Embracing Righteousness: Our Identity in Christ

 

Summary

In Ephesians 6:14, Paul emphasizes the importance of the "breastplate of righteousness" as part of the spiritual armor necessary for Christians engaged in spiritual warfare. 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 the devil's attacks, including feelings of condemnation and temptation.

The sermon warns against a false asceticism that equates righteousness with strict adherence to rules and regulations, such as the observance of Lent. This approach, which was not practiced by the early church, 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, enslaved to sin and under the law, but new creations in Christ, free from the dominion of sin and Satan.

This understanding liberates us from the burden of trying to earn our righteousness through the law, which only highlights our inability to meet God's standards. Instead, we live righteously because we are already made righteous in Christ. This shift from striving to resting in Christ's finished work is crucial for living a victorious Christian life. By recognizing our new identity and freedom in Christ, we can resist the devil and live in the power of the Spirit.

Key Takeaways:

- The breastplate of righteousness is not about our own efforts but the righteousness of God given through faith in Christ. This righteousness is both imputed and imparted, providing us with confidence and protection against spiritual attacks. [02:56]

- False asceticism, such as the observance of Lent, can lead to a superficial Christianity focused on rules rather than a genuine relationship with Christ. 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 enslaved to sin but new creations in Christ. This realization is crucial for living a victorious Christian life, as it frees us from the dominion of sin and Satan. [17:31]

- We are no longer under the law, trying to earn our righteousness. Instead, we live righteously because we are already made righteous in Christ. This shift from striving to resting in Christ's finished work is essential for spiritual growth. [36:50]

- Understanding our new identity in Christ empowers us to resist the devil and live in the power of the Spirit. By recognizing that we are free from sin and the law, we can live confidently and victoriously as children of God. [28:13]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:14
- [00:26] - The Spiritual Warfare of Christians
- [01:01] - The Armor of God
- [01:56] - The Breastplate of Righteousness
- [02:40] - Righteousness by Faith
- [03:28] - Practical Benefits of the Breastplate
- [04:54] - Protection Against Temptations
- [06:12] - Putting on the Breastplate in Practice
- [07:13] - Warning Against False Asceticism
- [10:43] - The History of Lent
- [12:19] - Observance of Days and Seasons
- [14:23] - Applying Doctrine to Life
- [17:31] - Our Identity in Christ
- [28:13] - Freedom from Sin and Satan
- [36:50] - Living Under Grace, Not Law

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 protect us from the devil's attacks, such as feelings of condemnation and temptation? [03:57]

3. What is the warning given in the sermon about false asceticism, and how does it relate to the observance of Lent? [10:43]

4. How does the sermon describe the transformation from the "old man" to a "new creation" in Christ? [17:31]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of righteousness being both imputed and imparted affect a believer's understanding of 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? How might this impact a believer's relationship with Christ? [10:43]

3. How does recognizing our freedom from the dominion of sin and Satan empower us to live a victorious Christian life, according to the sermon? [28:13]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the shift from striving under the law to resting in Christ's finished work, and how is this essential for spiritual growth? [36:50]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are trying to earn righteousness through your efforts rather than resting in Christ's finished work? How can you shift your mindset this week? [36:50]

2. Have you ever found yourself adhering to religious practices or rules that felt mechanical or superficial? How can you focus more on your relationship with Christ rather than just following rules? [10:43]

3. In what ways can you remind yourself daily of your new identity in Christ and the freedom it brings? Consider practical steps you can take to reinforce this truth. [17:31]

4. How do you currently respond to feelings of condemnation or temptation? What specific actions can you take to rely on the breastplate of righteousness for protection? [03:57]

5. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel under the dominion of sin. How can the truth of being dead to sin and alive in Christ help you overcome this struggle? [29:38]

6. Think about a time when you felt burdened by trying to live up to religious expectations. How can you embrace the freedom of living under grace instead of the law? [36:50]

7. How can you practically resist the devil's attacks in your daily life, knowing that you are no longer under his dominion? What steps can you take to live confidently in the power of the Spirit? [28:13]

Devotional

Day 1: Righteousness as Divine Armor
The breastplate of righteousness is a crucial part of the spiritual armor that Christians are called to wear in their spiritual battles. This righteousness is not something we achieve through our own efforts or moral actions; rather, it is the righteousness of God, given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. This divine righteousness is both imputed to us, meaning it is credited to our account, and imparted, meaning it is worked out in us through the process of sanctification. By wearing this breastplate, we gain confidence and protection against the devil's attacks, such as feelings of condemnation and temptation. Understanding this truth allows us to stand firm in our identity in Christ and resist the enemy's schemes. [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 divine armor you possess?


