THE GOSPEL SHOES OF PEACE — Part 2
“And having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15).
In the previous devotion, we observed the ‘spiked sandals’ supplied to the Roman soldier, along with the tight leather straps, thick soles, and protruding spikes that gave him stability, security, and a sense of safety as he faced his enemy. However, we don’t want to study this piece of the armor with a mere description of the physical characteristics. We must apprehend the ‘spiritual application’ for every soldier in the army of the Lord of hosts to understand and apply this armor daily!
It is important to grasp the biblical meaning of the word ‘preparation’. One meaning of that word suggests stability (or firm footing). However, a more accurate translation conveys readiness or preparedness. This definition rightly implies that this spiritual soldier has been thoroughly equipped by the Gospel of peace! This same Greek word appears in Titus 3:1: “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be READY for every good work.” Therefore, we can clarify that ‘preparation’ includes both readiness and stability.
But what is the Spirit of God proposing by employing the idea of having our feet shod with the preparation (the readiness) of the Gospel of peace? Many would immediately be drawn to Paul's writing in Romans 10:15b, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” Because of the similarity of the words and phrases, they would say that Paul is calling on every believer to be prepared to ‘go with the Gospel’ to sinners within their sphere of influence. Most assuredly, this may be a secondary thought connected with these ‘Gospel sandals’.
However, we must recall that Paul is not teaching about evangelizing the lost in this context of putting on the armor of God. He is giving instructions concerning the believer’s spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness! Paul exhorts born-again believers to stand and withstand the wiles (the schemes and strategies) of the devil. In other words, the apostle is describing defensive weapons here. Later in the passage, he will instruct them to go on the offense. But presently he is portraying the context of ‘a believer who is being attacked by the wicked wiles and sinister schemes of his sworn enemies’. For that reason, ‘being prepared to stand firm in these Gospel sandals’ describes defensive weaponry, not offensive weaponry!
So then, ‘to have your feet shod with the preparedness of the Gospel of peace’ means being resolute in your stand on the blessed truth that you have peace with God through the Cross of your Lord and Savior! It means standing firm in your faith in the Person and work of the Lord and Savior. Those who belong to Him in His army are being encouraged to ‘remain rooted and grounded’ in the sovereign security of God’s astounding love for them. If you have been made a new creation in Christ Jesus, the living God has set His eternal love on you. And if God be for you, then who can be against you?
That person has been implanted into a vital union and living connectivity with the omnipotent Lord of the universe, who has all authority in the heavens and on the earth! Consequently, those are the ones who have been equipped and prepared to be ‘strong in the Lord and the power of His might’. So, you need not fear any enemy, even God’s archenemy! You have committed your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. You have been enlisted into the army of the Lord of hosts. So be ready and equipped to 'stand your ground’ on the glorious Gospel of peace, no matter what comes your way. In all things, you are more than a conqueror, through Him who loved us.
As one being ‘in Him’, you must refuse to become guilty of ‘slipping and sliding’ into doctrinal or moral compromise. You must be prepared to stand on the immutable truths of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. You must stand firm on the divine inerrancy and inspiration of the word of God. You must resolutely stand firm on the truths concerning the Deity of Jesus; the holiness of God; the sinfulness of sinners; the glorious good news of God’s provision in the Gospel; the Gospel commands of repentance toward God and saving faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; and the final judgment and eternal condemnation of those who reject the Gospel.
Are you prepared to stand on truth, without compromise? While others all around us are slipping and sliding into all manner of theological and methodological error, are you equipped and prepared to stand on the truth; the whole truth; and nothing but the truth? This is the great need of the hour! For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. Friend, the Lord is looking for born-again warriors who will stand their ground.
THE BOOTS OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE — Part 1
“And having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15).
We have taken a brief survey of both ‘the belt of truth’ and ‘the breastplate of righteousness’. Certainly, we have understood the absolute necessity of both pieces of the armor of God, as believers daily encounter 'face-to-face' combat with our mortal enemy. However, one may imagine that the feet are relatively unimportant in this spiritual warfare. But nothing could be further from the truth. To regard this aspect of defensive weaponry as inconsequential would be a deceptive danger.
