359. EPH 6:14. THE BREASTPLATE

Eph_6:14. The Breastplate

"And having on the breastplate of righteousness."’97Eph_6:14.

We previously referred to the girdle, which the Christian Soldier is to wear, viz. the Girdle of truth; doctrinal truth; experimental truth; a profession of the truth, and practical truth. Our subject this morning is quite of a kindred character. Righteousness and truth must rise or fall together. Truth is a part of righteousness, they are both indispensable. One must encircle the Christian, the other must be the breastplate to protect the heart, &c. Observe, then,

I. The Nature of the Christian Warrior’s Breastplate, "Righteousness."

II. The Protection it affords.

III. How it is obtained.

I. The Nature of the Christian Warrior’s Breastplate "Righteousness."

To be righteous is to be conformed to the divine law; and as the law is holy, just, and good, so righteousness is purity, justice, and goodness. Now that righteousness which is vital and saving, may be considered in three respects; there must be,

1. Relative righteousness.

That is to stand justified before the law of God. Now the very opposite of this is he condition of the whole world before God; "All have sinned," &c., "there is none righteous," &c., all the world is guilty before God. How then can it ever be, that sinful man can be just before God? The Gospel reveals the plan; the law had certain claims upon man; man violated those claims; hence he incurred the penalty of death. But God provided a surety a substitute; he met all the claims of the law. He bore the curse on behalf of the transgressors. They who believe in Jesus are united to him, and are allowed to plead his work and death; they are thus accounted and dealt with as righteous for Christ’s sake. Now this is called justification and it is said, "through this man," &c. There must be,

2. Righteousness of principle.

Now, if a man did not obtain a principle of righteousness, he would require justification every moment. For a relative righteousness obtained by faith in Christ, would not keep him from immediately falling into sin, and thus into condemnation. Now, the principle of righteousness was lost in the fall; and depravity has been the result to the whole family of man. Man has no power to renovate his own heart. This, God effects for us in regeneration. Then, the stony heart is taken away, and a heart of flesh imparted. The soul is renewed. All old things are taken away, &c. We become partakers of the divine nature. Now, this is the new man, the second creation, &c. Without this, we cannot have the principle of righteousness within us. Then, there must be,

3. The fruits of righteousness.

Now, these are the necessary consequences of the heart being made right. The fountain being good, the streams will be so. The tree being made good, the fruit will be so. Now, this righteousness respects both God and man.

(1) There must be the yielding supreme homage, veneration, love, and obedience to God. Go to the law; "Thou shalt love the Lord," &c. Him only shalt thou worship and serve. This will be evidenced by the thoughts of the heart, venerating, and esteeming God. By the lips being hallowed towards God. By the life serving God.

(2) There must be obedience to the law of equity, as it respects our fellow-men. This, the law enforces. "Do ye unto others," &c. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor," &c. Now, this law of equity will guide us in all our civil intercourse with mankind. And the law of love will induce us to do our fellow-creatures all the good in our power. Now, this righteousness is effected by the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. He forms the soul anew, and he carries on the holy work to its blissful consummation. Such then is the righteousness which is to be the breastplate of the Christian soldier. Observe,

II. The Protection it affords.

Now, this righteousness is of essential and vital importance.

1. When exposed to the accusations of Satan.

Satan is represented in the Scriptures as accusing the saints before God. Thus, he did to Job. Thus also respecting Joshua, one of the high-priests of the Jews. See Zec_3:1. See also, Rev_12:10. Besides, he also accuses the soul, and endeavors to sink it into the gloom of despondency. Now, this shields the soul, repels attacks, and exhibits the saint in a righteous and acceptable state before God. This breastplate,

2. Yields peace to the mind, by removing the condemnations of conscience.

The unjustified sinner is condemned already. He has no peace, &c. But he who has fled to Christ, and is justified by faith, has peace’97the internal peace of God which passeth all understanding.

3. This will preserve in the fiery trial of the last day.

Every man and his work will be tried as with fire. That fire will consume all imperfect righteousness, all self-righteousness and all unrighteousness. Nothing will stand but the breastplate, in which there is found the threefold righteousness we have placed before you. Notice,

III. How this Breastplate of Righteousness is to be obtained.

Now, this is to be obtained by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. By faith we are justified. By faith we become the children of God. Joh_1:12. By faith we are sanctified, by "the belief of the truth." Now, this must be a living operative faith, which relies on the efficacy of Christ’s blood; and obtains the influence of the Holy Spirit

APPLICATION

1 See the connection existing between the various parts of evangelical righteous ness. We are justified through Christ’s perfect righteousness. This is connected with a new nature, which is matured by sanctifying grace.

2. See the fallacy of self-righteousness. How awfully defective; how mad to trust in it.

3. How gracious God’s method of salvation.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS