The Full Armor of God: Defending Your Life From Satan's Schemes by LARRY RICHARDS

Author:LARRY RICHARDS
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Religion, Personal Growth, Christian Life, Spiritual Growth
ISBN: 9780800795429
Publisher: Chosen Books
Published: 2013-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

18

The Breastplate of Righteousness

The very name says it: This piece of armor is essential. The Roman breastplate covered the thorax, a Greek term indicating the chest or trunk. As such the breastplate, the thoraka, protected the legionnaire’s vitals. A thrust to the chest might penetrate the heart—a killing blow. In Paul’s time, the typical Roman soldier’s breastplate was a metal plate worn over a leather garment. Soldiers who could afford it might strap the breastplate on over a coat of mail that protected both the front and the back.

The grammar of Paul’s instruction here makes two things especially clear. The spiritual breastplate of the Christian is righteousness. And the aorist middle participle Paul uses indicates that the breastplate is something that an individual himself is responsible to put on.

Four Types of Righteousness The Bible has much to say about righteousness. Underlying the Hebrew word group sadaq, which is translated “just” as well as “righteous,” is the idea of conformity to a standard. Old Testament saints were considered righteous when their personal and interpersonal behavior conformed to the moral and ethical norms established by God. This view is reflected in Deuteronomy 6:25, where Moses announces that “if we are careful to obey all this law . . . as he has commanded us, that will be to our righteousness.”

Yet there was no confusion about one point. Humans might be righteous comparatively, as illustrated by King Saul’s admission to David that “you are more righteous than I” (1 Samuel 24:17). But only God is righteous perfectly. Measured against the divine standard of perfection, “there is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3). As Paul puts it, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Alongside comparative and perfect righteousness, the Old Testament describes a third kind of righteousness: imputed righteousness. Knowing that no human being could live up to the standard that God’s own righteous character demands, love moved God to accept those who trust Him despite their flaws and failures. Scripture says of Abraham, “Abraham believed the Lord, and he [God] credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

The significance of this stunning statement was lost on the Jews of the first century. As Paul says, in their approach to religion they “sought to establish their own” righteousness, and “did not know the righteousness that comes from God” (Romans 10:3). In contrast, the New Testament fully develops the theme of a relationship with God based on faith rather than on works. It is on the basis of our faith response to the Gospel’s promise of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus that God imputes to us a righteousness we do not have. “The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him [Abraham] alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:23–24).

This theme is so central to the New Testament that some, reading in Ephesians

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