These ‘Gospel shoes’ were designed for the Christian to wear as long as they live in this fallen world, where they are in spiritual warfare. Remember that Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) used the equipment of a Roman soldier as an analogy to illustrate the spiritual armor provided for every born-again believer. Subsequently, we must not regard any piece of this 'divinely bestowed' armor as insignificant.
The Captain of the army of the Lord of hosts has supplied these ‘Gospel shoes’ to give ‘mobility, stability, and security ’ in the daily conflicts we will inevitably face. I submit that the very fact that our Commander-in-Chief has supplied ‘Gospel shoes for our feet’ reveals that He intends for us to walk with Him, work with Him, and war with Him!
Recall that Paul had already underscored the significance of our feet in relation to this spiritual battle against the schemes and strategies of the wicked One. He had previously stressed the vital importance of the feet by repeating the words ‘stand and withstand’ in verses 11, 13, and 14. After all, a Roman soldier's stability, mobility, and secure footing were crucial in hand-to-hand combat. Without the proper footwear, the soldier could be easily knocked out of the battle.
The Roman soldier’s shoes were a specific type of sandal, specifically designed for ancient warfare. These sandals featured numerous special designs. First, the sandals had strong, thick leather straps that wrapped around the leg and ankle, firmly holding the sandal to the soldier’s feet. These strong straps gave the soldier a sense of SECURITY. In addition, the sandals had extremely thick soles, which increased durability and provided more stability and safety.
Moreover, spikes stuck out from the soles, similar to the cleats on a modern-day football player's shoes. The combination of the tight straps, thick soles, and protruding cleats gave the soldier stability, mobility, and security. This allowed the soldier to have the traction to hold his position in battle with a steadfast assurance. This stable and secure position was absolutely essential to his very safety and life. Without this stability and security, he would quickly become vulnerable to his enemy.
These special sandals also readied the Roman soldier with a semblance of great MOBILITY. He was able to advance or move quickly because of the solid stability that these sandals afforded him. On the contrary, if this soldier was wearing shoes that lacked mobility, he would be unable to move or advance with swift precision. This too would make him dangerously vulnerable to the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. If a soldier began slipping and falling in the battle, there was no hope for victory. This would certainly result in defeat and imminent death. On the other hand, if his shoes let him move quickly and unexpectedly, he gained a major advantage over his enemy.
Additionally, these specially designed sandals had another purpose: extremely thick soles. The enemy often placed traps below the grass line, containing pointed stakes that stuck out of the ground. If a Roman soldier went on the attack without properly shod feet, these pointed stakes would pierce his feet. This would knock him out of action and render him useless to his army and his Commander. Therefore, it was categorically critical that this soldier must be protected from these hidden stakes, camouflaged beneath the surface of the grass. These thick soles gave the soldier a sense of SAFETY.
Of course, we are not studying these ‘Gospel shoes’ for the sake of intellectual information about the garb of a Roman soldier. So we are given this analogy to understand and apply the spiritual warfare all believers encounter. As we observe this part of the armor in the following devotions, we will prayerfully seek to apply the spiritual significance of this vital piece of the armor of God to both our walk and our warfare.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS — Part 9
“Put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14b).
Today we continue to observe the importance of imparted righteousness. If you are going to stand firm against the sinister schemes of Satan, you must not only ‘put on the imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ’; you must also ‘put on the imparted righteousness of the Holy Spirit’, which will produce the fruit of a life of a submissive disciple following the righteous paths of our Good Shepherd.
Paul has already stated (in this same epistle) that born-again believers are commanded to ‘put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness’. If you have been born from above, then you have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in this vital union with the Lord Jesus Christ. Consequently, you are already in personal possession of every provision needed for life and godliness. God’s grace is available to manifest the reality of your ‘positional righteousness’ in union with Christ, by walking in the daily pathways of practical righteousness before God and your fellow men. Moreover, friend, when a believer is treading the paths of practical righteousness, he is impregnable against the tactics of the enemy!
Recall Romans 6:13, “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of RIGHTEOUSNESS to God.” Both your mind and the members of your body are the arena in which you are fighting this spiritual warfare. This alerts a believer that their mind and members can be employed to advance the cause of the King of kings. But also, they can be wickedly recruited as traitors to advance the cause of the kingdom of sin, which seeks to inspire an insurrection against the victorious Lord. Your mortal enemy maintains villainous schemes to operate within the realm of your mind and use your members to turn them into instruments of betrayal against the reigning Lord. Satan is always concocting sinister strategies and schemes to conspire against the One who lives on the throne of your inner man.
That word “instruments”, in verses 13 and 14, is a Greek word which would be better translated as “weapons”! This informs us that Romans 6:13-14 are verses of spiritual warfare! Your sworn enemy desires to commission ‘your mind and use your members’ as weapons in this spiritual conflict against you and the Lord. The enemy continually employs his deceitful wiles to attempt to seduce your unredeemed flesh to be drawn away from the Lord’s Word, the Lord’s will, and the Lord’s ways.
But how can you counteract his wicked wiles and conduct a successful campaign against him? Friend, it is vital that you ‘put on the breastplate of imparted righteousness’. You must realize and reckon on the biblical truth that ‘you are now living in the reign of grace’. The adversary is no longer your master. The Lord Jesus Christ is your Lord.
Furthermore, if you have been born from above, you have been magnificently infused with the mighty power of grace, which is flowing from the fountain of the King of grace! Subsequently, you can be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. You have been gloriously blessed with the supernatural ability to say ‘NO’ to presenting your mind and members as weapons of unrighteousness. You have been endowed with the miraculous force of grace to say ‘YES’ to presenting your mind and members as weapons of righteousness.
The grace of God and the breastplate of imparted righteousness train His disciples to say no to unrighteous thinking and living, which would be corrupted with worldly desires. The grace of God and the breastplate of imparted righteousness train His disciples to renounce and reject the purposes of sin. The grace of God and the breastplate of imparted righteousness instruct believers to abstain from fleshly lusts which are against the soul. The grace of God and the breastplate of righteousness equip us to reject anything contrary to the Word of God; the will of God; the purposes of God, and the love of God. It is the grace of God and the breastplate of imparted righteousness that both direct and empower those who are IN HIM to place themselves at the disposal of their King; yield their wills to the will of the King; and enlist in His army to be used as His weapons of righteousness.
Do you long to have victory in your life and mind? Do you yearn to be practically righteous? Dear one, you cannot walk in victory over the hosts of spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places unless you understand and apply the truth concerning ‘the breastplate of imparted righteousness’.
Have you come to understand that as a believer your old man has been crucified with Christ? Do you grasp what it means and the freedom it brings to reckon yourself to be dead to the reign of sin and alive to the reign of righteousness?
Friend, if you are in a living connectivity to the Lord our righteousness, then the Word of God exhorts you “to be what you are”! The triumphant King of kings’ agenda for your life is for ‘all of the works of the devil to be undone in your life’. So, you must put on the breastplate of practical righteousness by living out the ‘imparted righteousness' that the Spirit of God has infused in you!
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS — Part 8
“Put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14b).
Every born-again believer should treasure the truth that they have been graced with the ‘imputed righteousness’ of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, but this magnificent justification (in which we have been justified by saving faith in our Lord) is intricately connected with God’s ‘imparted righteousness’, which empowers this disciple to pursue paths of practical righteous living. These 'paths of righteousness' should be purposefully followed, just as a hiker would keep to the path guiding him through a dangerous jungle. If you are one of the Lord's sheep, then you can confidently trust in the promise that the Good Shepherd will lead you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
In addition, if Jesus’ paths of righteousness are worth having (and they undoubtedly are), then those righteous paths are certainly worth following. You cannot fight the good fight of faith unless you purpose to follow His paths of righteousness. Everyone who has been bought off the slave block of sin should be longing after His righteous paths; and mourning over the fact that they do not seek after those righteous roads in even greater measure. Sadly, we are sinfully prone to become negligent and apathetic in the purposeful pursuit of His righteous ways. Oh, how we need to pray with the psalmist, “Revive me in Your righteousness.”
