Embracing God's Righteousness: Our Spiritual Armor
Summary
In Ephesians 6:14, Paul emphasizes the necessity of wearing the "breastplate of righteousness" as part of the spiritual armor for Christians engaged in a spiritual battle against the devil's schemes. This armor is not about our own righteousness or moral efforts but is the righteousness of God, given through faith in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is both imputed to us, credited to our account, and imparted, worked out in us through sanctification. The breastplate of righteousness provides us with confidence and protection against discouragement, condemnation, and temptation. It reminds us that we are sons of God, like Jesus, who was tempted yet without sin.
The sermon warns against false asceticism, which suggests that righteousness can be achieved through strict adherence to rules and regulations, such as those observed during Lent. This approach is not supported by the New Testament and can lead to a mechanical and superficial form of Christianity. Instead, putting on the breastplate of righteousness involves understanding and applying the truth about our identity in Christ. We are no longer the old man, crucified with Christ, but new creations in Him. We have been delivered from the kingdom of Satan and are no longer under the dominion of sin or the law. This realization empowers us to live a life of freedom and victory, not to earn our salvation, but because we are already saved.
Key Takeaways:
- The breastplate of righteousness is not about our own efforts but the righteousness of God through faith in Christ. It is both imputed and imparted, providing us with confidence and protection against spiritual attacks. [02:56]
- False asceticism, such as the observance of Lent, is not a biblical means of achieving righteousness. True righteousness involves understanding our identity in Christ and living out that truth daily. [10:43]
- As Christians, we are no longer the old man, crucified with Christ. We are new creations, delivered from the kingdom of Satan, and no longer under the dominion of sin or the law. This realization empowers us to live victoriously. [17:31]
- We are dead to sin and no longer under its dominion. Sin is no longer our master; we are free to live in the realm of the Spirit, empowered to resist temptation and live righteously. [31:57]
- We are not under the law, trying to earn our salvation through our efforts. Christ has fulfilled the law for us, and we live righteously not to become Christians but because we are Christians. This understanding brings freedom and joy. [36:50]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:14
[00:26] - The Spiritual Battle
[01:01] - The Armor of God
[01:56] - The Breastplate of Righteousness
[02:40] - Righteousness of God
[03:28] - Confidence and Protection
[04:10] - Temptations of the Devil
[06:12] - Practical Application
[07:13] - False Asceticism
[10:43] - Observance of Lent
[12:19] - Liberty in Christ
[14:23] - Realizing Our Identity
[17:31] - Crucified with Christ
[23:40] - Delivered from Satan's Dominion
[31:57] - Dead to Sin
[36:50] - Freedom from the Law
[41:47] - Conclusion and Hymn
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:14
- Romans 6:6
- Colossians 2:18-23
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean by the "breastplate of righteousness" in Ephesians 6:14, and how is it described in the sermon? [01:56]
2. According to the sermon, how does the breastplate of righteousness provide protection against spiritual attacks? [03:28]
3. What is the sermon’s perspective on false asceticism, and how does it relate to the observance of Lent? [10:43]
4. How does the sermon describe the transformation of a Christian's identity in relation to sin and the law? [22:22]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of imputed and imparted righteousness help Christians understand their identity in Christ? [02:56]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that false asceticism can lead to a superficial form of Christianity? [07:13]
3. How does the realization of being "crucified with Christ" empower Christians to live victoriously, according to the sermon? [17:31]
4. What does it mean to be "dead to sin" and "no longer under the law," and how does this understanding bring freedom and joy? [36:50]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt discouraged or condemned. How might the breastplate of righteousness have provided you with confidence and protection in that situation? [03:57]
2. Have you ever tried to achieve righteousness through strict adherence to rules or traditions? How did that impact your spiritual life, and what changes could you make to focus on your identity in Christ instead? [10:43]
3. How can you remind yourself daily that you are a new creation in Christ, no longer under the dominion of sin or the law? What practical steps can you take to live out this truth? [22:53]
4. Identify an area in your life where you feel tempted. How can the understanding of being "dead to sin" help you resist that temptation? [31:57]
5. Consider the concept of living righteously not to earn salvation but because you are already saved. How does this shift in perspective affect your daily actions and decisions? [36:50]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of your identity in Christ to experience greater freedom and joy in your spiritual journey? [41:47]
7. Think of a specific way you can apply the truth of being "delivered from the kingdom of Satan" in your interactions with others this week. How can this realization influence your relationships and conversations? [23:40]
Devotional
Day 1: The Armor of God's Righteousness
The breastplate of righteousness is a crucial part of the spiritual armor that Christians are called to wear in their battle against the devil's schemes. This righteousness is not about our own moral efforts or achievements but is the righteousness of God, given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. It is both imputed, meaning it is credited to our account, and imparted, meaning it is worked out in us through the process of sanctification. This breastplate provides us with confidence and protection against discouragement, condemnation, and temptation. It serves as a reminder that we are sons of God, like Jesus, who was tempted yet without sin. [02:56]
"For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face." (Psalm 11:7, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on God's righteousness rather than your own efforts? How can you remind yourself daily of this truth?
