The Breastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:12–17 NKJV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Oh, you just think you’re holier-than-thou, don’t you? Have you ever heard that before? As Christians we are often held to high expectations as though we are supposed to have our lives all figured out since that’s what people think good Christians are. But in reality, if we’re honest, we’re just sinners who were in the same mess as the rest of the world who have been marvelously saved by the grace of God. It’s not that we have everything put together, but that we’ve been picked up by the one who has it all worked out.

Today, as we look in Ephesians 6 for our series on the Armor of God, we are going to find a command to wear the breastplate of righteousness and in all honesty, this is what they whole world expects us to be wearing more than anything else. We are to look the part. But what if this is slightly misunderstood? What if it means something a little different than simply having it all together? Because, if you’re like me, you’ve looked at your life since becoming a Christian and thought, “Man, I really have to get this stuff together.” And that can be an overwhelming and discouraging way to think and feel.

Well, as we look at this text, and every other passage, I want you to ask yourself, “Where is Jesus?” And that question will certainly help us as we look here in Ephesians 6 because what Paul is doing is reaching back to the book of Isaiah where we find prophesy about Christ. In Isaiah 59:16-17 we read,

Isaiah 59:16–17 NKJV

16 He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. 17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.

Now, what’s happening here in Isaiah is that the people of Israel are in serious sin and are helpless in freeing themselves from it and as God looks upon them Isaiah writes that, “He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor.” This means that there was no one to free them, to stand up for them, to save them. And what does God do? It says, “Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate.” What does God do here? He let’s us know that not only is He the One capable of meeting the need, but He commits Himself to doing it for us.

How does He do this? Well, let’s flip back to Isaiah 53. Remember how it says that God looked and there was no intercessor for them? Well, that same word is used here in Isaiah 53:12

Isaiah 53:12 ESV

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

So, how does God deliver us? Not by being distant and detached from us, but by the Son coming down and living among us and taking our sins on His own body and dying for us. 2 Cor. 5:21

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 came equipped to do for us what we could never do. He came wearing His breastplate of righteousness and He went to the cross and put on our filthy rags and died and rose again so that we could wear His breastplate and live in His righteousness.

So, what does this mean for us today?

I should have assurance because salvation is by the loving grace of God alone.

I should take sin seriously, it nailed Jesus to a cross.

Iain Duguid writes, “The righteousness of Christ, painfully won for us at the cross, motivates us to strive hard toward an obedience that fits the new nature God is working in us.”

I should be on guard against the attacks of the devil:

To rest in my own self-righteousness

To abuse the grace of God

To listen to the lie that God doesn’t love me

As I live in light of the righteousness of Jesus for me, it will strengthen me to stand for Him