Gifts from God: Part 3

The Breast Plate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:14b

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (ESV)

Remember the over riding theme here is that the Armor of God
is a gift. Looking at the Breast Plate we see clearly that
righteousness is no exception to the theme.
Lets look at this in two parts to see how righteousness is a gift.

                    A             B   

Romans 3:10-12 & 21-24

None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands;
no one seeks for God. All have turned aside together they have 
become worthless; no one does good, not even one."(ESV)
Part A
We see in the passage above that no one is righteous!
I know that sounds really bad! That is what sin has done to our lives.
Throughout Scripture there are more verses written of how our sin
has moved us away from God, away from righteousness.

Isaiah 64:11-12
" None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands;
no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they 
have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."(ESV)

Because we in our nature are not righteous, something had to be
done. Something had to be given to us.
Which is why Part B is so important!

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, 
although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God 
through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and are 
justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

Here we see the gift of redemption given in Christ Jesus.
By accepting Him into our heart we live to righteousness.

1 Peter 2:24-25
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that 
we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, 
but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (ESV)

Without the Breast Plate of Righteousness, given through accepting Christ,
we are helpless in battle. Nothing we do apart from Christ will ever be good enough.
No dart or weapon will be stopped without it. We will be vulnerable.

Don't allow yourself to be knocked down in battle.
Be equipped and ready. Put on the Breast Plate of Righteousness.
Its another gift received only by accepting Christ!
Don't wait another day. The battle is already waging against you!