Put On The Full Armor of God

Breastplate of Righteousness

Eph 6:14
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Sin is very deceptive and very destructive. It has a silent and a destroying effect on our heart. People that compromise with sin do not realize they are being changed, one day at a time until they become unresponsive to the Spirit of God.

There is a Time for Repentence!

Prov 1:24-33
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

This portion of scripture tells us that there is a time for repentance, a time to listen to the Lord. Sin tells us there is no hurry to change and that we can change at a more convenient time.

Prov 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Another name for Satan is the Destroyer. For this reason righteousness is much more than merely being good, it is protection.Protection from the destructive effects of evil on our heart and mind.

The Cost of Sin

Sin will take you farther than you ever wanted to go, keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay and cost you more than you ever wanted to pay.

Sin destroys lives and personalities.

Over the years, I have met with many people that were unable to reverse the effects of sin on their minds and hearts. It is truly a sad state. Sin binds, it chokes, it steals, it distorts, it confuses. Sin effectively renders a person unable live in obedience to God.

The most destructive effect of sin is it's ability to deaden the heart to the Spirit of God.

Sin makes one unresponsive to God.

Sin causes spiritual things to no longer be important. The Word is uninspiring, prayer seems meaningless, and God seems distant. Sin, if allowed to progress, will remove all desire to serve the Lord. Ongoing sin will deaden the heart to God. God can speak but sin stops the ear. God is willing to forgive and restore, but the heart deadened by habitual sin has lost all interest in serving God. This is the real danger of sin; it removes our desire to serve God and makes our heart unresponsive to the Holy Spirit.

Sin Deceives

The person that lives in sin usually has the idea that they can repent and change their behavior whenever they choose. This is really not true and this kind of thinking displays the deceitful nature of sin; sin distorts the truth. The truth is this - the day will come when that person will no longer be able to repent because sin has had it's full effect and has left the heart in a hardened state. God has called many times, but each time the person would not hear, and as a consequence, their unwilling heart becomes progressively hardened until it neither hears nor cares what God says!

We cannot repent whenever we choose-there is a time of repentance; a time when our heart is soft and our heart is responsive. The time to turn is when we sense our need of God and His willingness to help us. We cannot say no to God indefinitely without inward hardening.

Hebrews 3:13 (KJV)
instructs us to exhort one another daily, while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Prov 14:9 (KJV)
Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
Prov 5:22 (NLT)
An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.
James 1:15 (KJV)
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

I am not saying that a person can become so evil that God will not forgive. It is not a question of how evil one has become or how far one has fallen, but rather, the consequences of habitually saying no to God. There is no sin so sinful that Christ cannot atone. However, we cannot say no to the grace and mercy of God, repeatedly, without an adverse effect on our heart. Sin hardens and the Breastplate of Righteousness protects.

What Is Righteousness

Righteousness is godly living that proceeds from a heart of love. It is a heart attitude that puts God first and seeks to please Him. Righteousness is more than behavior, but is not separate from our behavior! We are created to be righteous and the Lord commands us to "put on" the Breastplate of Righteousness. Remember, it is the "full armor", we can't leave off our breastplate and expect to stand against a powerful enemy. The Lord expects us to put on the protections He has provided and only by God's armor are we able to effectively stand against, and withstand, the wiles of the Devil.

Justification and Sanctification

When we speak of righteousness we must remember that we are speaking of the righteousness of justification and the righteousness of sanctification. They are different in that justification is immediate, performed by God on our behalf, while sanctification is an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within us. Forgiveness results in justification, obedience results in sanctification. Justification is also known as imputed righteousness, sanctification as imparted righteousness. Both are real, both are essential for salvation, both are the gracious work of Christ.

Justification, A Deliverance from Guilt

Col.1:12-14
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Justification can be thought of as a deliverance. A deliverance by God from the guilt and power of sin. A deliverance because we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son. God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has made atonement for all our sins.

