How to Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

"having put on the breastplate of righteousness,... "Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV)

The breastplate is a piece of armour worn by the Roman Soldiers on their chest to protect the heart.

What is righteousness?

Righteousness is doing what is right. There is man’s righteousness and God’s (Christ) righteousness.

Man’s righteousness is doing what is morally right and justifiable – Isa. 64:6. Christ’s righteousness is doing what is right and justifiable before God – Phil. 3:9. The righteousness demanded from Christians is God’s righteousness that is the one which comes from Christ.

Christ’s righteousness is doing what is expected of one by heaven. “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6. Abraham was counted as a righteous man not because he never committed any sin but because he did what is expected of him from heaven – believing the promise made to him.

“Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they would save but their own lives by their righteousness (their uprightness and right standing with Me), says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 14:14 (AMP). God testified of these three men’s righteousness, not because they were completely sinless but because they followed and obeyed completely according to God’s demand.

Christ’s righteousness is to do what is right in God’s eyes; it is to obey God's law. Jesus said "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20

The Difference between Man and God’s Righteousness

Man’s righteousness
God’s righteousness
Being of good moral without seeking God can make you enter heaven
To believe and accept Christ is the only way of entering heaven (John 14:6)
Marry many wives instead of battling with lust
Marry one and pray against the spirit of lust.
Drink little, not excessively
Drink none
White lies that are not harmful are good
No lie is good. (Rev. 21:8)
Deliberate stubbornness and lying to receive / acquire a thing is right
Anything acquired through sinful means is wrong
Killing someone to assuage his/her pain
All manner of killings is murder (Exodus 20:13)
Masturbating instead of fornicating and committing adultery is right
All sexual perversions are wrong.
When your righteousness is more than your unrighteousness, you can be accepted
No acceptance from heaven without complete righteousness

Benefits of Breastplate of Righteousness

  • Without Christ’s righteousness, you cannot receive anything from God – “And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.” 1 John 3:22 (NLT) 
  • It is a defence to temptation to do evil. Since you've known those things that pleases God, whenever the devil brings his own suggestions, you will easily overcome the temptation.
  • It fortifies and immunises you against satanic attacks. Satanic and demonic attacks are successful when there is sin in the camp, since you live a life that is pleasing to God, there will never be a record of sin against you
  • It prevents you from God’s wrath coming on mankind. "It is on account of these [very sins] that the [holy] anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will)," Colossians 3:6 (AMP). The wrath of  God is coming upon all sinners, hence, when you exhibit Christ's righteousness, the wrath won't rest on you.
  • It helps you to live a holy life.
  • It brings forgiveness and justification. "and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:24 (NIV).

Why is the breastplate associated with righteousness?

The breastplate is used to protect the heart of the soldier because an attack against the heart is always fatal.

Likewise, whenever the devil initiate and suggests thoughts for us to carryout, with Christ’s righteousness, we can easily discern and act the way heaven expects.

As we live daily by Christ’s righteousness, it soon becomes part and parcel of us.