Standing Firm: The Power of Righteousness in Faith

 

Summary

In Ephesians 6:14, Paul instructs believers to put on the "breastplate of righteousness" as part of the whole armor of God. This armor is essential for Christians to stand firm against the devil's schemes. The breastplate of righteousness is crucial because it protects the heart, where our feelings, affections, and conscience reside. It is not merely about personal integrity but involves the righteousness of Christ imputed to us by faith and worked out in us by the Holy Spirit. This righteousness provides a sense of confidence and assurance in our salvation, which is vital in spiritual warfare.

Feelings and emotions, while important, should not be the foundation of our faith. The devil often tempts us to rely on our feelings, leading to spiritual instability when those feelings wane. True Christian experience involves emotions, but they must be grounded in the objective truth of Christ's righteousness. Similarly, extraordinary spiritual experiences, while valuable, should not be the basis of our faith. The devil can use these experiences to create doubt when they fade or are questioned.

Discouragement is another tool of the devil, often arising from pride or reliance on our works. When our efforts seem fruitless, we may doubt our faith. However, our assurance should rest on Christ's righteousness, not our achievements. Spiritual depression, characterized by a sense of dryness and lethargy, can also challenge our faith. In such times, resting in the Lord and trusting in His unchanging purpose is crucial.

Ultimately, the breastplate of righteousness is our protection against all forms of spiritual attack. It reminds us that our standing before God is based on Christ's righteousness, not our fluctuating feelings or experiences. By putting on this breastplate, we can withstand the devil's assaults and remain secure in our faith.

Key Takeaways:

- The breastplate of righteousness is essential for protecting our hearts, where our feelings and conscience reside. It is not just about personal integrity but involves the righteousness of Christ imputed to us by faith. This righteousness provides confidence and assurance in our salvation, crucial for standing firm against the devil's schemes. [03:46]

- Feelings and emotions are important in the Christian experience, but they should not be the foundation of our faith. The devil often tempts us to rely on our feelings, leading to instability when those feelings wane. True faith is grounded in the objective truth of Christ's righteousness, which remains constant despite our emotional fluctuations. [07:52]

- Extraordinary spiritual experiences, while valuable, should not be the basis of our faith. The devil can use these experiences to create doubt when they fade or are questioned. Our assurance should rest on Christ's righteousness, not on transient experiences. [16:45]

- Discouragement often arises from pride or reliance on our works. When our efforts seem fruitless, we may doubt our faith. However, our assurance should rest on Christ's righteousness, not our achievements. This perspective helps us remain steadfast in the face of spiritual challenges. [22:13]

- Spiritual depression, characterized by a sense of dryness and lethargy, can challenge our faith. In such times, resting in the Lord and trusting in His unchanging purpose is crucial. The breastplate of righteousness reminds us that our standing before God is based on Christ's righteousness, providing security and peace amidst trials. [34:06]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:14
- [00:26] - The Armor of God
- [01:01] - Importance of the Breastplate
- [01:52] - Understanding Righteousness
- [03:31] - Imputed and Imparted Righteousness
- [04:22] - Assurance in Spiritual Warfare
- [05:24] - Protecting Feelings and Sensibilities
- [06:34] - The Danger of Relying on Feelings
- [09:49] - The Role of Experiences
- [14:53] - Discouragement and Works
- [18:52] - Spiritual Depression
- [27:24] - Resting in the Lord
- [34:06] - Trusting in God's Purpose
- [41:06] - Conclusion and Final Hymn

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:14

Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of the "breastplate of righteousness" as described in Ephesians 6:14? How does it relate to the other pieces of the armor of God? [00:26]
2. According to the sermon, what are the key areas of our lives that the breastplate of righteousness is meant to protect? [02:08]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between feelings and faith? What dangers are associated with relying too heavily on feelings? [06:34]
4. What role do extraordinary spiritual experiences play in the Christian life, according to the sermon? How can they become a source of doubt? [16:45]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the righteousness of Christ being "imputed" to believers provide assurance in spiritual warfare? [03:46]
2. In what ways can pride and reliance on personal achievements lead to discouragement in one's faith journey? [22:13]
3. How does the sermon suggest believers should respond to spiritual depression or a sense of dryness in their faith? [34:06]
4. What does it mean to "rest in the Lord" during times of spiritual attack or doubt, and how does this relate to the breastplate of righteousness? [34:06]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your feelings led you to question your faith. How can you remind yourself of the objective truth of Christ's righteousness in similar situations? [07:52]
2. Have you ever relied on a spiritual experience as the foundation of your faith? How can you shift your focus to the righteousness of Christ instead? [16:45]
3. When faced with discouragement due to unmet expectations or perceived failures, how can you refocus on Christ's righteousness rather than your own achievements? [22:13]
4. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel spiritually dry or lethargic. What steps can you take to rest in the Lord and trust in His unchanging purpose? [34:06]
5. Consider a recent challenge or trial you faced. How did you respond, and how might putting on the breastplate of righteousness change your approach in the future? [33:25]
6. How can you cultivate a habit of grounding your faith in the righteousness of Christ rather than fluctuating emotions or experiences? [09:49]
7. Think of someone in your life who might be struggling with spiritual discouragement. How can you encourage them to rely on Christ's righteousness for assurance and peace? [22:13]

Devotional

Day 1: The Armor of Righteousness Protects Our Hearts
The breastplate of righteousness is a vital component of the armor of God, as it safeguards the heart, the seat of our emotions, affections, and conscience. This protection is not merely about personal integrity but is deeply rooted in the righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to believers by faith and worked out in them by the Holy Spirit. This divine righteousness provides believers with confidence and assurance in their salvation, which is essential for standing firm against the devil's schemes. By understanding that our standing before God is based on Christ's righteousness, we can withstand spiritual attacks and remain secure in our faith. [03:46]

Ephesians 4:24 (ESV): "And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively put on the breastplate of righteousness today to guard your heart against spiritual attacks?


