Equipped for Battle: Embracing Righteousness in Christ
Summary
In Ephesians 6:14, Paul instructs believers to put on the "breastplate of righteousness" as part of the whole armor of God. This metaphorical armor is essential for Christians to withstand the spiritual battles against the devil's schemes. The battle we face is not merely against human nature but against powerful spiritual forces. Therefore, it is crucial to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. The breastplate of righteousness is not just a concept but a practical application of New Testament teachings. It involves understanding and living out the truth of our new identity in Christ, recognizing that we are no longer under the law or the dominion of sin and Satan. We are new creations, alive to God, and must keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
The Christian life is marked by a distinct separation from the world. We are called to be holy because God is holy, and our citizenship is in heaven. This world, organized by the devil against God, is not our home. We are strangers and pilgrims, journeying toward a heavenly city. Our focus should be on preparing for that eternal destination, not getting entangled in the temporary pleasures and pursuits of this world. The world is passing away, but those who do the will of God will abide forever.
Putting on the breastplate of righteousness means living in the light of these truths. It involves a conscious effort to abstain from worldly desires and to set our affections on things above. We must be vigilant, walking circumspectly, and redeeming the time because the days are evil. Our ultimate goal is to stand before God, having lived a life that reflects His righteousness and glory.
Key Takeaways:
1. Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God: Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle against powerful forces of evil. The armor of God, including the breastplate of righteousness, is essential for standing firm. This armor is not just theoretical but requires practical application of biblical truths in our daily lives. [01:27]
2. New Identity in Christ: Believers are no longer under the law or the dominion of sin. We are new creations, alive to God, and must live in the light of this new identity. This involves looking to Jesus and following His example in our struggle against sin. [05:10]
3. Separation from the World: Christians are called to be separate from the world, which is organized against God. Our citizenship is in heaven, and we must live as strangers and pilgrims, not getting entangled in worldly pursuits. [10:02]
4. Preparation for Eternity: Our focus should be on preparing for our eternal home. This involves living in a way that reflects our heavenly citizenship, setting our affections on things above, and being vigilant against the temptations of the world. [25:27]
5. Practical Righteousness: Putting on the breastplate of righteousness involves both negative and positive actions. We must abstain from worldly desires and actively pursue righteousness, setting our affections on things above and living in the light of God's truth. [36:24]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to the Armor of God
- [01:27] - The Spiritual Battle
- [02:22] - The Importance of Truth
- [03:54] - The Breastplate of Righteousness
- [05:10] - New Identity in Christ
- [07:48] - Christian Life in the World
- [10:02] - Separation from the World
- [12:30] - The World as Organized Against God
- [15:06] - Citizenship in Heaven
- [18:31] - The World's Opposition
- [22:20] - Worldliness and Respectability
- [25:27] - Preparation for Eternity
- [36:24] - Practical Application of Righteousness
- [47:54] - Closing Hymn and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 6:14 - "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place."
2. Hebrews 12:2 - "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
3. 1 John 2:15-17 - "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
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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? [03:54]
2. According to the sermon, what are the spiritual forces that Christians are battling against, and how does this relate to the need for the armor of God? [01:08]
3. How does the sermon describe the Christian's relationship with the world, and what biblical references support this view? [10:02]
4. What practical steps are mentioned in the sermon for putting on the breastplate of righteousness? [04:06]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being "new creations" in Christ influence a believer's daily life and decisions, according to the sermon? [05:10]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christians should view their citizenship in heaven, and how does this affect their interaction with the world? [15:20]
3. What does the sermon imply about the importance of vigilance and walking circumspectly in the Christian life? How does this relate to the days being described as evil? [22:02]
4. How does the sermon interpret the role of Jesus as the "author and finisher of our faith" in the context of spiritual warfare? [05:10]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual battles. How can you practically "put on" the breastplate of righteousness in these situations? [03:54]
2. Consider your daily interactions and decisions. How can you live more consciously as a "new creation" in Christ, as described in the sermon? [05:10]
3. In what ways do you find yourself entangled in worldly pursuits? How can you shift your focus to align more with your heavenly citizenship? [15:20]
4. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to be more vigilant. What steps can you take this week to walk more circumspectly? [22:02]
5. How can you set your affections on things above, as encouraged in the sermon? What practical changes can you make in your daily routine to support this? [45:12]
6. Think about a recent decision or action. How did it reflect your identity in Christ, or how could it have been more aligned with your new identity? [05:10]
7. How can you remind yourself daily of your ultimate destination and prepare for eternity, as discussed in the sermon? [25:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Armor for the Battle
The Christian life is a spiritual battle against powerful forces of evil, and believers are called to stand firm by putting on the full armor of God. This armor is not merely a theoretical concept but requires the practical application of biblical truths in daily life. The breastplate of righteousness, as part of this armor, symbolizes living in accordance with God's standards and truth. It involves a conscious effort to resist the devil's schemes and to live a life that reflects God's righteousness. By doing so, Christians can withstand the spiritual attacks they face and remain steadfast in their faith. [01:27]
Ephesians 6:11-12 (ESV): "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Reflection: What specific area of your life feels like a spiritual battleground right now? How can you actively put on the armor of God to stand firm in this area today?