In one sense, a believer understands that the ‘imputed righteousness of Christ’ is not to be followed after. The work of righteousness has already been graciously bestowed upon the sentient believer, at the very instant that the sinner lays hold of Christ Jesus. We are called to stand on His ‘imputed righteousness’! However, ‘imputed righteousness’ is never granted without its Siamese twin, usually described as ‘imparted righteousness’. This imparted righteousness is for the believer's practical conformity to the will of God and personal obedience to the Lord's commands. This ‘imparted righteousness’ is the Spirit's work in the soul of the redeemed, by which that individual is being sanctified from one level of glory to the next. Paul writes to young Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22b, commanding the believer to 'pursue righteousness… '. Precious friend, the LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.
The born-again disciple has come to saving faith in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, the Holy Spirit has been given to that disciple to empower them to pursue righteousness for righteousness' sake and for the glory of God! Our Lord and Savior gives a sovereign summons to 'walk in step with the Spirit'. He has issued a divine mandate to live a lifestyle of total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So, the believer must cultivate the ability to hear and heed the Word of God by seeking to obey His paths of righteousness in every compartment of their lives.
Some licentious ‘professors of faith’ do not like these previous statements. They respond to these paragraphs (concerning the mandate of a personal pursuit of the paths of righteousness) like a criminal would respond to the presence of a policeman. They attempt to ‘get by’ with as much worldliness, fleshiness, and selfishness as they possibly can, without getting on the ‘so-called bad side’ of the Lord. But that kind of heart attitude is treasonous self-deception. For when you truly love someone, you will not be attempting to live ‘as far away from them’ as you possibly can. Instead, you will be doing everything possible to live ‘as close to them’ as you possibly can. It is no wonder Robert Murray McCheyne earnestly prayed, “Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made.”
This is the true nature of love for the Lord our righteousness. When an individual truly loves the Lord our righteousness, they will desire to pursue His paths of righteousness, as He commands. They will not be seeking to make as many detours from His righteous paths as they possibly can (and still be named a Christian). The grace of God will be empowering them to strive to walk in His righteous paths for His name’s sake. That is the way of the new heart that He created in them.
When God’s word commands us to “put on the breastplate of imparted righteousness”, the Lord is giving us a mandate “TO BE WHAT YOU ARE!” The key to our growth in the pursuit of righteousness is ‘to act upon the truths that God has already declared, concerning your positional standing’ before God. When the Word of God commands a soldier of Jesus Christ the Lord to ‘put on the breastplate of righteousness’, He is calling them to ‘live the life that they already have, as being in union with Christ’!
Those that belong to Him have died to the reign of sin and death. So reckon it to be divine truth and live like it, by the power of the Spirit of truth! You are alive unto God in the kingdom of grace and righteousness. So, reckon it to be true and live like it!
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS — Part 7
“Put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14b).
Every born-again believer should treasure the truth that they have been graced with the ‘imputed righteousness’ of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, but this magnificent justification (in which we have been justified by saving faith in our Lord) is intricately connected with God’s ‘imparted righteousness’, which empowers this disciple to pursue paths of practical righteous living. These 'paths of righteousness' should be purposefully followed, just as a hiker would keep to the path guiding him through a dangerous jungle. If you are one of the Lord's sheep, then you can confidently trust in the promise that the Good Shepherd will lead you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
In addition, if Jesus’ paths of righteousness are worth having (and they undoubtedly are), then those righteous paths are certainly worth following. You cannot fight the good fight of faith unless you purpose to follow His paths of righteousness. Everyone who has been bought off the slave block of sin should be longing after His righteous paths; and mourning over the fact that they do not seek after those righteous roads in even greater measure. Sadly, we are sinfully prone to become negligent and apathetic in the purposeful pursuit of His righteous ways. Oh, how we need to pray with the psalmist, “Revive me in Your righteousness.”
In one sense, a believer understands that the ‘imputed righteousness of Christ’ is not to be followed after. The work of righteousness has already been graciously bestowed upon the sentient believer, at the very instant that the sinner lays hold of Christ Jesus. We are called to stand on His ‘imputed righteousness’! However, ‘imputed righteousness’ is never granted without its Siamese twin, usually described as ‘imparted righteousness’. This imparted righteousness is for the believer's practical conformity to the will of God and personal obedience to the Lord's commands. This ‘imparted righteousness’ is the Spirit's work in the soul of the redeemed, by which that individual is being sanctified from one level of glory to the next. Paul writes to young Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22b, commanding the believer to 'pursue righteousness… '. Precious friend, the LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.
