The Breastplate of Righteousness
Paul tells us that the Breast Plate of Righteousness is the next piece of the armor.
Eph 6:14 “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.
The breastplate is also a weapon. You may say how do we know that? We know that righteousness is a weapon because Paul calls it such in Ephesians 6, he mentions it along with the other weapons of our faith. We also see this in 2 Corinthians 6:7, “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness…” Here righteousness is plainly called armor.
Another reference where righteousness is called armor is Isaiah 59:17, Isaiah says, “For he put on righteousness as a breastplate…”
In order to understand why Paul called righteousness a breastplate you need to understand the roman soldiers breastplate that Paul had in mind. The breastplate of a Roman soldier was the most glamorous, shiniest, and beautiful piece of the Roman soldiers armor. You didn’t notice his loin belt, shoes, or helmet first even as important as they were.
The first thing you noticed on the Roman soldier was his breastplate. It was made of either bronze or brass, usually brass and started from his neck and went all the way down to his knees. It was composed of two different pieces of metal one went down the front the other down the back with the two pieces being held together with brass rings on top of the shoulders. Quite often the larger pieces of metal that covered the front and the back were made up of smaller scale like pieces of metal similar to the scales of a fish.
This was the heaviest piece of the Roman soldiers armor weighing 40 lbs (18kg) or more. Remember Goliath’s breastplate weighed approximately 125 pounds (57kg).
The breastplate was extremely beautiful and elaborate. As the Roman soldier would walk too and fro some wonderful things would happen the metal pieces would rub together giving a luster to each other making them even shinier. Brass when exposed to sunlight shines and sparkles especially fine brass. When the Roman soldier would walk around and the suns rays would reflect off his breastplate it would present a dazzling spectacle.
So the beauty of the Roman soldiers breastplate was enhanced by using it if he had stored it away in a dark room it would have been beautiful simply because it was made out of brass. But by walking in it, and using it, the breastplate became more and more beautiful with time.
Have you ever been riding in a car when a piece of metal on the side of the road glared the sunlight into your eyes? Can you imagine the Roman soldiers breastplate as he walked out of a house into the daylight what a rainbow of color show about when the sunlight hit his breastplate.
What do you think it was like when a whole legion of Roman soldiers was assembled together?
Our righteousness is a weapon; a real weapon. Our breastplate of righteousness is not only to deflect the blows of the enemy but also to assist us as we assault the enemy.
A person who is not in battle doesn’t need to wear this type of weaponry. You wear this type of weaponry because someone out there wants to hurt you and hurt you badly.
The Holy Spirit, therefore, tells us that we have righteousness as a “breastplate” to protect us. In Ephesians 6:11 we read that when we have on “The whole armor of God’” we are able “to stand against the wiles of the devil.” The devil wants to assault you. He wants to tell you that you are not righteous, that you are of no value to God, or to man.
Remember the word “devil” comes from the Greek word diabalos (dia-bo-los), and it describes “one that strikes again, and again, until finely he penetrates the mind with slanderous accusations.” Because of his desire to penetrate and immobilize the mind of a person, he especially delights in finding believers who do not know they are righteous, because they are easy prey.
He sneers, “ You are the worst believer that ever lived. Do you think God is going to do anything for you? God can’t use you, you stupid thing.”
If you don’t have your breastplate firmly attached and in place most likely those slanderous words will penetrate you. When they penetrate through your mind and emotions they will deal a devastating blow.
Each of us has experienced this and most of us know or have met someone that has said the words I am no good, God cant use me or similar statements this is the affect of the darts getting through. We all experience times of being on the down side when the enemy comes against us. I thank God for those of you who have been keeping me and this ministry in Prayer and there have been times I have sought you out to pray and lift me before the throne to come against an attack that is besetting me.
People who don’t know that they have been made “righteous” tend to habitually walk in condemnation. Why? Because the devil comes to condemn them. People who don’t know that they have been made “righteous” walk in guilt, because the enemy comes to throw lying accusations that penetrate their mind and make them feel like they are failures.
However when a believer knows that they have been made “righteous” and their breastplate is firmly in place it doesn’t matter how many darts the enemy throws at them none will penetrate. Not one word of condemnation not one accusation, or guilt will come your way if you are walking in a “breastplate of righteousness.”
It is unfortunate that ninety present of the Body of Christ is walking in condemnation, with their shoulders slumped and their heads hung low. The enemy has victimized many to the point that then can no longer pray with confidence. He has convinced many that they will never be good enough to be used by God.
Yet the word plainly tells us in verse 14 to stand tall, shoulders back heads held high, like the all-proud and victorious soldiers walk.
When you understand that God has freely imparted righteousness to you. That this God given righteousness acts as a breastplate to you. It will affect your attitude very positively. You will find a great amount of confidence arising in you. An attitude of righteousness imparts confidence, and it imparts tremendous authority.
With that confidence, you will move out to do all kinds of things for God. Sometimes you will become so bold and confident in your God-given righteousness that those that do not know you may not understand your newfound boldness and may accuse you of arrogance.
No you are a man or women who has learned that you are “ The righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” 2cor 5:21.
You have learned that the Lord has clothed you in a beautiful, gorgeous, bright and shining piece of armor called the “breastplate of righteousness.” You have just discovered that you don’t have to take the devils lying threats anymore, because you are “dressed to kill.”
This ends tonight’s lesson Please Join us next week as we continue in the Series “The whole armor of God.” The breastplate of righteousness Part 2.