His Righteousness our Defense

These are Spiritual metaphors to communicate the importance of the resources God has given us.

Breastplate is not the point.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 ESV

8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Righteousness is the point. Just as Roman breastplates were made of sturdy materials like iron to provide a good defense against attacks, so we must have a proper covering that is made of fit materials. It must be righteousness.

Satan is the great accuser and will take advantage of any opportunity to use God’s standard of right as an advantage to destroy you.

Depending Only on Christ For Salvation

Who’s: Christ’s

If you are going to have God’s armor you must realize that your righteousness won’t do.

Read Phil. 3:4-8

Read Romans 10:20-32

If you would resist the devil, you must come to an end of yourself. You are nothing, your righteousness accomplishes nothing.

Your personal integrity may be appealing to you in the face of men, but it has no value when confronted with the devil!

This might work with men, but Satan knows how to show the weakness of your righteousness.

Only Christ’s Righteousness is of sturdy material.

Depending Only On Christ For Defense

The Purpose of A Breastplate: Having our vulnerable areas covered. (Heart, lungs, kidneys)

Protecting Our Affections

The center of the body is the place that the organs reside. In the common mind of Paul’s day, that is where the vital organs reside and where the center for affections. Bowels of mercies, my reins, were indications of this thought. Phil. 2 We are going to have to protect the part of us where our feelings and affections, our conscience and our desires of the will are all controlled.

Satan will play on your feelings, he can confuse your conscience, and he’ll awaken inordinate desires in you. You need protection against his attacks.

What do you do when you cannot feel anything any longer? You put on the brestplate of Christ’s righteousness.

The Christian Soldier: An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10–20 Chapter 16: The Breastplate of Righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name;

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

Guarding From Pride

Discouraged in your Christian Walk? Why?

You’ve been trusting in your actions.

Preaching is a dangerous opportunity to trust in my actions!

Not what I do, but what Christ has done!

Defense on Leaning on Religious Experiences

Placing too much stock in ecstatic experiences. I felt the Lord, I expereienced him in prayer today. But what about tomorrow when I don’t.

Your feelings are a great servant but a terrible lord.

This is why we give place to truth and doctrine. We want to avoid falling into the trap of having an emotion led religion. (Example of today’s style of worship 2/3 hr singing 15 minute teaching)

Comparing Testimonies

Ecstatic dreams, heightened emotions, and vivid accounts can cause you to doubt your own experience.

Depending Only On Christ For Confidence to Fight Sin

Romans 13:14 ESV

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

God gives righteousness to men.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

If you are going to resist the devil and ward off his attacks, you will have to put on righteousness, the sanctifying righteousness that Jesus gives through righteous living and integrity. Righteous or holy living acts as a defense to ward off the attacks of satan.