The second piece of armor
Paul tells us about when he teaches about the
Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) is the Breastplate
of Righteousness. The placement of this armor
is very important. It should be checked for
proper position right after the Belt of Truth
is buckled.
Your breastplate of righteousness is not based on your good works. This piece
of the armor is put on us when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. In fact,
accepting Christ instantly equips you with a perfectly fitted breastplate of
righteousness.
The problem is that most of us don’t believe it. It seems too incredible.
Rather, we reason, surely there is something we must do to be made righteous.
Belief in Jesus Christ makes you righteous and nothing else.
God knew that there was absolutely no other way for us to be made righteous than
for Jesus Christ to make us righteous. God fully understood our total inability
to obtain righteousness before He even gave the Law to Moses and asked the people
to follow it. The Israelites thought they could do it, but God knew different.
This is why God had the plan for Jesus, His Son, to come from the seed of woman,
live righteously, be crucified and buried, then rise from the dead. Faith in
Jesus alone is the only hope for you to be made righteous.
The breastplate of righteousness will not seem in place if you are unwilling
to rest in its reality. When I try to make myself righteous in my own power,
I don’t have my breastplate of righteousness in place. Your breastplate
of righteousness feels out of place because of your own pride and self-righteousness.
It can also seem nonexistent because of your unwillingness to fully accept your
complete forgiveness.
I stand in awe of this fact, but it is absolutely true: I am righteous because
of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. I need to think about that every day.
As I stand there in the battle, my enemy will taunt me. He will remind me of
all the wrong things I have done in my life and constantly accuse me.
Worse still, he will entice me to consider all the great things I have done for
God and how the whole world should be listening to my advice and doing things
my way. That’s why it is so important for me to remember that breastplate
of righteousness. My righteousness is assured through Jesus Christ.
If you are having trouble really taking in this incredible spiritual reality,
I encourage you to read Romans 2:17-5:21 over and over until you understand what
Paul is trying to explain about how we become righteous.
Do you have the breastplate of righteousness in place? Make sure you check it
every day.
