would you like to know what it means the breastplate of justice for the life of the believer? We invite you to stay with us. Here we will explain how this part of the armor of God works.
The Breastplate of Righteousness – The second piece of the armor of God
“Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you can stand firm, and after you have done everything, stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:13)
The second piece of God’s armor that Paul talks about in Ephesians 6 is the breastplate of righteousness.
In the armor of a Roman soldier, the breastplate served as protection for some of the most important parts of the body. Beneath the shell is the heart, lungs, and other organs necessary for life. Therefore, if a soldier did not wear his armor, he was vulnerable to an attack that could result in instant death.
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So why does Paul call it the breastplate of righteousness? If we do not protect ourselves fairly, we open ourselves to the attack of the enemy and we can fall into sin.
Being righteous means obeying God’s commandments and living in a way that is honorable to him. Psalm 106:3 says, “How blessed are those who keep the right, those who practice justice at all times!”
Unfortunately, our sinful nature often gets in the way of living a righteous life. When we decide to live based on our own desires instead of God’s, we make decisions that are harmful to ourselves and others.
- Romans 8:6 He says, “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”
How can we put on the breastplate of righteousness?
We can begin by knowing the Word of God, which will allow us to understand how to live a righteous life. When trials and temptations come our way, we can base our decisions on His Word.
Also, through prayer, we can ask God to give us the power to resist living in sin and to do what is right according to Him.
- 1 John 3:22 says: “And we will receive from him everything we ask because we obey and do what pleases him.”
As Christians, we can put on the breastplate of righteousness in our daily lives. By becoming aware of the decisions we make, we can determine whether or not they are based on God’s Word. Also, we can ask him to give us the strength to live righteously. Ultimately, this will allow us to withstand the attacks of the enemy and live in ways that glorify Christ.
What is the Breastplate of Justice? (And how to use it in spiritual warfare)
We read about the “armor of God” in Ephesians 6:10-18 with the breastplate of righteousness mentioned in verse 13. It should come as no surprise that soldiers are required to wear a breastplate to go into battle. This type of weaponry protects vital organs, secured by a belt, which we talked about in a previous article.
What did a Roman cuirass look like?
It’s certainly not the same as a bulletproof vest that soldiers wear now. Although this type of armor could not deflect bullets (an invention that would not become weapons in its earliest forms until the 1300s), it did protect a soldier from swords and arrows on the battlefield.
Depending on the time period in Rome, a soldier would wear a different type of breastplate. In earlier Roman times, it looked like metal, adhering to the shape of the soldier’s body. Later, it was more like chain mail and leather, with more flexibility and coverage than earlier breastplates.
No matter what kind of armor Paul is referring to in the armor of God passage, he recognizes the important need for our spiritual vitals to be covered with righteousness.
Righteousness, which is the perfect holiness of Christ, comes only from God. Justice is what is right in the eyes of God. In essence, a perfect life. To flee from the traps of temptation and sin that Satan has set and follow God’s plan for our lives.
Like all other pieces of God’s armor, they can only come from our Savior. Somehow we cannot create the belt of truth, the breastplate of justice, or the helmet of salvation, by our own will.
What is the breastplate of righteousness in the Bible?
Like a Roman breastplate, this breastplate spiritually protects our vital organs. Whenever we enter the battlefield, Satan will try to pierce our most vulnerable areas. Therefore, God arms us with the breastplate of righteousness to prevent Satan from delivering a fatal blow.
This justice, the holiness and perfection of God, comes to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross. Because Jesus takes our place by living the life we should have lived and dying the death we deserved to die, he offers a cover of justice to block the devil’s attacks on our hearts and souls.
Although issued at the time a sinner repents, the Ephesians passage is intended to encourage us to put on the armor regularly, not as a one-time deal. But wait, you can say, I thought once we’re saved, we’ll always be saved?
Yes, but justice doesn’t mean saying a sentence once and then going on with our lives as if nothing had changed. Justification comes through a unique commitment to Christ. Sanctification, God’s act of shaping us to be more like him, occurs throughout life.