Day 2: True Righteousness vs. False Asceticism
False asceticism, such as the strict observance of rules and regulations like Lent, can lead to a superficial form of Christianity that focuses more on external practices than on a genuine relationship with Christ. This approach was not practiced by the early church and can result in a mechanical faith that lacks depth. True righteousness involves understanding and living out our identity in Christ. We are no longer bound by the old man, enslaved to sin and under the law, but are new creations in Christ, free from the dominion of sin and Satan. This understanding liberates us from the burden of trying to earn our righteousness through the law, which only highlights our inability to meet God's standards. [10:43]

"Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath." (Colossians 2:16, ESV)

Reflection: Are there any religious practices or traditions you follow that might be more about rule-following than deepening your relationship with Christ? How can you shift your focus to living out your true identity in Him?


Day 3: Embracing Our New Identity in Christ
As Christians, we are no longer the old man enslaved to sin but new creations in Christ. This realization is crucial for living a victorious Christian life, as it frees us from the dominion of sin and Satan. By recognizing our new identity, we can resist the devil and live in the power of the Spirit. This shift from striving to resting in Christ's finished work is essential for spiritual growth. We are no longer under the law, trying to earn our righteousness, but live righteously because we are already made righteous in Christ. This understanding empowers us to live confidently and victoriously as children of God. [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 old habits or thought patterns do you need to let go of to fully embrace your new identity in Christ? How can you actively live out this new identity today?


Day 4: Living Under Grace, Not Law
We are no longer under the law, trying to earn our righteousness. Instead, we live righteously because we are already made righteous in Christ. This shift from striving to resting in Christ's finished work is essential for spiritual growth. By understanding our new identity and freedom in Christ, we can resist the devil and live in the power of the Spirit. This understanding liberates us from the burden of trying to earn our righteousness through the law, which only highlights our inability to meet God's standards. Instead, we live righteously because we are already made righteous in Christ. [36:50]

"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself striving to earn God's approval? How can you shift your mindset to rest in the grace and righteousness already given to you in Christ?


Day 5: Empowered to Resist and Live Victoriously
Understanding our new identity in Christ empowers us to resist the devil and live in the power of the Spirit. By recognizing that we are free from sin and the law, we can live confidently and victoriously as children of God. This freedom allows us to live out our faith with boldness and assurance, knowing that we are protected by the breastplate of righteousness. As we embrace this truth, we can stand firm against the enemy's attacks and live a life that reflects the transformative power of the gospel. [28:13]

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to resist the devil and live in the power of the Spirit? How can you remind yourself of your freedom and victory in Christ throughout the day?

Quotes


The Apostle is here dealing with the vital importance of our 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. [00:26:00]

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. [02:40:00]

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 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. [12:19:00]

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. [14:23:00]

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. [23:13:00]

If we But realize that we no longer belong to his kingdom, that we've been translated from it into the kingdom of God's dear son, that Christ has set us free, that we're out to the clutches of the devil, that he can no longer touch us, try as he will, we don't belong to him. [28:13:00]

We are no longer under the law and trying therefore to make ourselves righteous and Christian. Now again, this is a great theme in the New Testament. There's nothing more depr Ing and discouraging than to be trying to make yourself a Christian. That's what is meant by being under the law. [33:48:00]

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. [40:19:00]

You don't live the good life to be a Christian; you live the 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. [41:40:00]

Do you realize that your old man is dead, crucified, buried, gone forever, and that you're a free man and a new man in Christ Jesus, free from sin, free from the law? There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. [42:19:00]

We do hope that you've been helped by the preaching of Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones. All of the sermons contained within the MLJ Trust audio library are now available for free download. You may share the sermons or broadcast them. [43:22:00]

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