Putting on the Full Armor of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness

by David Chadwick This week we are going through each of the pieces in the armor of God. In order to be protected, we must apply the full armor of God. The next piece in Ephesians 6 is the breastplate of righteousness. It covers our vital organ: the heart. A breastplate, in Roman times, was made of such a strong metal that any weapon would bounce off it. The heart must be protected by the strongest possible means! This is especially true with our spiritual hearts. They must be covered with Jesus’s righteousness. His forgiveness. We must know how God sees us post-conversion to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that Jesus did not know sin, but willingly took on our sin so that we can become his righteousness. The Father looks at those of us who have received Jesus just as if we have never sinned. We need not worry about anything because the breastplate of his righteousness covers our hearts. Therefore, all the enemy’s lies must bounce off our hearts and never penetrate them. We must constantly believe and practice Matthew 6:33. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Jesus calls his followers to prioritize him above all else. And then everything else in life will fall into line. Because Jesus’s righteousness is now in our hearts, we act righteously in accordance with the Father’s moral will and law. We hunger and thirst after righteousness because that’s who we are! We do it because we want to, not have to. We know all acts of righteousness please the Lord, the One who gave us his righteousness through the cross of Calvary. May the breastplate of righteousness guard your heart, for from it should flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).