The breastplate of righteousness focuses on the process of sanctification
Righteousness involves making a choice to regularly engage with the Scriptures and spend time with God. Therefore, when we encounter temptations and doubts on the battlefield, we come fully equipped to combat them, with the armor of God.
When we continually don the breastplate of righteousness, we secure it with the belt of truth to keep the breastplate in place. The belt of truth comes from God. We learn about the Truth itself and ignore the half-truths of this world that come from Satan.
Once we have the breastplate of righteousness in place, we will be able to combat the traps that Satan has set for us that try to divert us from the path of living righteous in the eyes of God.
How do we wear the breastplate of righteousness?
When we wear the breastplate of justice, we must first come to accept that justice does not come from good works (Isaiah 64:6). It doesn’t matter how often we go to church, how much community service we do, or how often we read the Bible. If we don’t walk the path that God has set before us to walk, our “good works” are worthless.
That being said, once saved, God gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us on the path of justice, away from sin.
We wear this breastplate of righteousness by:
- Turning to God when we face temptation: James 4: 7 calls us to submit to God. If we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Whenever we encounter temptation, we must turn to God.
- Guarding our hearts against the devil’s plans: The breastplate protects our heart, our most vital organ. In a Christian understanding, it is the source of life ( Proverbs 4:23). Satan is the source of death. If we put on the breastplate of righteousness, we avoid the blows that will lead to spiritual death, which come from sin.
- Avoid what can trap us (Matthew 5:30): We know what can trigger the sins we personally deal with. Maybe it’s a certain place, a certain group of people, a certain activity. No matter what the case, we should avoid, if possible, anything that could lead us to sin.
Sometimes this can make us the odd man, the killjoy, or the loser, but our spiritual path is at stake. It is better to avoid something that could take us away from God than to compromise our spiritual security.
What does Jesus say about justice?
Since justice comes only from Jesus, he had a few things to say on the subject while he was here on earth. Jesus says the following about justice:
- We must seek justice Matthew 6:33). We should chase him. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we must actively want a transformed and sanctified life.
- Those who hunger and thirst for justice will be satisfied ( Matthew 5:6 ). Those who want to follow God and want to lead a righteous life will find those lives through him.
- Justice comes only through Jesus Christ ( John 3:16). After all, no one is fair ( Romans 3:10 ). We cannot achieve righteous living and salvation on our own.
Where else are images of the breastplate of righteousness used in the Bible?
Paul actually uses the breastplate to describe other virtues: the breastplate of faith and love ( 1 Thessalonians 5:8 ). Faith and love are also crucial elements in the walk of a Christian. We see faith in action in our shield of faith article, and without love, our works are meaningless ( 1 Corinthians 13:1 ).
Regarding justice, the Bible has several symbols to represent this. Christians can easily identify the cross as one of these, since Christ gives us justice through his death and resurrection.
- Jeremiah 23: 5 describes Jesus as a “righteous branch.” Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we see images of branches and plants in relation to God ( John 15 ).
Romans 6:18 describes Christians as slaves or servants of justice. We used to be slaves to sin, but now we serve a different master. And from the fruit of justice is born the tree of life ( Proverbs 11:30 ).
The Bible makes it clear. Through justice, we find life and joy in abundance.
Prayer for the protection of the breastplate of righteousness
Heavenly Father, no one is fair, not even one. But you have given us the gift of justice to follow the path you have set for us and avoid the bonds of temptation and sin set by the devil. Help me chase you today. Whenever I am tempted, help me find a way out ( ).
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Keep me away from situations or places that may tempt me more to sin, and when tempted, remind me of your goodness and that you are the path of life. No matter what these temptations may promise, they cannot promise me eternal life, joy, or love, which only comes from you. Arm me with the breastplate of justice today so that I can be ready when Satan unleashes mighty torrents of blows on the battlefield. Amen.
conclusion
Justice comes only from God, but living righteously is not a one-time deal. We have to make a conscious commitment to ask God every day to turn us away from temptation and sin, and to guide us to be more like him every day. The breastplate of righteousness is very important for the believer’s life. We hope we have enlightened you what it means. God bless you