And Having Done All, Stand [a study of Ephesians 6:10-20] part 5

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As a reminder, this passage has one primary objective:

Eph. 6:13, NIV
...that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

The passage also offers three keys for reaching that objective:

• Recognizing the reality that we are in a real battle against unseen forces of evil
• Being strengthened by the Lord and the power of his might
• Utilizing the full armor provided to us by God

In the previous study, we talked about putting on the belt of truth. In this study, we consider the breastplate of righteousness.

Eph. 6:11,13-14, ESV Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.... Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all , to stand firm. Stand therefore... having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

• ENDUSASTHE- from ENDUO, to put on, to enter into, to get into; as putting on clothes

Speaking of the use of ENDUO in this passage, Rick Renner writes:

Paul uses the imperative tense in this text. This means he is not making a suggestion; rather, he is issuing the very strongest kind of command that can be given. In the strongest tone available, Paul is commanding us with great urgency to take a particular kind of immediate action.

What is Renner saying? That though the armor is the Lord's and is fully available to us, without our active engagement it will remain dormant. 

The breastplate of righteousness is God's provision for protecting the believer's heart against the vicious accusations of the enemy.

Prov. 4:23, HCSBGuard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

Remember that Paul is addressing how the believer can stand against the deceptive scheming and vicious attacks of the kingdom of darkness. Two primary Greek words are used to describe the ruler of this evil kingdom:

• DIABLOLOS- an accuser; one who attacks the reputation of another; an adversary (see John 8:44)
• KATEGOROS- a prosecutor or plaintiff in a lawsuit; one who speaks in a derogatory way against another (see Rev. 12:10-12)

These definitions give insight into the nature of the attacks can be expected. some of which include:

• slanderous accusations against the mind and emotions
• condemning thoughts and false emotions of unworthiness
• feelings of worthlessness
• hopelessness with regard to an overcoming life

The breastplate of righteousness is designed by our heavenly Father to protect our hearts from such attacks.

In a manner of speaking, the breastplate of righteousness is part of our new identity through Jesus.

2 Cor. 5:21, ESV
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

To quote Rick Renner, from Dressed to Kill:

...when you know that God has made you righteous - when you have the breastplate of righteousness fixed firmly in place - it doesn't matter how many arrows the enemy shoots against you because not one arrow will penetrate. No word of condemnation, no false allegation, and no guilty thought will penetrate your heart or lodge in your mind when you are walking in your breastplate of righteousness.

The breastplate of righteousness also provides access the supernatural confidence necessarily to live a victorious life.

Rom. 5: 17b, ESV...much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

To quote Rick Renner again:

This verse is saying that when a believer finally grabs hold of the truth that God has graciously imparted righteousness to him, that knowledge changes him. He no longer view himself as a little, unimportant, defeated believer. He is so affected in his attitude that he begins to move with assurance from a life of chronic defeat to a life of reigning in life life a king.By developing an attitude of righteousness in your life and learning how to view yourself through the work of the Cross, you will receive a divine impartation of confidence and boldness that will always put you on the winning side of victory!

How do we 'put on' the breastplate of righteousness? It is activated through faith.

Rom. 3:21-22, ESV But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it - the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

Derek Prince writes:

[Paul] spoke of the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. That is the kind of righteousness that he had in mind when he spoke about the breastplate of righteousness that protects the heart..... We must be convinced from Scripture and accept by faith that we have become the righteousness of God. That is the only kind of breastplate that can adequately protect our hearts and our lives.