WHAT TO PUT ON

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having
put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your
feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians
6:14-15)
As the Apostle Paul described the spiritual armor that prepares the
Christian to succeed in living the Christian life, he made spiritual
analogies using the figure of a Roman soldier. Since he wrote this
letter from a Roman jail, guarded by Roman soldiers, it was a
natural connection to make.
The description of this spiritual armor is divided into two sections.
First Paul wrote about the armor to have, then about the armor to
take. The breastplate of righteousness is the second item listed,
and is one of the aspects of the armor to have – that is, we keep it
as something constant. Using the connection Paul made, we are to
keep righteousness on us just as a Roman soldier kept his
breastplate on him.

Note it well: righteousness is represented as a breastplate that
provides essential protection for the most vital organs. We can no
sooner battle against spiritual enemies in our own righteousness
than a soldier can effectively fight without his breastplate.
This is not our own earned righteousness, not a feeling of
righteousness, but a righteousness received by faith in Jesus. It
supplies a general sense of confidence, an awareness of our
standing and position. We know that our standing with God is
based on who Jesus is and what He did, instead of who we are and
what we have done. We put on the breastplate of righteousness
by choosing to trust in Jesus, but putting your faith in Him. Then –
and only then – are you protected by this breastplate.
As Martyn Lloyd-Jones, wrote, "Thank God for experiences, but do
not rely on them. You do not put on the 'breastplate of
experiences', you put on the breastplate of 'righteousness.'"
We are sometimes tempted to say to the devil "Look at all I've done
for the Lord." But that is shaky ground, though sometimes it feels
good. It is shaky because the feeling and experiences and doing
are so changeable. God's righteousness isn't. The breastplate of
righteousness is your best defense against the sense of spiritual
depression and gloom that comes against your gut.
By David Guzik