The Doorpost: Breastplate of righteousness

… having put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Ephesians 6:14b

We are continuing to consider the armor the believer needs in order to prevail in the day-by-day struggle against the forces of darkness that oppose the work of Jesus Christ. The second piece of necessary armor is the breastplate of righteousness.

Righteousness is essential to victory in the daily battle. One of the devil’s most common schemes is to attack our faith by pointing out our sinfulness and lack of strength, “How can God use you when you do (or think) things like that? He accuses. “You’ll never be able to do right. You’re too weak.” Our protection against this attack is the breastplate of righteousness.

It is critical that we understand that the breastplate of righteousness does not come from our own righteousness, but from the righteousness of Jesus Christ that is given to every believer (Romans 3:22). Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins by His death on the cross. Our sins are forgiven and we are righteous in God’s sight. When the devil brings his accusations against us, reminding us of our pastor sins, we deflect his attack by keeping our breastplate firmly in place, depending on Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins to provide our right standing with God.

But our righteousness in Christ goes beyond this. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1:20). We are seated with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). The Holy Spirit is living in each of us and He is greater than the evil one (1 John 4:4). Because of this, we not only have forgiveness for our sins; we also have the power, in Christ, to do righteous deeds (Ephesians 2:10). When the devil brings his accusations against us, telling us that we are too weak to obey, we again deflect his attack by keeping our breastplate firmly in place, remembering that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world and that we already have been given the victory, in Him.