The born-again disciple has come to saving faith in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, the Holy Spirit has been given to that disciple to empower them to pursue righteousness for righteousness' sake and for the glory of God! Our Lord and Savior gives a sovereign summons to 'walk in step with the Spirit'. He has issued a divine mandate to live a lifestyle of total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. So, the believer must cultivate the ability to hear and heed the Word of God by seeking to obey His paths of righteousness in every compartment of their lives.
Some licentious ‘professors of faith’ do not like these previous statements. They respond to these paragraphs (concerning the mandate of a personal pursuit of the paths of righteousness) like a criminal would respond to the presence of a policeman. They attempt to ‘get by’ with as much worldliness, fleshiness, and selfishness as they possibly can, without getting on the ‘so-called bad side’ of the Lord. But that kind of heart attitude is treasonous self-deception. For when you truly love someone, you will not be attempting to live ‘as far away from them’ as you possibly can. Instead, you will be doing everything possible to live ‘as close to them’ as you possibly can. It is no wonder Robert Murray McCheyne earnestly prayed, “Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made.”
This is the true nature of love for the Lord our righteousness. When an individual truly loves the Lord our righteousness, they will desire to pursue His paths of righteousness, as He commands. They will not be seeking to make as many detours from His righteous paths as they possibly can (and still be named a Christian). The grace of God will be empowering them to strive to walk in His righteous paths for His name’s sake. That is the way of the new heart that He created in them.
When God’s word commands us to “put on the breastplate of imparted righteousness”, the Lord is giving us a mandate “TO BE WHAT YOU ARE!” The key to our growth in the pursuit of righteousness is ‘to act upon the truths that God has already declared, concerning your positional standing’ before God. When the Word of God commands a soldier of Jesus Christ the Lord to ‘put on the breastplate of righteousness’, He is calling them to ‘live the life that they already have, as being in union with Christ’!
Those that belong to Him have died to the reign of sin and death. So reckon it to be divine truth and live like it, by the power of the Spirit of truth! You are alive unto God in the kingdom of grace and righteousness. So, reckon it to be true and live like it!
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS — Part 6
“Putting on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14b).
Through these last few devotions, we have been reminded of the precious promise concerning the truth that the born-again believer can stand in the ‘imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ’ in our hearts and minds, against the accusations and attacks of the enemy.
Today, let us now consider the ‘breastplate of righteousness’ as it pertains to ‘imparted’ righteousness. Allow me to give some introductory thoughts on this vital aspect of the ‘breastplate of His righteousness’. Every born-again follower of the Lord Jesus Christ has a personal responsibility to pursue a lifestyle of ‘practical righteousness’.
The Spirit of God, who previously inspired Paul (in this same letter) to exhort us to ‘put off,’ concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you ‘put on’ the new man, which is created according to God, in true RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS.” This means that the Christian soldier is commanded to strive after INWARD GODLINESS before God, as well as an EXTERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS in their relationships with other fellow believers, and also the unconverted. There will be no power in your life without a pursuit of purity in your life. There will be no glory, manifested in your life and service, without following after practical righteousness in these vital areas of your life!
The New Testament is overflowing with commands to believers in applying the Lord’s ‘imparted righteousness’. God’s word continually calls those who are saved by His grace to live in daily obedience to His righteous standards for their life. God has already supplied the grace to obey His precepts. However, you and I are called to supply the willingness to adhere to and apply, by the grace which He supplies. I remind you that sanctifying grace is not a license to live in the manner that your unredeemed flesh would desire to live. God’s grace is the imparted power to follow in the good Shepherd’s paths of righteousness, for His name’s sake! Friend, I am stating that the solid rock of ‘imputed righteousness’ (on which we must stand our ground) cannot be divorced from the divine call to pursue a lifestyle of practical righteousness.
We, who are in Him, can thank the Lord for the precious truth that He is intimately active and personally involved in the process of our sanctification. I can no more sanctify myself (in my own power) than I could justify myself, nor can anyone! I can no more pursue sanctification (in my own strength) than I could save myself in my own ability; neither can you. This is exactly why born-again believers are called to “trust in the Lord and the power of His might.”