Day 2: True Righteousness Over False Asceticism
False asceticism, such as the strict observance of rules and regulations like those during Lent, is not a biblical means of achieving righteousness. This approach can lead to a mechanical and superficial form of Christianity. Instead, true righteousness involves understanding and applying the truth about our identity in Christ. We are no longer the old man, crucified with Christ, but new creations in Him. This realization empowers us to live a life of freedom and victory, not to earn our salvation, but because we are already saved. [10:43]
"Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind." (Colossians 2:18, ESV)
Reflection: Are there any religious practices or traditions you follow that might be more about rule-following than genuine faith? How can you shift your focus to living out your identity in Christ?
Day 3: New Creations in Christ
As Christians, we are no longer the old man, crucified with Christ. We are new creations, delivered from the kingdom of Satan, and no longer under the dominion of sin or the law. This realization empowers us to live victoriously. Understanding our new identity in Christ allows us to walk in the freedom and victory that He has already secured for us. We are called to live out this truth daily, embracing the new life we have been given. [17:31]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: What does being a new creation in Christ mean to you personally? How can you live out this new identity in your daily life?
Day 4: Freedom from Sin's Dominion
We are dead to sin and no longer under its dominion. Sin is no longer our master; we are free to live in the realm of the Spirit, empowered to resist temptation and live righteously. This freedom is not a license to sin but an empowerment to live a life that honors God. By recognizing that sin no longer has power over us, we can choose to walk in the Spirit and experience the abundant life that Christ offers. [31:57]
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14, ESV)
Reflection: Is there a specific sin or temptation that you feel has dominion over you? How can you practically apply the truth of your freedom in Christ to overcome it?
Day 5: Living in the Freedom of Grace
We are not under the law, trying to earn our salvation through our efforts. Christ has fulfilled the law for us, and we live righteously not to become Christians but because we are Christians. This understanding brings freedom and joy. Embracing the grace of God allows us to live in the freedom that Christ has secured for us, free from the burden of trying to earn our way to God. This freedom should lead us to a life of gratitude and joyful obedience. [36:50]
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embrace the freedom and grace that Christ offers in your daily life? What changes might you need to make to live more fully in this freedom?
Quotes
The Apostle is here dealing with the vital importance of realizing as Christian people that we are engaged in a mighty Warfare and struggle against what he calls the Wilds of the devil and against the principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places. [00:26:50]
Righteousness here refers not to our own natural Integrity nor indeed to our own efforts in any respect as such. He means here the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ. That's the great theme of the New Testament that we don't have to work out our own righteousness any longer. [02:38:00]
The breastplate of righteousness means that we realize certain things in detail and constantly remind ourselves of them, and as we do so, we are putting on the breastplate of righteousness. Now how do we do this? What does it mean in practice? [06:21:00]
The system essentially is this: that you observe certain Seasons. You only do it at certain Seasons. I'm not going to wear you with the ramifications of the details, how at first it was done very strict, but more and more concessions are made. [12:17:00]
The Apostle says, why do you have been set at Liberty in Christ go back to the observance of days and times and seasons and believe that abstinence from this and that and the other is the way of Holiness and the way of righteousness? You're going back, he says, to the rudiments of the world. [12:49:00]
Putting on the breastplate of righteousness is, I want to try to show, almost the exact opposite of that. It's always, as the very passages we've read this morning show so clearly, it is always the application and the outworking of Doctrine, in other words, of the truth about ourselves. [14:16:00]
We are no longer in the Kingdom of Satan and under the Dominion of Satan. Now all of us by Nature are in the kingdom and the Dominion of Satan. Here again is an obviously vital thing to realize. The whole world, says the Apostle John in his first epistle chapter 5, the whole world lith in the wicked one. [23:40:00]
The Apostle teaches the same thing exactly in his epistle to the Colossians. He reminds these Colossians of this most wonderful thing that has happened to them who ha delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear son. [26:39:00]
We are dead to sin but say somebody that comes be true I still fall into sin to be dead to sin must mean that I'm absolutely perfect and sinless and incapable of sinning. It means nothing of the kind. What the Apostle is saying is this: that we are dead again to this territory, this Kingdom of sin. [31:57:00]
We are not under the law, trying to earn our salvation through our efforts. Christ has fulfilled the law for us, and we live righteously not to become Christians but because we are Christians. This understanding brings freedom and joy. [36:50:00]
Putting on the breastplate of righteousness partly means this: that I realize that I am to live the good life not in order to make myself a Christian but because I am a Christian, and what a difference. I am to live this good life not because I make a frantic hopeless effort to be make myself a Christian. [40:14:00]
You don't live the good life to be a Christian; you live a good life because you are a Christian. That's putting on the breastplate of righteousness, reminding yourselves, you see, that the old man is dead, you're no longer under the power of the devil, you're no longer under the power of sin. [41:47:00]
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