Day 2: Embracing Our New Identity in Christ
Believers are no longer under the law or the dominion of sin; they are new creations, alive to God. This new identity in Christ calls for a life that reflects His example and teachings. Christians are encouraged to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith, and to live in the light of this new identity. This involves a daily commitment to follow Christ's example in the struggle against sin and to embrace the freedom and life that comes from being united with Him. [05:10]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: In what ways can you more fully embrace your identity as a new creation in Christ today? What changes might this require in your thoughts, actions, or attitudes?
Day 3: Living as Citizens of Heaven
Christians are called to be separate from the world, which is organized against God. Their true citizenship is in heaven, and they are to live as strangers and pilgrims on earth. This means not getting entangled in worldly pursuits and pleasures but focusing on their eternal destination. By living in a way that reflects their heavenly citizenship, believers can demonstrate their allegiance to God and His kingdom. This involves setting their affections on things above and living in a manner that honors God. [10:02]
Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV): "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Reflection: How can you live today in a way that reflects your heavenly citizenship? What worldly pursuits might you need to let go of to focus more on your eternal home?
Day 4: Preparing for Our Eternal Home
The focus of the Christian life should be on preparing for eternity. This involves living in a way that reflects one's heavenly citizenship and setting affections on things above. Christians are called to be vigilant against the temptations of the world and to live in a manner that honors God. By doing so, they can prepare for their eternal home and stand before God, having lived a life that reflects His righteousness and glory. [25:27]
Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to prepare for your eternal home? How can you set your mind on things above in your daily life?
Day 5: Pursuing Practical Righteousness
Putting on the breastplate of righteousness involves both abstaining from worldly desires and actively pursuing righteousness. This means setting affections on things above and living in the light of God's truth. Christians are called to be vigilant, walking circumspectly, and redeeming the time because the days are evil. By pursuing practical righteousness, believers can live a life that reflects God's glory and righteousness. [36:24]
1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV): "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: What is one specific area where you can pursue practical righteousness today? How can you align your actions with God's truth in this area?
Quotes
We are engaged in the mightiest Battle of all battles between Empires and Nations even with atomic power is nothing by comparison with this we are fighting against these spiritual and forces that govern this world and that are reducing Humanity to what is becoming increasingly evident at this present time. [00:01:44]
To put on the breastplate of righteousness means to take the great doctrinal teaching of the New Testament and put it into practice apply it which means again you see that you've got to know what it is there you're back at truth again but now this is the application of it. [00:04:15]
We must realize that we are new men that we are alive from the Dead Alive unto God we realize also that we must look at the Lord Jesus Christ looking unto Jesus that's the way according to the epistle to the Hebrews that's his way of putting it it's the same thing everywhere else. [00:04:59]
The whole of the Biblical teaching is to this effect that we are God's people and therefore a separate people now that's of course perfectly clear in the Old Testament they were marked off from everybody else by a great number of rules and regulations and Commandments. [00:08:28]
The Christian I say by definition is one who is to have an entirely different view of this present World from everybody else he's not only got a different view of it he's got a new view of it now you see the importance of all this here we are in this world sharing its life. [00:10:06]
The world in scripture means not the physical Universe of course obviously it doesn't even mean the people in the world as such what it does mean is the world of men as organized by the devil against God that's what it means it means the world as ruled by the devil. [00:11:22]
I have given them Thy word and the world World death hated them because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil they are not of the world. [00:13:27]
They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth you remember that Mighty list of men what's their great characteristic what was the great characteristic of people like Abel and Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob and Moses and David and people like that. [00:16:01]
We must realize the obvious need of preparation now this again is something the Bible puts everywhere you see if you take this idea of the Christian as a journeyman as a stranger as a pilgrim well obviously such a man keeps in the center of his mind in the Forefront of his thinking. [00:25:23]
The night is far spent the day is at hand that's it this world you see is a place of Darkness it's a night and we are making for the dawn for the day the Everlasting day of God and the night is far spent the day is at end and it's in the light of that he makes his exhortation. [00:27:25]
The Christian has to realize that all this is against him it's the devil using the visible the scene to get down God's people to bring them into confusion to entangle them to ens snare them and thus to stand between them and the blessings that God is ready to give them. [00:20:02]
The Men Who being the greatest benefactors to this world have been the people of Hebrews 11 who realize they were strangers and pilgrims who kept their eye upon the recompense of the reward men like Moses who didn't take the offer of being the son of Pharaoh's daughter. [00:32:20]
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