The Breastplate of Righteousness

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (Ephesians 6:14, NKJV)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV)

The breastplate of righteousness is a beautiful picture of God’s redeeming work of grace in the life of the believer. Picture with me a boy coming to the Lord of a great castle to seek knighthood. The rags he is wearing stand in sharp contrast to the rich tapestries of the great hall into which he walks.

The Lord of the manor hardly takes notice. Guests of the castle chuckle behind their hands. But, then a knight of honor comes and stands next to the youth. The snickers stop, and the Lord turns his attention to the pair standing before him. This knight is well known to everyone in the room. He takes his own breastplate from off his chest and places it on the lad. Suddenly everything has changed.

The Lord asks the boy to knell before him and extends his sword touching first one of the lad’s shoulders and then the other. The young man stands and is presented as the newest knight in the Lord’s court.

You and I come to God with nothing. There is no goodness in us that can earn His favor. We are orphans, outcasts dressed in rags. But, then Jesus draws near and clothes us in His righteousness and everything is changed.

That is the picture Paul is painting when he refers to the breastplate of righteousness.

Soldiers of Christ arise and put on the whole armor of God.

Stand fast!
Gird your waist with the belt of truth!
Your faith is grounded in the finished work of Christ.
You wear His breastplate!