Monday, October 19, 2026
Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. Ephesians 6:14-18 CSB
How The Breastplate of Righteousness Will Help Us In Battle
In our current series on Spiritual Warfare called, Stand: Equipped for the Battle, we are learning about the enemy, his tactics, and how we can dress for battle in the full armor of God. As Christians every day we are on the battleground of a war that wages all around us unseen – a spiritual battle. Satan is our enemy and we have learned about his tactics. He distracts us with falsehoods to steer us off the course of God’s plan for us. These tactics weaken us in the battle and create vulnerability in our heart and mind.
Last week we learned that the Belt of Truth, the first piece of armor for believers, is to provide security, freedom, and confidence so we can stand firm in the battle. Yesterday we learned about the second piece of armor, the Breastplate of Righteousness.
The purpose of the Breastplate:
The breastplate was perhaps the most important part of the Roman soldier's armor—it provided protection for the torso, which contains vital organs like the heart and lungs. If a soldier lost a foot or an arm, he could still recover, but without a breastplate, any attack could instantly become fatal. With a sturdy breastplate, the very same attacks become ineffective and useless, as blows bounce off the armor.
Imputed or positional righteousness: Our sin keeps us from righteousness, so when Christ took on all our sin when he was on the cross, His righteousness was imputed (put on, given, transferred to) on us the second we believe. This matches up with the fact that salvation and eternity are not something you can earn with your good works. Neither is righteousness. It is strictly bestowed upon us from God.
On the cross Jesus gave us righteousness and took our sins. What an amazing exchange and Jesus did that for us while we were still sinners. We could never qualify on our own, so He did it for us. We just have to believe, and righteousness is ours.
Imparted or Practical Righteousness: Imparted righteousness is the real, inward change or transformation that results in righteousness that God instills in believers. It is the deep inward transformation and renewal that happens in believers that helps us live according to His will. Imparted righteousness results in the outward display of righteous living before the Lord. Walking in righteousness means actively living a life that has been changed by God.
What is the breastplate of righteousness and how will it help us in our spiritual battle?
What is your most dangerous vulnerability? Our most susceptible area is our heart. The soldier’s breastplate covered the heart. Satan often attacks our hearts - the seat of our emotions, self-worth, and trust. God's righteousness is the breastplate that protects the Christian’s heart. We must focus our hearts on Jesus Christ and his righteousness. We must do all we can to protect that focus. We can do that by living righteously – with integrity, honesty, and diligence. Righteousness keeps the heart from ever being wounded and losing its focus.
Pastor Jim gave us four points of how we can leverage the Breastplate of Righteousness in spiritual warfare:
- Know who you are in Christ. We are redeemed, a child of God, more than conquerors, God’s workmanship, a new creation, and so much more. We forget who we are in Christ when the enemy tries to make us feel unworthy.
- Stand in who you are in Christ. Take your stand in the full armor of God.
- Grow in who you are in Christ. Learn all you can through reading the Bible, studying, discipleship and community.
- Live out who you are in Christ. Live out the imparted righteousness you have in Christ before him.
The life we live either fortifies us against Satan’s attacks or makes it easier for him to defeat us. Satan is the accuser, but he cannot accuse the believer who is living a godly life in the power of the Spirit. When Satan attacks the Christian, it is the righteousness of Christ that assures the believer of his salvation. When we are clothed in righteousness, we are impenetrable. Our positional righteousness in Christ, without practical righteousness in the daily life, only gives Satan opportunity to attack us. Be aware and stand guard. Allow Christ to work His life and will in you. Allow His Holy Spirit to give you the power to live above sin. Every day intentionally live in His righteousness so it can protect your heart.
Read Ephesians 6:14-18. Do you have a right relationship with God through Jesus? Are you living “rightly” in obedience to Him? What needs to change so that you can?
