EPHESIANS: Righteousness

EPHESIANS Number 72
RIGHTEOUSNESS

Ephesians 6:14b “and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” (, KJV 1900)

It is difficult for many to believe that they are righteous. They look at their attitudes and actions and know that these are often far from righteous. Doctrine indicating that righteousness is only given as part of the future inheritance laid up in heaven for the saints has fostered this idea for many. Paul himself said in Philippians 3:12 that he had not attained perfection, so it is easy to think that we are unrighteous.

Yet it is Paul, who just two verses later says that he is talking to those who are perfect. In Colossians 1:21–22 (KJV 1900) he wrote, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight”.

More than this, the Scriptures point out that you are in Christ, your life is hidden with Christ in God, Holy Spirit lives in you, and you are one spirit with the Lord. None of this would be true if you were not perfectly righteous at the core. You are righteous. That’s your identity in Christ. How you act and think may not always reflect your true identity, but neither do your attitudes and actions change that identity.

Righteousness is the truth about you, and it protects your vital organs like a breastplate. It protects your core. Well supported by the truth, righteousness allows you to stand strong in the power of the Lord.

God said that Jesus, who was completely without sin, was made to be sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). The protection of this righteousness guards your heart because He is righteous, and you are safely encrypted and sealed in Him.

You are righteous. It's your breastplate; protecting your heart. The enemy’s accusation that you are flawed cannot reach your heart when the truth of your righteousness in Christ stands in the way.

Like body armor, righteousness covers you. Jesus was made to be sin so that you could be made the righteousness of God, and that is what you are. Who can bring any charge against you? You are righteous, blameless, holy, and beyond accusation.

The breastplate of righteousness fits.