Clothed in Christ: The Power of Righteousness

Without the power and the strength of the Lord Himself and without this armor that he provides for us and which we've got to put on piece by piece we cannot hope to stand against this enemy that is set against us the devil and all these principalities and powers these emissaries and forces which he commands and which he uses against the Christian people. [00:01:35]

The breastplate in these ancient times as worn by soldiers such as the Apostle would have been very familiar with the Roman salvia he may have been very well chained to one on the right hand and on the left when he dictated or wrote all this in any case it was a very the familiar picture in the whole of the Roman world at that time the Roman soldier had on this breastplate and it was something that generally extended from the base of the neck to the upper part of the thighs. [00:08:55]

The Apostle here when he tells us to put on the breastplate of righteousness is concerned about this that in this conflict this wrestling that we are engaged in with the world in the flesh and the devil there is no part that we must be more careful about as we go to protection as this part of ourselves where the feelings and the affections are concerned not only the feelings and the affections but the conscience and not only the conscience but the desires and the will. [00:11:48]

There are some who say that what is meant here by righteousness is moral rectitude you'll find this new wing bible so-called that translates it as integrity that's the view they take of it that we must be sure of our own personal integrity that we must be men of moral rectitude that we must be just and righteous and good people they say you stand no hope at all or any chance in fighting the devil and all his emissaries unless you're an honest person. [00:15:26]

Integrity is a good thing but integrity natural integrity and goodness is as nothing when confronted by the guile and the wiles and the subtlety of the enemy who is standing opposed to us he can bring us into utter condemnation if we rely only upon our own goodness I could do that very easily for him this morning but I don't want to waste your time I could very easily become the devil's advocate if you were tending to be proud of yourself as a Christian. [00:18:24]

What is it well let me suggest to you what seems to me to be the only adequate answer it is obviously a righteousness which is provided by God Himself what is that well that's why I read the third chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians at the beginning because the Apostle there puts it very clearly before us listen to him let me read again Philippians the beginning at verse 8 he says he's been describing his own natural righteousness. [00:19:27]

Imputed righteousness what is it well here you see is the whole datian of our standing as Christians let me give you an alternative term justification by faith mother man doesn't know of course he doesn't that's what he needs to know he is what he is because he doesn't anything about justification by faith I don't expect him to understand it and you can translate your Bible until you're tired of doing so he still won't understand it he has to be taught it. [00:24:19]

This is imputed righteousness it's all here in this Philippians 3 this is the thing to put on says Paul here you are however good you live a life whatever you are whatever you've done when you come to stand in the presence of God you'll find you're a hopeless sinner utterly condemned oh you say well I'm gonna live a better life I'm gonna turn over a new leaf I'm gonna start reading my Bible and praying and doing good I'm going to make myself a righteous man in the presence of God. [00:25:01]

The righteousness of God by faith it's this you see that because we can never attain unto this righteousness God sent His only Son into this world what for well that he might be able to give us his righteousness that's what it means here he came spotless sinless son of God and he rendered a perfect obedience to God's law obeyed him in every jot and tittle of the law he lived up perfectly a righteous life but more than that he made himself responsible for our sins. [00:27:20]

He imputes not perfect observance of the law to me I haven't kept the law of Christ a skeptic he kept it perfectly and he's righteous before the law God puts to my account imputes to me the righteousness of his own son he clothes me with it he puts it all to my account so that as I stand in the presence of God God doesn't see me he sees the righteousness of his son covering me clothing me completely and absolutely that's the thing I want to get says the Apostle. [00:30:03]

Imparted righteousness and it's very important equally important for us to lay hold on this also what is this well the difference between imputed and impart is that if you stop at imputed righteousness I as it where I'm left where I was before I have no righteousness inherent in me at all and I am but clothed and covered by the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ but you see it doesn't stop at it that's the beginning that's the thing that makes me a Christian. [00:31:56]

The joy of the Lord he is your strength and this is the strength we need and you can only get the joy of the Lord as you appropriate this truth concerning the righteousness of God which is by faith which comes to us through the instrument of faith but it's God's righteousness which is given to us in this extraordinary manner in other words it means this you the confidence that we have which arises from the knowledge that we are the children of God and there's nothing else that Lynnae blue men to stand against the devil. [00:37:20]