Eld Chew Chong Kiat

Ephesians 6:14b …and having on the breastplate of righteousness.

1. Introduction

We would think that a soldier who goes to war without weapons and protective gear is foolhardy, yet how oft we walk daily unarmed with God’s armour, clothed in our own garment and powerless weaponry of our own invention, failing to see that we are in a spiritual battle.

We have considered that we must start with putting on the belt of truth by being sincere, genuine, committed and truthful to this battle. Next we are to put on the breastplate of righteousness.

2. The Use

The breastplate protects the vital organs of a soldier and is made of rings, scales, or plates fastened together. Any gaps or fault in the breastplate will make the soldier vulnerable to be wounded.

3. The Meaning

The breastplate represents moral rectitude, and a devout and holy life. Apostle Paul stressed in this epistle the necessity of living lives worthy of our calling (ch 4:1). Without such a life, Christians have no defence against Satan’s accusations, and no power of testimony to win others for Christ. On the other hand, when righteousness prevails, what a mighty weapon for defence and conquest it becomes!

The soldier needs to ask himself, “Am I living a life that will not expose me to attacks and that will strengthen my witness?” Judas’s greed, David’s lust, Peter’s self-interest exposed them to Satan’s attacks that led to their sins. Singapore’s recent political saga has furnished more examples of notable politicians’ lack of righteousness that leads to their fall from favour. As Christians, we need to guard against sin and protect ourselves against temptations. A good conscience is vital to stand against the accusations of men and the devils, and to strengthen the testimony of the gospel we share. This is our breastplate of righteousness.

What is this Righteousness?

It cannot be self-righteousness, for there is none righteous and our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isa 64:6), and we cannot protect ourselves. This righteousness surely includes the perfect righteousness of Christ, which God alone can give, a positional righteousness, when we are justified by faith. Philippians 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

We need also to live a holy life, which is the practical righteousness. The goal of every believer is for his practical righteousness to match the positional righteousness. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Php 3:14) He pursues after holiness, to be like Christ.

4. The Application

The righteousness of God justifies a believer before God who is just. "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Rom 3:26) Christ paid the penalty for sins and set believers free from the condemnation of sins. His righteousness imputed on them silences the accusations of Satan against them. Yet, we are commanded to put on the breastplate of righteousness, i.e. “to be holy as He is holy”.

What then is the relationship between our responsibility to be righteous and God making us righteous?

A farmer plows his field, sows the seeds, fertilises, waters and does all he can, knowing that he cannot cause the seeds to germinate, neither can he produce the needed rain and the sunshine, nor desist the floods, typhoon, locusts and the like that destroy. A successful harvest comes from God. Yet the farmer does not sit idle, but diligently fulfils his responsibilities. Farming is a joint venture with God. The farmer cannot do what God can do, and God will not do what the farmer must do.

In like manner, a Christian is to pursue holiness, except that the results of becoming holy are guaranteed whilst that of a harvest is not. None can attain any degree of holiness without God, just as none will attain holiness without effort. God has provided all that is necessary for us to walk in holiness, but He has also given us the responsibilities to do the walking; He does not do that for us. We sin because we choose to sin, not because we lack the ability to say no to temptations (1Cor 10:13). We cannot say that we have been defeated; it is simply that we are disobedientChrist has defeated sin on the cross and gave us His Holy Spirit to empower us to have victory over sin, and on our part we must resist and not yield to sin and be vigilant to walk in holiness.

The Scriptures have many verses that exhort us to be holy (e.g. Heb 12:14, 2Pet 3:11, 1Pet 1:15-16, Tit 2:11-12). Diligence and effort are required, and it is not a once off effort but a continuous lifelong pursuit involving our thoughts, words and deeds. This is the meaning of putting on the breastplate of righteousness.

But What Does It Mean To Be Holy?

To be holy is to be separated from sin, and the sinful ways of the world and to be consecrated to God (Eph 4:22-23). We cannot be worldly and at the same time holy. The only rule whereby we are to measure our righteousness is the rule of the Word of God, not our own standards. Obeying and doing what God wants us to do is doing righteousness. To put on the breastplate of righteousness means to be obedient to God’s claims on our lives and to live according to the revealed will of God. We must be prepared to suffer for righteousness’ sake that we may be holy and blameless in this wicked generation. Consider Jesus, the Son of God who has no sin. His persecutors could find no cause to kill Him accept to falsely accuse Him and quickly rush Him off to be crucified. We are called to be righteous, even if we have to pay a price to be righteous (Mt 5:10, 1Pet 2:12, 3:12-14).

May we put on the breastplate of holy living to the glory of God that we might have victory in the Christian warfare.