Salvation is a deliverance from unrighteousness.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NLT)
30 God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom. 31 As the Scriptures say, The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.

Remember, the result of forgiveness is righteousness! That which made us guilty, we are forgiven of. When we are forgiven we are made right with God. To be made right is a deliverance from not being right. We are delivered out of darkness into the light. This is something only God is able to do. Our rightness with God is an action by God on our behalf. It is called justification-our standing with God is now right because we have been forgiven of all our sins, not one sin is held against us. We have been made completely free from all guilt.

Forgiveness is a removal of guilt and guiltiness, to a state of righteousness. This is called justification. Forgiveness results in justification

Romans 5:1 (NKJV)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 3:24-26 (NLT)
24 Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.
25 For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times.
26 And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV)
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

Acts 4:10-12 (NLT)
10 Let me clearly state to you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed in the name and power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, the man you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead.
11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.12 There is salvation in no one else!

There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.

We accept, by faith, the work of Christ on our behalf. God said it was so, therefore we accept it, believe it and act on it. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN PUTTING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Forgiveness Makes Us Right with God!

THE WORK OF CHRIST MAKES US RIGHT WITH GOD. IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD. GOD SENT HIS SON TO SAVE US WHICH MAKES US RIGHT WITH GOD. THERE IS NO OTHER NAME GIVEN AMONG MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED; THERE IS ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN-THE MAN JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD IN HIM!

We may not understand how God could accept us as righteous, unless we understand that He Himself makes us righteous through forgiveness. We are born into a new relationship with God. We died to our relationship with sin and darkness, through the death of Christ, and were resurrected with Christ into a new relationship with God. This is the heart of the Gospel and the Lord expects us to believe, accept and act on the truths of the gospel. This is the first step in putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness.

God has made you righteous, reckon it to be so and continue on in your pursuit of Christ.

Romans 6:10-11 (NKJV)
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Imparted Righteousness

Imparted righteousness has to do with Salvation's sanctifying work. All those who come to God He changes their heart and leads them into good and righteous lifestyles. It is the work of the Holy Spirit within us that produces a holy lifestyle; sanctification is another word for imparted righteousness. Every single person that follows Jesus Christ will be led into a life of holy living.

Our calling is real integrity, real honesty, real faithfulness, real mercy, real humility, etc.. God is Holy and He tells His people to be Holy, they are to reflect the nature of Christ, to whom we are joined. Listen to the scripture.

We are Created for Good Works

2 Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

It is God's will that we learn to control the actions of our bodies.

Thessalonians 4:3-4 (NIV)
3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,

Romans 12:1 (NLT)
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

It is God's Will That We Be Holy

2 Peter 3:10-11 (NKJV)
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.

Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

The Lord expects is to stop sinning because He gives us the power and ability to stop sinning!

Romans 13:11-14 (NLT)
11 Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don’t live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light.
13 We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don’t participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy.
14 But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don’t think of ways to indulge your evil desires

Galatians 5:24-25 (NLT)
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

1 Timothy 6:10-12 (NLT)
10 For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
11 But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses

1 Corinthians 6:18 (NLT)
18 Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

1 Corinthians 10:13-14 (NIV)
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

Sin Has No Power Over the Born-Again Christian.

Romans 6:14 (NIV)
14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Romans 7:4-6 (NLT)
4 So this is the point: The law no longer holds you in its power, because you died to its power when you died with Christ on the cross. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, you can produce good fruit, that is, good deeds for God.
5 When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced sinful deeds, resulting in death.
6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit.

Righteousness is more than just acting good or acting moral, it is actually loving goodness and being good at heart level. This is a work of the Holy Spirit.

I CAN DO ALL THE THINGS THAT A GOOD PERSON SHOULD DO, BUT HOW CAN MY GOODNESS BE MORE THAN SUPERFICIAL.

