Armor of God: Breastplate of Righteousness
By Cynthia Greene and Sara Beth
In previous posts we introduced that we are Soldiers in a Spiritual War, and how to put on the Belt of Truth. As followers of Christ, we are called to stand as spiritual soldiers. Scripture shows us what to do:
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11).
This post will explore what the Breastplate of Righteousness is and how to put it on.
The soldier’s breastplate protects his heart from fatal harm. In the same way, the breastplate of righteousness protects your heart from spiritually fatal harm. Righteousness keeps your heart soft and pure to God and others.
The righteousness of God means to keep His commandments (1 John 5:3). However, this is not to be confused with earning righteousness through obedience and works. Righteousness comes from God. Christ came to reveal the Righteousness of God and show us how to live.
One of God’s commands is to forgive others. How does forgiveness connect with righteousness? Forgiving others reflects a heart that has been transformed by God and shows the Love of God pouring out from you to others.
The more you forgive others, the more you are forgiven by God. And the more you are forgiven by God, the more you are accounted as righteous. This kind of righteousness protects you so you won’t tune out God. Forgiveness prevents the enemy from sowing seeds of anger, bitterness, discontent and hatred in our hearts and minds. When we refuse to forgive, our hearts become hardened, which leads to spiritual blindness and separation from God.
“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” (Psalm 119:2)
Ultimate Judge
God is the judge of all matters it is not our role to judge others. Scripture tells us:
“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” (James 4:11-12)
God is also our avenger. When we exact justice on others who hurt us, we are taking on God’s role. We are commanded to forgive others. We must separate people from their sin. Holding grudges or grievances against others causes us to fall into sin. When we demand justice, we are creating the perfect atmosphere for bitterness, rebellion, and hypocrisy to manifest in our thoughts and emotions.
Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and now we are free from the penalty of sin and can have direct access and fellowship with God. Now we must extend forgiveness to others, because Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins too.
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2)
We read in scripture that God will judge us exactly the way we judge others. He will also forgive you the same amount as you forgive others. If we withhold forgiveness from others then God will hold forgiveness from us.
How to Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness
The armor is designed to be worn at all times. To put it on, you must make a decision. To choose to repent and forgive others will soften your heart and cover it with the protective covering of God’s Righteousness.
We put on the Breastplate of Righteousness as we practice forgiving others as we are forgiven by Him. As we put on the identity of a forgiven child of God, we no longer need to compete, criticize, feel inferior or prove our own worth through performance. God’s righteousness frees our heart to love, affirm, forgive, and protect others.
When we do not forgive and instead keep a record of the wrongs against others, our hearts and minds become hardened to God’s guidance and direction in our lives. We pull ourselves away from the love of God. Instead of looking to God to defend us we try to fight our own battles and focus on how others have unfairly treated us and how we can defend ourselves. Unforgiveness opens the door to the enemy and creates a fertile environment for bitterness, rebellion, and hypocrisy to grow.
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. : (Ephesians 4:26-27)
The story of Joseph paints us a picture of what it looks like to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness. Joseph had reason to hate his brothers. They sold him into captivity and then told his father, Jacob, that he had died. Joseph showed concern, kindness, and love towards his brothers and left judgment to God. Joseph forgave his brothers. In the end God worked things out so that years later he was reunited with his brothers and God used the situation to benefit everyone.
In Genesis 45:5,7 Joseph said:
“But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
“And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
This example of Joseph reminds us of the way Jesus forgave those who crucified him.
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
How we treat others who offend and sin against us determines if we are putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness or if we are fighting the battle defenseless. Our obedience to giving others forgiveness, whether they deserve it or not, will keep us free from resentment, bitterness, hatred, and rebellion. It will keep our hearts teachable and open to hearing and understanding spiritual things of God.
Our job is to compare our own righteousness to that of God’s. We need to focus on the Teacher’s righteousness, and then we won’t dwell on the infractions that came against us. When we compare our own righteousness to that of Jesus Christ’s, your heart can soften towards others as you are continually convicted of your need for God’s righteousness to dwell within us. In this way, the Breastplate of Righteousness protects us from a hard heart.
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)
Final Encouragement
The Breastplate of Righteousness is something we put on it is not something we achieve through our own efforts. We are to be clothed in Christ. He is the source of righteousness. It is not righteousness that comes from our own behavior.
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)
“…For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness…” (Isaiah 61:10)
In this life, we can expect to have offenses and sin come against us. As Christian soldiers, we are to choose to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, choosing to forgive others as we have been forgiven. This is possible only by remaining in the truth close to Jesus Christ. In all cases, unconditional forgiveness and respect for others will keep your heart free of hardness. Christ is the one who enables forgiveness.
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath..” (Ephesians 4:26)
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14–15)
Related Blog: Learning to Forgive
