'14 EPH 6:14B THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS 8/17/14 1

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V14 INTRO: Having put on the breastplate of righteousness a) We are presently continuing our series on Spiritual Warfare 1) Today, we will look at the second piece of armor: The Breastplate of Righteousness

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REMEMBER: Paul has already stated that every Christian is presently in combat a) We are, by virtue of the fact that we belong to God, now subject to Spiritual Attack 1) We are now in the Lord’s spiritual military force, and it can be very difficult 2) 2 Ti 2:3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

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BECAUSE: We are in combat, the weapons of our warfare must be mighty in God (V10) a) We do not have the ability in our own strength to defeat our spiritual enemies 1) 2 Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God IV)

FACT: We have already closely examined the first article of Armor: The Girdle of Truth a) Our foundation is knowing that there is truth, and it gives us determination to fight

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LAST TIME: I mentioned that a soldier needed to have a mind to fight a) If you enter into a battle thinking you are going to lose, the battle is halfway over already! 1) 1 Co 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

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THIS REMINDS ME: Of David and his battle with Goliath a) When Goliath challenged the Israelites, it was David who responded to the challenge 1) 1 Sa 17:41-47 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. So the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands.” VII) WE TOO: Are in a battle, and we must stand fast in the faith and be brave VIII) TODAY: We will look at The Breastplate of Righteousness IX)

THE BREASTPLATE: Was made up of two parts and protected the body on both sides a) KEY: It covered from the throat to the thighs, protecting the heart, lungs, and abdominal cavity X)

QUESTION: Why would Paul speak about putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness a) What spiritual application would Paul have in mind in speaking of a breastplate

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XI) IN SCRIPTURE: The internal organs represent the Will, Emotions, Desires, Conscience, and the Mind a) Lam 2:11 My eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth b) Dt 6:6 These words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart I) POINT: These areas of our lives must be protected by understanding our standing before God a) This is what he carefully presented to us in the first three chapters of Ephesians 1) Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace II)

THE FACT IS: We have been made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ a) Righteous: Morally upright; the condition acceptable to God; integrity, virtue, purity, rightness III)

AS WE BEGIN: Paul had instructed believers to put on the whole armor of God (V11) a) We do so by faith, personally trusting that God provided His righteousness for us

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WHY IS THIS: Piece of armor so important to the believer a) REMEMBER: Paul had taught that we once walked (meandered) according to the course of this age V) FACT: Walking in such a way would lead to the establishing of false standards of rightness before God a) KEY: Paul states that Israel was very guilty of this and mankind in general still is 1) Ro 10:3-4 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 2) FACT: In establishing your own standards, you undermine God's by lowering the bar VI) KEY: To understand the Breastplate of Righteousness, we must first consider God's righteousness VII) FIRST: The Bible consistently teaches that God is Righteous (upright, virtuous) a) Hab1:13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. b) Jn 17:25 (Jesus prayed) O righteous Father the world has not known You VIII) SECOND: God is also identified as a Righteous Judge whose judgment is both fair and impartial a) 2 Ti 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. IX)

FIRST: Concerning sin: God declares that all mankind is guilty of it a) Eccl 7:20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins b) Ro 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

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FACT: The bible teaches that sin makes separation between God and man a) Is 59:1-2 The arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear; but your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear XI) FACT: God has stated that there is a just penalty for sin: Death and judgment (Ro 6:23; Heb 9:27) a) Rev 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. I)

IN SPITE OF THIS: The Bible also reveals that God loves the world and wants to save sinners a) 2 Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. b) 1 Ti 2:4 (God) wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. II)

QUESTION: What can God do concerning man and his sinful rebellion against Him

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THERE ARE: Basically three options open to Him a) FIRST: He can condemn them outright and send them to hell when they die b) SECOND: He can compromise His own righteousness to receive them exactly as they are c) THIRD: He can change them into righteous people

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FACT: God chose the third option: He changes unrighteous people into righteous people a) This is called Justification: Making and declaring the unrighteous to be righteous

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THIS PROVIDES THE ANSWER: To the ancient question once asked by Job a) Job 25:4 How then can a man be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure? 1) ANSWER: Through faith in the finished work of Jesus on our behalf 2) 2 Co 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him VI)

SOME: May attempt to make themselves righteous before God by their own efforts a) The Bible reveals that good works are not sufficient to perform this work 1) Is 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags

VII) THE QUESTION IS: How then can sinful man be made acceptable to a righteous and holy God a) By faith in Jesus: we have been made acceptable to God and righteousness is imputed to us

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1) Ro 5:17 If, by the trespass of the one man (Adam), death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 2) Jas 2:23 Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness VIII) THE APPLICATION: By faith, we put on the breastplate of Righteousness a) THE BREASTPLATE: Is intended to protect you from feelings of wretchedness IX)

KEY: These feelings can be a combination of your own emotions and the enemy's attack a) We can condemn ourselves because we fail to be what we greatly desire to be 1) 1 Jn 3:20 if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 2) Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. X)

FACT: If you are saved, you are righteous before God through faith in Jesus' finished work a) You need to rest in God's declarations concerning you 1) Phil 3:8-9 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ --the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I)

KEY: Putting on the Breastplate means living a righteous life because we are forgiven a) We are brand new in Jesus: We are completely forgiven and made right with God (2 Co

5:17) 1) Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. 2) 1 Co 6: 9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. II)

FINALLY: Satan loves to work in conjunction with your flesh to remind you of how evil you are a) He makes sure you sense your unworthiness 1) FACT: Jesus is the friend of sinners who have asked for mercy, not their enemy 2) Is 53: 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 3) When he reminds you of your past, remind him of his future III)

KEY: With the Breastplate firmly in place, we are no longer tossed to and fro with emotions a) We can live victorious lives in Christ and be filled with joy because we are brand new in

Him 1) Phil. 4:7 The peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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FINALLY: When Satan knocks on your door to bother you, ask Jesus to answer the door

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KEY: You do this through Scripture and understanding who you are in Him a) We are new creatures in Christ (2 Co 5:17) b) We are redeemed from the kingdom of darkness (Col. 1:13) c) We are overcomers through the blood and the word of our testimony (Rev 12:11) d) We are more than conquerors through Christ Who Loved us (Ro 8:37) e) We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Ro 8:17) f) We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3) g) We are cleansed from all sin through the blood of Jesus (1 Jn 1:7)

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BY FAITH: Put on your breastplate of righteousness!