However, in Ephesians 5:8-9, believers are commanded to walk as children of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is all goodness, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and truth. Then, when turning to Philippians 1, believers are exhorted to ‘be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ’. Further on in the epistle to the church at Philippi, God commands that born-again believers are to “work out your own salvation (sanctification) with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in us, both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Although every disciple is responsible to pursue righteous living, it is ‘the Lord our righteousness’ who actually produces the fruit of both a righteous character, conversation, and conduct in their lives. Those works of righteousness are ultimately accomplished by His mighty work of grace in us and through us. God imparts His righteousness by His grace and through the Spirit-empowered Word of God. It is the Spirit of God who compels and empowers the believer to live a life of inner godliness and external righteousness.
At the same time, the bona fide follower of Jesus is also personally responsible for being active and adherent in this process of following practical righteousness. Both the Spirit of God and the born-again child of God are synergistically involved in this ongoing process of practical and progressive righteousness and holiness. So every believer needs to embrace their personal responsibility in ‘putting on the breastplate’ in relation to practical and progressive righteousness.
In other words, the born-again believer is to stand in the posture of both resting and running. They are to be resting in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ while running after practical righteousness in their daily living. Yes, they are justified by faith alone. But justifying faith will never be alone. It will always be ‘a faith working by love’, for our citizenship is in Heaven.
Believers are resident aliens in this unrighteous and ungodly world system. All born-again believers owe their allegiance to the King of Righteousness. This wicked world system is totally against us. They are at enmity with God. Consequently, we must put on the breastplate, in relation to ‘imparted’ righteousness, and walk circumspectly in this sin-blinded world system.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS — Part 5
“Having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14b).
Before moving from the practical application of “the breastplate of righteousness,” as it relates to ‘imparted’ righteousness, I will give one more illustration of ‘putting on the breastplate of righteousness’, as it is particularized in connection with ‘imputed righteousness’.
This final illustration concerns your final moments of this earth. Friend, when one faces their dying hours, they are to apply the “breastplate of righteousness” as it pertains to the gift of positional righteousness. During the last three years, I have come face to face with the distinct possibility that I was walking through the valley of the shadow of death on a few occasions. When faced with that potentiality, I was compelled to flee to the precious promise that, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and RIGHTEOUSNESS! On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.” Simultaneously, I was graced by the Spirit of God to preach this God-given desire to my own heart, “That Christ would be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.”
The Lord Jesus Christ has given this glorious guarantee: “He that hears My words and believes on Me has everlasting life.” So when facing the possibility of my physical death, I chose (by faith) to “put on the breastplate of righteousness” by taking Jesus at His word. The Apostle wrote Romans 10, which gives this great truth: “With the heart one believes unto righteousness.”
For this reason, believers must “put on the breastplate of righteousness” by taking God at His word, and He pledges to fulfill His promise (for I have believed with my heart). The infallible Word of God has given me this blessed assurance: “But to him who does not work, but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for RIGHTEOUSNESS.” So we “put on the breastplate of righteousness” by clinging to this blessed covenant from the Lord.
God has promised that even death shall not separate me or anyone who belongs to Him from the love of God. So I must “put on the breastplate of righteousness” by standing on His holy vow to me. Though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for You (The King of righteousness) are with me. Therefore, I must “put on the breastplate of righteousness” by embracing this precious assurance. For the One who has led me through the paths of RIGHTEOUSNESS for His name’s sake will also lead me through the valley of the shadow of death. So I “put on the breastplate of righteousness” by laying hold of God’s glorious guarantee at these moments throughout my life, and in the hour of my death.
Consider these glorious words closely: “Our Lord Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes.” The prophet Isaiah wrote: “This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their RIGHTEOUSNESS is from Me, says the Lord.” Oh dear friend, the Word of God calls it “the breastplate of His righteousness” because the Lord is the Appointer of this righteousness; the Approver of this righteousness; and the One who imputes this righteousness!
