ESV

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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Purpose of the Breastplate

Designed to protect the core; most of the internal organs especially the heart and lungs are protected by the breastplate.

Armies without much funds used leather and provided only a helmet and breastplate.

Romans used metal to provide most protection

without breastplate someone can cut open guts

or stab heart or lungs

Our righteousness

Definition of Righteousness

Righteousness is the quality of being morally right or just

Daniel 9:7 ESV

To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.

Daniel explains God is righteous but we are full of shame and treacherous

Isaiah 64:6 ESV

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Isaiah goes even further to say that we are unclean our righteousness is like a polluted garment or as kjv says filthy rags. The idea here that of piece of cloth used during a woman's period. Isaiah says that describes our righteousness.

Some breastplate huh

Imputed Righteousness

Psalm 11:7 ESV

For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Again Righteousness is an attribute of God

It is part of who he is a fish could be a cat before God could be unrighteous

This is why God had to deal with sin his Justice his righteousness demanded it. Yet his love demanded mercy and Grace.

Thus Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus came that we might be given life even though we deserve death he did this by granting us his righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

For this reason Jesus was born that he might live a righteous life and die a sinners death and thereby grant us his righteousness and take upon himself our sin; that it might forever be removed from us, Jesus has removed the menstrual rags of our own filth and given us his righteousness.

The Protection of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:14 ESV

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Now that we have Recieved God’s righteousness we must equip it everyday. Again armor does no good if we do not use it. Let us then seek to put on the breastplate of His righteousness.

Three protections of the breastplate of righteousness

we do not sin against the Holy God

We demonstrate the change of God in our lives

People have nothing to say against us.