Day 2: Grounding Faith in Christ's Righteousness
Feelings and emotions, while significant, should not be the foundation of our faith. The devil often tempts believers to rely on their feelings, leading to spiritual instability when those feelings wane. True Christian experience involves emotions, but they must be grounded in the objective truth of Christ's righteousness, which remains constant despite our emotional fluctuations. By anchoring our faith in Christ's unchanging righteousness, we can maintain stability and assurance in our spiritual journey, even when our emotions are in flux. [07:52]

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"

Reflection: How can you ensure that your faith is grounded in Christ's righteousness rather than your fluctuating emotions today?


Day 3: The Transience of Spiritual Experiences
Extraordinary spiritual experiences, while valuable, should not be the basis of our faith. The devil can use these experiences to create doubt when they fade or are questioned. Our assurance should rest on Christ's righteousness, not on transient experiences. By focusing on the enduring truth of Christ's righteousness, believers can find stability and assurance, even when extraordinary experiences are absent or questioned. This perspective helps maintain a steadfast faith that is not swayed by the ebb and flow of spiritual experiences. [16:45]

2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: Reflect on a past spiritual experience that you have relied on. How can you shift your focus to the eternal truth of Christ's righteousness today?


Day 4: Overcoming Discouragement Through Christ's Righteousness
Discouragement often arises from pride or reliance on our works. When our efforts seem fruitless, we may doubt our faith. However, our assurance should rest on Christ's righteousness, not our achievements. This perspective helps us remain steadfast in the face of spiritual challenges, knowing that our standing before God is secure in Christ. By focusing on His righteousness, we can overcome discouragement and find renewed strength and purpose in our spiritual journey. [22:13]

Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Reflection: Identify an area where you feel discouraged in your spiritual walk. How can you rely on Christ's righteousness to find encouragement and perseverance today?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Unchanging Purpose
Spiritual depression, characterized by a sense of dryness and lethargy, can challenge our faith. In such times, resting in the Lord and trusting in His unchanging purpose is crucial. The breastplate of righteousness reminds us that our standing before God is based on Christ's righteousness, providing security and peace amidst trials. By trusting in God's unchanging purpose, believers can find hope and assurance, even in the midst of spiritual dryness and challenges. [34:06]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: During times of spiritual dryness, how can you actively rest in the Lord and trust in His unchanging purpose for your life today?

Quotes



The breastplate of righteousness is most important because as we've seen it covers that part of us where the feelings and the sensibilities are involved, the affections. It also covers that part where the conscience tends to operate. It's very difficult to locate these things and yet we adopt the classification which was always adopted and used by people in the first century. [00:02:03]

The righteousness that is imputed to every Christian, the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, put to our account, and also the imparted righteousness, this righteousness of Christ worked into us, worked out through us by the Holy Spirit. And then having defined that, we ask this question: well then, how exactly do we do this and how does it help us? [00:03:46]

Feelings come and go, and the devil of course is well aware of that. So his special strategy at this point is this: he tries to make us rely unduly upon our feelings and upon our sensations, upon our sensibilities. He persuades many people to base the whole of their Christian position upon that. [00:06:14]

The danger arises in this way: that feelings are a part and a vital part and an essential part of the true Christian experience. Let's be perfectly clear about that. If we've never felt anything in connection with our faith, well then we haven't got it. It's impossible. You can't really believe this great salvation without feeling something. [00:07:52]

The Devil comes and he tries to cause this division, this false division of the human personality, and he does it in many different ways. But this, I say, is a particularly common one which he uses and implies, having brought the gospel, having brought us to see that the affections, the emotions must be involved and must be moved. [00:08:44]

The breastplate of righteousness is all important. Indeed, it is at this point the only adequate protection. I think I quoted last Sunday morning, I must quote it again, the man who said, the saint who wrote in his hymn, "I dare not trust my sweetest frame." Why not? Well, because he knew how variable these frames are. [00:09:49]

The subjective must always follow the objective, and the tragedy is that people put the subjective before the objective. You'll see, indeed we've considered it many times in dealing with this great paragraph, that the devil of course can get us at any point. Here I am emphasizing this morning the objective. [00:13:22]

Discouragement is something that is very frequently used by the devil. You see, the devil knows us so well. He knows that men's final trouble always is his pride. It's the pride of men that keeps him from believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. The people who are not Christian in this world this morning, most of them, particularly the intellectuals, are in that position because of their pride. [00:18:52]

The devil here, he is facing us always, and what does he do? Well, he tries to bring us back into a subtle reliance once more upon works and upon ourselves and upon our own activities. And for a while, it seems to be wonderful. Yeah, we are in the Christian life, we're doing a lot, and we're working hard, and we're making a great contribution. [00:20:00]

The Apostle Peter describing the same thing, he's writing, you remember, to those Christian people scattered abroad in various parts of the world, and this is how he puts it to them: wherein he says, talking about the great salvation, you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if needs be, you are in heaviness through manifold trials or temptations. [00:31:26]

The only hope, I say, is to say, well, I don't understand, but this I know, and that's putting on the breastplate of righteousness. In other words, let me put it first in the Old Testament terms: rest in the Lord, wait patiently for him when you don't understand and when you really are perplexed as the apostle was. [00:34:06]

The work which his goodness began, the arm of his strength will complete. His promise is yea and amen and never was forfeited yet. That's it, and you got nothing else to say at that point. You can't understand the particulars, you can't give any explanation. All you know is this: you are banking utterly, absolutely upon this glorious purpose of God in Christ. [00:36:30]

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