The Breastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:10–14 NKJV

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Ephesians 6:10-

Recap: The Belt of Truth

Introduction: Last week looked at the belt of truth looked at the importance of the Truth in the Christian walk.

++ It is the first item listed in the Christian armor

++ It is the starting point, the first thing must put on

++ The truth for the Christian life is the scripture, first, the scripture last, and the scripture guiding us all long

Psalm 119:105 NKJV

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

The Primary Source of Direction for the Christian is the Bible.

It is God’s will made manifest

Anything thing contrary to the word of God is a lie

it should be noted that the first item listed is the truth, which is an aspect of the Word and the last thing listed is the sword of the Spirit which is also the Word

Second Item in the Armor of God: Breast Plate of Righteousness

The Solider’s breast plate would protect the solider’s vital organs.

It is arguable the most important piece of the solider’s armor

The body is the largest and easiest part to hit, in shooting you are trained to aim center mass, in Roman combat they were trained to thrust for the body.

Two Kinds of Righteousness

Positional Righteousness: the righteousness that God places on the Christian (declared right with God)

Romans 5:17–19 NKJV

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:17-1

Righteousness: right standing with God is granted to us at the moment of salvation.

We need the clean slate because:

We could never pay the debt of sin

We need to walk up rightly before God

Sin

Sin Separates us from God

Isaiah 58:1–2 NKJV

“Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.

Isaiah

Romans 5:18–19 NKJV

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:

Isaiah 59:1–2 NKJV

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Is

God has one response to sin, judgement

God ALWAYS judges sin

God cannot just forgive sin

Romans 3:21–26 NKJV

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

The sinner’s biggest problem on judgement day isn’t going to be no devil, he is in a heap of his own trouble on that day

The sinner’s biggest problem will be God

But need not be so with you, where there was no way God has made a way.

Isaiah 43:19 NKJV

Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

Jesus is our way maker

Isaiah 1:18 NKJV

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

How do we put on this God’s Righteousness?

our righteousness is as filthy rags

Have you made peace with God?

1 John 1:8–10 NKJV

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

1 John 1:8-10

Have you made peace with God?

Is it well with your soul?

If you had to face God the moment you stepped out of those doors is there some business left to be done?

If Jesus returns right now would it set your heart to singing, or would you want to hide your face?

Would you shout for with joy unspeakable or would cry out in panic?

God is not going to call a head

whenever someone dies and it appears as though they were lost I hear people say, “you don’t if they had a moment to call out to God, remember the theft on the cross.”

I do remember the theft on the cross and I celebrate God’s mercy, but I would remind you of the rich man in hell.

Hell is not going to be empty

Get right with God today, repent, today, do not delay

Forgiveness is not an excuse to sin.

Romans 6:1–4 NKJV

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Practical Righteousness: walking in the right standing given us.

1 John 2:1–2 NKJV

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

the purpose of forgiveness is not an open door to sin, it is an open invitation to strength and power to overcome sin.

1 John 2:3-6

1 John 2:3–6 NKJV

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

- We called to imitate Jesus

We recognize we have not obtained

the goal is perfect Christ-likeness

But aren’t there yet, the proof: how about we sit down and talk to the people you live with

What would happen if someone slaps you? Speak ill of you? Spread lies about you? Mock you to your face?

It is recorded what Jesus did

Philippians 3:12–16 NKJV

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

How to walk out God’s Righteousness

Philippians 3:17 NKJV

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

Walk with others in pursuit of Jesus

Philippians 3:18–21 NKJV

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Philippians 4:4 NKJV

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Rejoice — When? — Always!

Philippians 4:5 NKJV

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be as tough as you must and no more

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Develop a habit of prayer and reflex of thanksgiving

Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

8

Your mind is the sanctuary of the Lord Jesus

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keep it clean