Sunday Worship 11.00 am and 6.30 pm Minister: Dr William (Bill) J M Parker
10. The Breastplate of Righteousness – Ephesians 6:13-14b and Romans 6:11-14 - 25/03/18 (am)
Spiritual Warfare
Sermon Date: 25/03/18 (am)
The Breastplate of Righteousness – Ephesians 6:13-14b & Romans 6:11-14
Main Teaching Point:
Stand firm having put on the Breastplate of Righteousness.
The second piece of armour that the Christian is to put on is the Breastplate of Righteousness.
The Roman Foot Soldier and His Breastplate
The Roman Soldier’s breastplate was a vital piece of armour. Constructed of leather/mail and fitted over the front and back of the body, it protected the soldier’s vital organs in battle – heart, lungs, kidneys, liver.
The Christian’s Breastplate of Righteousness
The Christian has vitals that are the object of attack in spiritual warfare – feelings, conscience, emotions, affections, will. (In ancient Jewish thinking the heart represented the mind/will, and the bowels represented the emotions/feelings.) If the Devil gets to your mind and emotions he can wreak havoc: confuse, cause doubts, upset emotions. A Christian needs protection in these areas. The Breastplate of Righteousness provides it.
What righteousness is the breastplate concerned with? Not self-righteousness! (Romans 3:10; Philippians 3:4-8). It is righteousness that God gives us. It has two aspects:
- Imputed Righteousness – Justification by Faith. It is not enough to have our sins forgiven to be saved. We must be perfect to be accepted by God. This is why when God saves a person He does two things: He forgives all that person’s sins, and He puts (imputes) Christ’s perfect righteousness to that person’s account (Philippians 3:9). Is this true of you?
- Imparted Righteousness – Sanctification. Imputed righteousness does not make a person perfect. However, the indwelling Holy Spirit produces holiness (righteous living) in Christians. Imparted righteousness leads to a devout and holy life (John Calvin).
At the same time a Christian has Jesus’ righteousness upon him/her and put into him/her by the Spirit. In Ephesians 6:14 the Apostle is emphasising imparted righteousness, not imputed righteousness (which a Christian already has). Wearing the Breastplate is walking in obedience to God’s Word, choosing to keep in step with the Spirit, not yielding to the flesh (Galatians 5:16-23).
The Protection offered against Satan’s Attacks by the Breastplate of Righteousness
- A holy life gives the Devil fewer opportunities to attack/accuse your heart, mind, conscience, emotions. An unholy life opens the door for the Devil’s accusations.
- A Christian will not have an unhealthy dependence on feelings, sensations, experiences. You cannot be in a loving relationship without them, but any number of things can interfere with them: dry seasons come; God hides His face; sin, grieving the Spirit and a sense of His Presence departs; discouragement in life; trials. If we depend on our feelings, emotions, spiritual experiences, and they desert us, the Devil will exploit the situation and suggest you are not a Christian or that God is being unloving towards you. But if you wear the breastplate you will remember that Christ is the solid Rock on which you stand, not your fluctuating emotions. You are justified by faith, not feelings! You remind the Devil of your standing before God in Christ (Romans 8:1, 33-34).
Conclusion – The Breastplate of Righteousness in Place
Putting on the breastplate is another way of obeying Ephesians 4:22-24.
- Know your position in Christ.
- Live a holy life. This involves knowing the truth of God’s Word. Read Paul’s epistles, find the word therefore, understand what is said before it [doctrine] and do what it says after it [practice].
’Twixt gleams of joy and clouds of doubt our feelings come and go;
Our daily state is tossed about in ceaseless ebb and flow.
No mood of feeling, form of thought, is constant for a day;
But You, O Lord, You change not, the same You are always.
…
Your purpose of eternal good let me but surely know,
On this I’ll lean—let changing mood and feelings come or go
Glad when Your sunshine fills my soul, not sad with clouds overcast,
Since You within Your sure control of love it holds me fast.
(John C Shairp)
Are you wearing the Breastplate?
© Dr Bill Parker, 2018