“Breastplate of Righteousness” – Spiritual Warfare Series
In this series, each installment is building on information provided in prior articles. To keep from being overly repetitive, please take a moment to read the earlier installments in the series. To view earlier articles in this series, please click on the article title below:
This Week’s Installment…
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”
- Ephesians 6:13-14 -
In this installment, I want us to take a look at the next piece of armour that the Apostle Paul mentions; the breastplate.
First, notice Paul’s wording again. After making the declaration that the soldier of God must take their stand to be an effective warrior, he stated there were a couple of pieces that one must have immediately placed upon them to even begin to think about being victorious. The first was our last article, The Belt of Truth. As you will remember, it is crucial as it is a foundation piece, and many of the other pieces are attached to this belt. Notice also that Paul says, “having on” the breastplate.
This is present tense. You will never be able to take a real stand in this spiritual fight we are in without already having on this breastplate. It’s not something you can put on later, or find a replacement for among your own devices, but it is a vital an initial piece of armor that one must have obtained to even begin to think you can fight the enemy of your soul.
One interesting fact about the breastplate, was that it attached to the “girdle” or “belt” of Truth. This piece of armour could not even be worn unless it was attached to the belt.
Another interesting observation is that the breastplate protected the majority of all the vital organs, especially the heart. It was specially tempered, and crafted by master craftsmen within the Roman empire to withstand huge hits, and cuts of the swords of the enemy, resulting in the heart and other major organs being protected.
A soldier’s breastplate was custom tailored to his shape and needs, so that it could be the right fit, and protect him to it’s full potential. A soldier could not take someone else’s breastplate as it would not fit his particular needs, and he could not pick up just any piece of protection, as it might not be tempered, and crafted to withstand the hard hits of the enemy.
Spiritually, this really does fit. You see God is a Holy God, and He demands righteousness. But we are a fallen, cursed and sinful creation. Fallen in our very nature, and the very best we have to offer God, the most moral and best intentioned that we could ever be, still not righteous enough for God’s Holy demands. The prophet Isaiah said it this way, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” – Isaiah 64:6. Though I know it’s a unpleasant thought, Isaiah was literally comparing our very best intentions and efforts to the equivalent of the infection soaked bandage of a leper’s wound. You see, our own righteousness will not fit for the battle.
But God provided Himself in the manifested form of The Son, as a sacrifice, a perfect sacrifice, so that we might be able to lean on God’s 
own righteousness, and His very Holiness as protection. I don’t have to trust in my best intentions, or the best I can do to be enough, but I can be buried in the waters of baptism with Christ, and have His blood applied to my life so that I might obtain His righteousness.
And that breastplate that He fits me with, fits just right. And it’s been tempered to protect me from the hits of the enemy that would otherwise destroy me. When the enemy throws a blow at me, trying to kill me and hit the very seat of my emotions, my heart…. with accusations of my past or my failings, I don’t have to trust in some armour I’ve created for myself, but I can trust in the tempered, custom made, strong righteousness of Christ to protect me.
What a wonderful thing to realize… I’m covered, and protected by His righteousness. But I still have to put it on, it’s a choice, each day. When I stand, I have to have that righteousness placed on me, and not choose to pick up any of my own devices or tools.
God does expect some things out of me, a lifestyle that testifies of His goodness; He expects me to be salt and light in this world around me. But I can never believe that it’s my doing that saves me, or redeems me. It was He who paid the price that was owed, and it was He who had the power to place my transgressions as far from me as the East is from the West.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
- Ephesians 2:8 –
