The Breastplate of Righteousness

On Tuesday, we concluded our Bible study on Eph 6:14, where we explored the importance of putting on the breastplate of righteousness. This armour is crucial in protecting the heart—the very core of our spiritual life. In Scripture, the heart is where our faith, trust, and belief in God’s truth are anchored. Rom 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Just as a physical breastplate protects the vital organs in battle, the righteousness of God shields us from spiritual attacks, particularly the accusations and lies of the enemy. Our heart conviction and reliance on the finished work of our redemption are key to protecting our hearts against guilt, doubt, and the accusations of the enemy. Righteousness is our right standing before God—the right to have access to God.

In the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, when Saul offered David his armour to face the giant, David quickly realised it didn’t suit him. It was heavy, cumbersome, and unfamiliar. Saul’s armour, though the best available, was designed for a warrior, not for David, a shepherd. David’s strength didn’t come from physical armour. He said to Saul, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Sam 17:37. His victory came through faith in God’s power and righteousness, not his own strength or ability. Just as David rejected Saul’s armour, we are reminded that we cannot rely on our own righteousness. Our protection in spiritual battle comes only from the righteousness of Christ. The breastplate of righteousness is not something we create or earn; it is given to us through faith in Jesus. Our own efforts, no matter how good they may seem, fall short. Isa 64:6 tells us that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” We cannot achieve righteousness on our own—our sin makes that impossible. Rom 3:23 confirms, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But in His mercy, God sent His Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for our sins so that we could be clothed in His righteousness.

When we put on the breastplate of righteousness, we are not putting on our own goodness or our own works. Rather, we are clothing ourselves in the righteousness of Christ, who lived a perfect life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. As 2 Cor 5:21 declares, “For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” This is the one truth and the one righteousness that we must stand upon—Jesus Christ’s righteousness imputed to us through faith.

This armour is essential because the enemy constantly seeks to accuse and condemn us. He reminds us of our past failures, our sins, and our inadequacies, trying to make us doubt our standing before God. But when our hearts are protected by the righteousness of Christ, we can stand firm. Rom 8:1 reassures us, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The accusations of the enemy cannot penetrate the righteousness that covers us.

To put on this breastplate of righteousness is to trust fully in the work of Christ. It is to believe that His sacrifice was enough and that His righteousness is sufficient to cover us. We are not saved by our own works or efforts but by faith in Jesus Christ alone. As Gen 15:6 tells us about Abraham, “And he believed the Lord, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” In the same way, our faith in Christ is what justifies us before God.

This faith is more than intellectual belief—it is a deep trust that affects our entire lives. The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts from the enemy’s attempts to lead us astray. Prov 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” The enemy knows that if he can corrupt our hearts, he can weaken our faith. But the righteousness of Christ, when placed firmly upon us, shields us from these attacks. It reminds us of our secure position in Christ and strengthens us to stand firm against temptation, accusation, and doubt.

This breastplate is held in place by the belt of truth, as discussed in our previous study. Without the truth of God’s Word, the righteousness of Christ cannot be properly fastened to our hearts. We must stand on the absolute truth of the Gospel, not on feelings or worldly wisdom. The enemy wants to convince us that our own righteousness is insufficient—and he is right, in part. Our own righteousness can never save us, but Christ’s righteousness has already covered us. Therefore, let us daily put on this breastplate of righteousness, confident not in our works but in the finished work of Jesus Christ. He has given us His own righteousness to wear, and no weapon formed against us can prevail when we stand in His strength. We don’t need to create our own protection—Christ has already given us everything we need. Let’s guard our hearts by trusting fully in Him, believing that His righteousness is all-sufficient, and living in obedience to His truth. With the breastplate of righteousness firmly in place, the enemy’s accusations will fall powerless, and we will stand secure in the love and protection of our Saviour.

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgement You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. Isa 54:17

There is no mediator between us.