2020 10 04 - Armor - The Breastplate of Righteousness

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Today’s Passage: Ephesians 6:10-17

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SERIES INTRODUCTION

We are on a battlefield a battlefield where victory is assured if we

Fight the right battle (Spiritual)

Use the right weapons (The Armor)

Have the right objective (Stand)

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What are the pieces of the armor?

belt of truth

breastplate of righteousness

shoes of readiness

shield of faith

helmet of salvation

sword of the spirit

RECAP PREVIOUS WEEKS IN SERIES

Truth ties up the things that can tie you up so you can be free to fight.

CONNECT THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE

The breast plate.

EXPLORE

PRIMARY SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 6:10–17 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm. 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,

UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT OF THE SCRIPTURE

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Breastplate

BREASTPLATE

thorax (θώραξ, 2382), primarily, “the breast,” denotes “a breastplate or corselet,” consisting of two parts and protecting the body on both sides, from the neck to the middle. It is used metaphorically of righteousness, Eph. 6:14; of faith and love, 1 Thess. 5:8, with perhaps a suggestion of the two parts, front and back, which formed the coat of mail (an alternative term for the word in the NT sense); elsewhere in Rev. 9:9, 17.¶

88.13 δικαιοσύνηa, ης f: the act of doing what God requires—‘righteousness, doing what God requires, doing what is right.’ μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης ‘happy are those who suffer persecution because of their doing what God requires’ Mt 5:10.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 743). New York: United Bible Societies.

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Righteousness

RIGHTEOUSNESS

1. dikaiosune (δικαιοσύνη, 1343) is “the character or quality of being right or just”; it was formerly spelled “rightwiseness,” which clearly expresses the meaning. It is used to denote an attribute of God, e.g., Rom. 3:5, the context of which shows that “the righteousness of God” means essentially the same as His faithfulness, or truthfulness, that which is consistent with His own nature and promises; Rom. 3:25, 26 speaks of His “righteousness” as exhibited in the death of Christ, which is sufficient to show men that God is neither indifferent to sin nor regards it lightly. On the contrary, it demonstrates that quality of holiness in Him which must find expression in His condemnation of sin.

“Dikaiosune is found in the sayings of the Lord Jesus, (a) of whatever is right or just in itself, whatever conforms to the revealed will of God, Matt. 5:6, 10, 20; John 16:8, 10; (b) whatever has been appointed by God to be acknowledged and obeyed by man, Matt. 3:15; 21:32; (c) the sum total of the requirements of God, Matt. 6:33; (d) religious duties, Matt. 6:1 (distinguished as almsgiving, man’s duty to his neighbor, vv. 2–4, prayer, his duty to God, vv. 5–15, fasting, the duty of self-control, vv. 16–18).

“In the preaching of the apostles recorded in Acts the word has the same general meaning. So also in Jas. 1:20, 3:18, in both Epp. of Peter, 1st John and the Revelation. In 2 Pet. 1:1, ‘the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ,’ is the righteous dealing of God with sin and with sinners on the ground of the death of Christ. ‘Word of righteousness,’ Heb. 5:13, is probably the gospel, and the Scriptures as containing the gospel, wherein is declared the righteousness of God in all its aspects.

“This meaning of dikaiosune, right action, is frequent also in Paul’s writings, as in all five of its occurrences in Rom. 6; Eph. 6:14, etc. But for the most part he uses it of that gracious gift of God to men whereby all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are brought into right relationship with God. This righteousness is unattainable by obedience to any law, or by any merit of man’s own, or any other condition than that of faith in Christ.… The man who trusts in Christ becomes ‘the righteousness of God in Him,’ 2 Cor. 5:21, i.e., becomes in Christ all that God requires a man to be, all that he could never be in himself Because Abraham accepted the Word of God, making it his own by that act of the mind and spirit which is called faith, and, as the sequel showed, submitting himself to its control, therefore God accepted him as one who fulfilled the whole of His requirements, Rom. 4:3.…

“Righteousness is not said to be imputed to the believer save in the sense that faith is imputed (‘reckoned’ is the better word) for righteousness. It is clear that in Rom. 4:6, 11, ‘righteousness reckoned’ must be understood in the light of the context, ‘faith reckoned for righteousness,’ vv. 3, 5, 9, 22. ‘For’ in these places is eis, which does not mean ‘instead of,’ but ‘with a view to.’ The faith thus exercised brings the soul into vital union with God in Christ, and inevitably produces righteousness of life, that is, conformity to the will of God.”*

2. dikaioma (δικαίωμα, 1345) is the concrete expression of “righteousness”: see JUSTIFICATION, A, No. 2.

Note: In Heb. 1:8, KJV, euthutes, “straightness, uprightness” (akin to euthus, “straight, right”), is translated “righteousness” (RV “uprightness”; KJV, marg., “rightness, or straightness”).

MAIN IDEA

Transition from scripture to main idea

THE MAIN THING:

Putting on the breastplate means living into the righteousness Christ has given to guard our hearts.

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One word, “My heart is_____________.”

Explore the Main Idea

1. Christ gives us his righteousness

Text

Isaiah 64:6 ESV

6 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.

Romans 4:3 ESV

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

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.

Truth or Reflection

Application:

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2. His righteousness protects our hearts from condemnation

Text

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Truth or Reflection

Application:

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“He ain’t got nothing on me.”

3. Living into his righteousness protects our hearts from sin

Text

Ephesians 4:1 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Romans 6:1–3 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Truth or Reflection

Application:

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What would your breastplate look like?

4. Protecting our heart is the key to protecting our life.

Text

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Truth or Reflection

Application:

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Transform

Coming Back to the Main Thing

Putting on the breastplate means living into the righteousness Christ has given to guard our hearts.

Bring to Primary Application

Application points

Lead Application to Commitment

Commitment steps

Invitation

Announcements and Service Closing