I can act like a meek person acts, but can I really be meek at heart level in the same way that Jesus was meek. I don't think so, this is why I need the work of the Holy Spirit to incline or make my heart righteous. If I am left to myself and my efforts alone, then I will most certainly fail. I desire to be good and am willing to work at being good, but without the grace of God working within me at heart level, my efforts, regardless of how sincere they are, will not produce the life that God desires. I cannot simply be a righteous person.

Sin is difficult for us because most try to stop sinning by stopping or changing the sinful behavior. But sinful behavior flows first from what we are. It is Salvation that changes what we are and, once saved, it is our responsibility to yield our members to righteousness. It is as we yield ourselves to God, and as we judge and confront the desires of our heart, by the Word of God, that we are able to possess the redemptive victories of Christ..

The Lord expects me to overcome sin in my body, mind, and emotions. It is at this level that righteousness is worked out. Each of these areas, if not under control of the Holy Spirit, can lead me into the destructions of sin. God gives us a new heart and then tells us to put on the new man, meaning that we are to change our behavior to that which is consistent with a new heart. The Lord expects us to do what we ought to do. Every person, born of the Spirit, knows what they ought to do. The Holy Spirit, the Word, their conscience, and if they are fortunate, their Pastor tells them. The Scripture tells us to put on the new man and put off the old man. Listen to Ephesians 4:24; you must display a new nature BECAUSE you are a new person....

Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)
21 Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus,
22 throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception.
23 Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.
24 You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness - righteous, holy, and true

The Lord Says We Are To Have A Change of Mind

Romans 8:5-7 (GNB)
5 Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants. 6 To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace. 7 And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God’s law, and in fact they cannot obey it.

Romans 12:2 (GNB)
2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

Ephesians 4:17-23 (GNB)
17 In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless 18 and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn. 19 They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint. 20 That was not what you learnt about Christ! 21 You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. 22 So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. 23 Your hearts and minds must be made completely new,

The above scriptures tell us the only way for us to change our lifestyles is to change our minds. If we do not change at this level than all other efforts will eventually fail. Also, it is the mind that is renewed by God. He certainly knows what we need to change and He says allow Me to have My way in your life and I will change your mind thereby equipping you to follow me. This is obviously a paraphrase but this is what God is saying to us.

I have taken time to discuss the mind because the mind is the arena of battle, this is where our fight against sin and for righteousness is won or lost. It is God's will that we win, and He has promised that we will win if we fight using His weapons. We lose by not putting on the full armor of God.

No person fails God by accident, no person fails over a technicality. If we fail, it is because we do not love God enough to change. Our failure is the result of habitually saying no to the Holy Spirit, no to the Word, no to our conscience, and yes to our own fleshly heart.

The scripture says to put on the full armor of God that we might stand and withstand! The Breastplate of Righteousness will protect us from the inward destructions of sin. Righteousness is ultimately about standing in the will of God, and withstanding the onslaughts of the Devil.

Ephesians 6:10-14 (GNB)
10 Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. 11 Put on all the armour that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks. 12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 13 So put on God's armour now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist our enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground. 14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight round your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate,

The bottom line is to love God and His ways more than we love ourselves and our ways. If we do this then righteousness will be the result.

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Scripture

Psa 1:5
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Psa 19:13
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression

Psa 40:8-10
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Psa 51:2-5,9.13-14
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

Prov 8:36
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Prov 10:16
The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Prov 10:19
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Prov 13:21
Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

Prov 14:9,21
Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. 21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Prov 14:34
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Prov 21:4,13
An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. 13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Prov 29:6
In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

Prov 5:22
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

Prov 11:5-6,18-19
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. 19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

Prov 12:28
In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Prov 15:9
The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

Prov 16:8,31
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. 31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. PROV 21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Is 26:9
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Is 32:17, 33:5
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Is 33:5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

Is 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Is 51:7-8
Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation

Is 54:14
In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

Mt 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Rom 3:21-22
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Rom 4:3-8
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Rom 4:13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Rom 5:17-18,21
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 8:1-4
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.