Armor of God part 2 - Breastplate of righteousness. Why is it important? Do we have to earn it? Is it given to us? Is it for everyone?

The breastplate is the second piece of the armor of God.  Our foundation is truth. See last blog on the belt of truth, and click here for Armor of God playlist on YouTube.  On YouTube, the Armor of God playlist, is a series with the scriptures and discussions from our live praise and worship sessions, and the video for this session is at the bottom of this page!.    But the breastplate on armor covers very important things like our heart and lungs.   I think the heart is more than just the physical heart, it protects our heart that connects our spirit and soul (mind, will, and emotions).   We need to know that we are the righteousness of Christ Jesus so we can stand against the enemy working through anybody trying to tell us that we are not worth Jesus’ sacrifice, or that we are beyond hope, have messed up too much to be saved, etc.  In other words, we need the truth about our righteousness according to God to protect our awesome heart (and lungs).  Truth is so foundational.

The truth is that, if we have given our lives to Jesus Christ, then we are set free from the effects of sin and death, and get to live unto righteousness, and be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  That’s all because there is a punishment for sin. God is so holy, and eternity with sin would not be good. But Jesus paid that punishment, for all people for all time, and we get to receive the freedom He won for us. If we do receive what Jesus offered, then we become new creations in Christ, and get to be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17-21).  Jesus did this for us: “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”” 1 Peter 2:24 BSB.  

We cannot earn this breastplate of righteousness.  We are to be holy as Christ is holy.  We are not to walk in willful sin, but the righteousness and holiness is through being a new creation, keeping our eyes stayed on Christ, truly repenting and turning from sin, and being set free.  We are free from the power of sin over our lives now.  That means we are free of the effects of things done to us (trauma, etc), and we are free of any willful sin pattern that we think of, including negative thoughts, believing the enemies lies about us and God, fearing man over fearing God, etc.  He has broken the power of that in our lives, he has rendered the lies powerless, so we are going to stand together, and not receive them.  The righteousness we live in is from the Holy Spirit in us, the effects of Jesus sacrifice.  We can still sin, but sin doesn’t have the power over us that is used to.  And we cannot make ourselves a new creation in Christ. When that happens, it is this amazing miracle, that literally makes us the righteousness of Christ Jesus in our spirit, and that’s what God sees when He looks at us.  We get to choose to keep our eyes stayed on Him and walk that out, but it’s truly a fruit of living with Him, certainly not earned!   

Going back to being holy as Christ is holy.  We are to keep our eyes stayed on Him, and hate those things that separated us from Him. But its Jesus’ perfect sacrifice that allows us to be in that position of freedom, and complete separation from the old self.  Because of lies we had about God, and ourselves (not having the truth, which is our first piece of armor), we found refuge in things that created bondage. Things of the world that seem helpful, but don[‘t bring us closer to God.  Such as identifying with a sickness, a label, trauma, etc., which makes us not identify with our true identity as child of God. Therefore, it brings us farther from God.  So let’s do what God says, and “As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”” 1 Peter 1:14-16 BSB.  This isn’t through our own work, its through keeping our eyes on Christ, and continually redirecting, changing our direction to Him instead of the world.  And that allows the righteousness of Christ to shine out of us. It makes it harder for the enemy to convince us that we are anything but the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. So let’s keep our eyes stayed on Him, and let Him make us holy!

You are told to “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life”. Proverbs 4:23 BSB.  So, lets really acknowledge that breastplate of righteousness we have on, because we want life to still be able to flow.

The righteousness we have is not earned by our being perfect.  It is by faith!  It’s by the blood of the lamb (Jesus). Thank you, Jesus for making us righteous.  Thank you that just having faith in you, makes us righteous.  “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”” Romans 4:3 BSB.   Continuing in Romans chapter 4, we learn that Abraham received righteousness by faith, and we are heirs of Abraham, and heirs of Jesus, so we receive it too.  And our “spirit is alive because of righteousness” Romans 8:10.   And that spirit in us, the Holy Spirit, gives life to our mortal bodies (from Romans 8:11).  So, let’s really acknowledge the righteousness that we have been given to guard our heart, and receive life to our mortal flesh. 

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Here's a live session recorded from this topic - Armor of God - Breastplate of righteousness

References The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB Copyright 2022 by Bible Hub Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.