This holy breastplate is constructed with the magnificent jewels of the pristine righteousness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for it was the Lord who wrought out this righteousness by the abiding power of the Holy Spirit. It was the Lord Jesus who presented this completed work of righteousness to God the Father. It is called ‘the righteousness of faith’ because it is saving faith in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus which is the apprehender and the receiver of this imputed righteousness.
Only a holy God could justify this former agnostic, arrogant, argumentative rock-and-jazz drummer. Oh, but the Lord can accomplish this supernatural work to its final perfection! So who can bring anything against a man who has put on “the breastplate of righteousness”? It is God who justifies, and He justifies by the ‘grace gift’ of the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. This righteousness, which comes from my Lord, will stand beyond any question, and it passes every examination. The highest court in the universe has pronounced me ‘righteous’ in union with the Lord our righteousness!
Friend, a former agnostic drummer, who has been graced with the breastplate of ‘imputed righteousness’ is standing on an infinitely more solid footing than the most moral man in your city, who is attempting to cling to his worthless moral performance. For friends, the best of his morality is as the used rags of a leper to a God who is holy! holy! holy! They must put on the breastplate of righteousness!
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS — Part 4
“Having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14b).
In the previous devotion, we observed, ‘the foundation for a believer’s justification before Holy God is rooted and grounded in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Then secondly, “Their positional righteousness is also rooted and grounded in the PERFORMANCE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! How is this possible? It is possible because the Lord and Savior exhibited perfect obedience to the moral law of God (24 hours a day; 60 minutes an hour; 60 seconds a minute!).
The moral law of God demands sinless perfection in your lives. However, the best of our human performance, in the best minute of our best hour, is as the ‘used rags of a leper’ in the presence of the God of pristine holiness and inflexible justice! Every one of us has miserably failed the moral law of God, not just once, but on countless occasions. Therefore, all of the world is guilty before God.
Oh, but when one repents and believes the Gospel, they experience a radical change in their relationship to the moral law. Why? Because of Jesus’ life performance in perfectly obeying the moral law, God can justly declare those repenting and believing individuals ‘free from the eternal punishment of the wages that they justly deserved, for breaking God’s law’!
Every born-again believer has been justified by ‘saving faith in the Person and the performance of the Son of God! Now I have been graced to be a recipient of Jesus’ perfect performance, in relation to His sinless obedience to the moral law. So by His grace through faith that birthed me into His Kingdom, God can now positionally treat me as if I had lived Jesus’ perfectly righteous life because God has treated His holy Son as if He had lived my sinful life, in those three hours of the blackness of darkness at Calvary! Consequently, I am now covered in the breastplate of ‘the Lord our righteousness’! For I am positionally righteous before God, because of the performance of Jesus Christ.
Now, most certainly, there are times when I utterly stumble and fall in my journey on the narrow road of the highway of holiness. So now, when I commit a sin of either commission or omission, I must flee to my Advocate, in confession and repentance. Oh, but sooner or later, the accuser of the brethren comes shooting his darts into my mind and attempts to attack me with guilt over that particular failure. He insinuates, “Ed Lacy, you are an utter fiasco. You have imploded once again. Look at yourself! You are not qualified to preach; to pray, to witness, or to do or say anything of any eternal value! You are not worthy to be used by God for any work of any spiritual significance.”
Friend, what should I do, at this very moment? I must apply the ‘breastplate of imputed righteousness’ by filling my mind with the truths concerning the ‘PERFECT PERFORMANCE’ of my Lord and Savior. Yes, I acknowledge my sin. In addition, I acknowledge that I deserve nothing but the unmitigated wrath of God. Oh, but my Lord and Savior has exhausted the eternity of wrath that I justly deserved to endure. He has clothed me with the robe of His pristine righteousness. Then, as I replace those insidious thoughts from the enemy causing doubt about the perfect work of Christ and renew my mind, I find rest. I hide in the perfect performance of my Lord and Savior! I cling to the Person of Jesus alone! I am relying on the performance of Jesus alone!
Recall and pray back His words, “Father, You have said of Your Son that, ‘In Him,’ You are well pleased!’ So, Father, I am holding up the breastplate of ‘the perfect performance of the Lord Jesus Christ,’ whose righteousness has been accredited to my account. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Dear friend, a born-again believer has a Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus Christ, the righteous One! They have a Great High Priest who was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. They have a perfectly righteous Intercessor who ever lives to make intercession for me. I have confidence and access to the throne room of our Holy Lord God, because the spotless Lamb of God is our Mediator. We can come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. And it is NOT, and never can be, because of my performance or yours!
