What’s the best way to describe The Breastplate of Righteousness? I’m not sure, but here’s my attempt…
Think back to what a Roman soldier wore to protect his chest and major organs: it was a breastplate that reached from the neck to the waist. Without it, he would expose himself to getting wounded in battle, and some of these wounds could be fatal.
OK…
The devil will often attack our heart, which is the seat of our emotions. God’s Breastplate of Righteousness is the armor that protects our heart, and it’s this righteousness that assures us of His approval. I’ll try to explain this…
Two incredible things happened when Christ died on the cross:
1. He took away the sin of the world (you’re sin and my sin)
2. Remember the “sin” problem that separated us from God? Well, by dying… He fixed that!
Do you know why Jesus is called “The Lamb of God?” I’ve met quite a few people who aren’t sure of what that means. Let me tell you…back in the Old Testament the Israelites sacrificed lambs, goats, and other various animals as an offering to God for forgiveness of their sin. Hebrews 9:22-23 explains this: “In fact according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified by blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. That is why the Tabernacle, and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.”
Jesus Christ (The Son of Man) died for us…thus He is The Lamb of God. Make sense?
So, because He fixed the sin problem for us, He makes things “right. That’s why we are told to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness. ”
Remember the born-again stuff? As soon as we say yes to Christ, we become covered in His Blood…in His Righteousness (metaphorically speaking. – that’s how God sees us).
We as humans, are far from perfect, but the devil can get no place in a heart protected by Christ’s Righteousness.
Next time, we’ll look at the Shoes of Peace
* Some words taken from Spiritual Warfare Study Guide by David Jeremiah