Stand your ground, putting on . . . the body armour of God’s righteousness.
Ephesians 6:12-14
- Why does Paul link the breastplate with righteousness?
- What does righteousness mean? What does Paul mean by it?
The next steps are for you to work out. Time for investigative digging on your part. Be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 who investigated to find out for themselves.
- Why does Paul link “righteousness” with the breastplate?
- Did you find the inspiration or the source for Paul’s thoughts?
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.
Isaiah 59:17
Not only does this verse from Isaiah have the reference to “breastplate of righteousness” but it also has “helmet of salvation”. Clearly Paul has picked up on Isaiah’s thoughts and used them in the book of Ephesians.
What is also interesting is to see that Isaiah switches the link between righteousness and other pieces of clothing too.
Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist.
Isaiah 11:5
I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10
Righteousness is the breastplate, the belt and the robe.
Paul also switches the link between items of clothing and Christian concepts. With Paul the breastplate becomes the breastplate of righteousness and also the breastplate of faith. Mmm, interesting they are interchangeable. Primarily the breastplate is a “breastplate of righteousness”, that ‘s the principle of first mention. i.e. The first mention in Scripture become the standard or the norm. But it seems that referents can vary. Interresting too that Paul switches “righteousness” with “faith” as below.
But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”
1 Thessalonians 5:8
Did you have enough time to look at the word righteousness, δικαισυνη? This is a deep concept and needs some attention. I have looked at it in depth in the Gems of Romans. (Look at The Gospel in a Nutshell – Gem 151 to 159; but in particular Gems 154, 157 and 159). In short it signifies the principle of righteousness; it signifies the practice of righteousness, or living a holy life; it signifies God’s method of justifying sinners; and it signifies justification itself. There is our righteousness and there is God’s Righteousness or Christ’s righteousness. The righteousness of Christ is that which is given (imputed) to us by God. It is received by faith, as a result of His grace or gift to us. We can/t earn it. it is a guard against, and repels the accusations and charges of Satan, and is a security from all wrath and condemnation. Here it may imply a consciousness of justification through the blood of the cross; the principle of righteousness or true holiness implanted in the heart; and a holy life, a life regulated according to the testimonies of God. As the breast–plate defends the heart and lungs, and all those vital functionaries that are contained in what is called the region of the thorax; so this righteousness, this life of God in the soul of man, defends every thing on which the man’s spiritual existence depends. While he possesses this principle, and acts from it, his spiritual and eternal life is secure.
Take time to look at and understand “righteousness”. It is crucial to your understanding of Christianity and the application of the “breastplate of righteousness” as a piece of armour of God. I will stop here for today and give you time to assimilate it all. We will put it all together in the next Gem in the context of spiritual warfare.
Your salvation wasn’t a joint effort. You didn’t contribute a penny because you were spiritually bankrupt.
Bob Gass
‘…you were redeemed [bought out of slavery and set free]… with the precious blood of Christ… ‘
1 Peter 1:18-19
We refuse God’s invitation because we think He is expecting PERFECTION from us, when all He wants is INTIMACY.
Sidney Mohede
I know you have no righteousness of your own…here, have mine.
God