Remember, even our best performance could never have produced even one second of access to the holy throne room of God. It is because of the PERFECT PERFORMANCE of God the Son! All who have repented and savingly believed in Him have an Advocate with the Father. Jesus Christ, the righteous One, is our Advocate. Thus, do not neglect to put on the breastplate of the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ the Lord!
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS — Part 3
“Having put on the breastplate of righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14b).
Today, we are continuing to consider the various pieces that make up the whole armor of God. Paul uses a military picture to illustrate the spiritual armor every Christian soldier is to be arrayed in. Presently, we have moved from the belt of truth to focus on the breastplate of righteousness, or we could say, “the breastplate which is righteousness.”
Presently, I have stated that the breastplate protected the Roman soldier’s vital organs (Heart, lungs, kidneys, and all of the organs contained in the abdominal cavity). People of this era believed that it was the seat of the affections, the desires, the conscience, and the will. Our sworn enemy always seeks to operate within this realm to accomplish his sinister agendas. As believers in the Lord Jesus, we must put on 'the breastplate of righteousness' if we are to be triumphant in this area of the spiritual battle.
The question that I have been attempting to answer is, "What does the Word of God mean when it speaks of the breastplate of righteousness?" Friend, we must think of this breastplate in two general categories: “imputed righteousness and imparted righteousness. “My fundamental grounds for ‘imputed righteousness’ are rooted and grounded in three spiritual realities. We will only cover one today: The first reality is the Person of Jesus Christ alone!
Every genuine believer needs armor which God provides! Consequently, each born-again believer needs that righteousness God provides! Oh, dear friend, “I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name! On Christ the Solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.” A specific Person (Jesus Christ) paid the price for my justification (my positional righteousness), through His sinless life, His substitutionary death, and triumphant resurrection!
As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I am personally responsible for many divine commands and duties. I am called to pursue practical holiness. I am responsible to submit my life to the will of the Lord, as I am discovering in the Word of the Lord. I am personally responsible for setting my affections on things above, not the things of this world. I am personally responsible to love other disciples with a supernatural, sacrificial, and servant love. I am personally responsible for taking opportunities and making opportunities to proclaim the Gospel to lost sinners. These are just a few of His divine commands I am to obey.
However, I am still incarcerated in this unredeemed flesh, in which dwells no good thing. So what am I to do when I stumble and fall into sin, as I walk on the narrow road? Well, friend, I must flee to Jesus Christ alone, as 'the Lord my righteousness'. I must rely on Jesus' imputed righteousness alone, as the fundamental grounds of my pardon and acceptance before God. Yes, I must agree with God the Father that I have sinned against the Lord. Yes, I must renounce and forsake that sin.
However, I must not run and hide from God, as did Adam and Eve when they sinned against the Lord. Instead, I must flee to my Advocate, Jesus Christ, the righteous One. I must trust Him to be faithful and just to forgive my sins and to cleanse me from all practical unrighteousness.
This is what it means to hold up the breastplate of righteousness against the accusations of the adversary. Certainly, I must preach to myself that I have ‘put on’ the breastplate of imputed righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Then, as we become more mature and stable (in our walk with the Lord), we understand the proper truths to focus on at particular times in our lives. When some believers sin, their hearts become immediately and singularly consumed with the mortification of that particular sin. However, this is the wrong focus at that moment, for this believer should focus on ‘fleeing to their Great High Priest in both confession and repentance of that sin. Once they have known the joy of forgiveness and acceptance, then they can focus on the mortification of that sin.
As we consider this foundational truth concerning applying the breastplate of righteousness against the accusations of the enemy, I am stating that the proper order of response when we fall into sin (as believers) should be: 1. You must confess and forsake that sin. 2. You must find forgiveness and relief from the guilt of that sin. 3. You must experience the personal joy of pardon and acceptance, because of the Person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is your righteousness. (As the Psalmist sang, “Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation”). 4. And then, you are ready to focus on the mortification of that sin!