Under Siege Part -3
After carefully considering the belt of truth, the first element of the armor, we come to the second one, the breastplate of righteousness. "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians6:14)
The word rendered here is the Greek word for coat of mail. According to Barnes commentary, it is the type of armor that covered the body from the neck to the thighs, and consisted of two parts, one covering the front and the other the back. In other words, it protected the vital parts including the heart and the bowels. It was made of rings, or in the form of scales, or of plates. They were fastened together in such a way, that they would be flexible, but at the same time, they would guard the body from a sword, spear, or arrow. It is referred to in the Scriptures as a "coat of mail" in 1 Samuel 17:5 and Nehemiah 4:15. We are told that Goliath's coat of mail weighed five thousand shekels of brass, or nearly one hundred and sixty pounds. It was often formed of plates of brass, laid one upon another, like the scales of a fish. What a mighty protection this might have been!
For Hebrew people, the heart had to do with their thinking for " as a man thinks in his heart so is he...." (Proverbs 23:7), and the bowels had to do with their emotions. Therefore, we must protect our heart and our emotions from our assailant the devil. Many commentators believe Paul is thinking of Isaiah 59:16-17 when he wrote about the breast plate: "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak." There's a similar language, isn't there?
God, to defend his people, "puts on righteousness as a breastplate" and therefore shows us that we too can put on that type of armor. Why? Because He has imputed righteousness to us through Christ Jesus. Paul also mentions in Romans 3:10-12:"As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." It is obvious from this passage that nobody can be righteous on their own accord. There is a lack of understanding about God and a lack of desire to seek God. For that reason " they have become worthless, they're no good, "not even one". We need to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior in order for us to become righteous. It is imputed to us through His work on the cross. Paul nails this concept on the great 21st verse of 2 Corinthians 5:
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Therefore my brethren, put on the breast plate of righteousness and let the righteousness of Christ cleanse your heart and mind. Walk with sanctity, walk with pureness of thought, walk above reproach. The devil never likes a sanctified life. He'll do whatever possible to keep you from having that. That's why we have the breast plate of righteousness to protect us from that attack. Never forget he's the "accuser of the brethren". That's his specialty.
Walk in humility, walk in integrity of heart, walk with a Christ-like character. This is only possible, not because of your self righteousness but because of His righteousness. But there's an element of effort here, the apostle says: " Put on the breastplate of righteousness". You have got to put it on. Otherwise, it's useless to you.
Let's be clear and a little bit redundant. It's not your righteousness, it's His righteousness. But how do we put that righteousness into practice? First of all, receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior so righteousness can be imputed to you. Once you have become righteous through Him, you can start walking a life worthy of Him ".. .fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10). That's how you put on the mighty breast plate of righteousness! PUT IT ON! God is your armor, it's your fortress. Put on God! Put on Christ!
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal."
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