Review: The belt of truth is the only piece of amour that has passed from the spiritual realm into the physical realm and taken on visible form (the Logos)

• You can’t see my breastplate of righteousness, sword of the spirit, helmet of salvation, ETC.

• All the other weapons rest and is held together by the Belt of Truth

• When you are not rooted in the Belt of Truth, all other weapons lose their effectiveness! 

Eph 6:10-14
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore (that’s why) take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; KJV

If our battle is not with flesh and blood, then how are the people we deal with being used by the enemy? (eternal lies and false beliefs from the father of lies)

1. What is Righteousness?

• The secular world defines it as being morally right or justifiable

• Biblical Righteousness is a relational concept

• God is righteous not because He keeps a certain moral standards but because of who He is, Righteous!  (He’s righteous in his relations) 

• You never have to doubt the integrity of God 

• In the Old Testament the term righteousness is used to define man’s relationship with a righteous God and mankind

Righteousness: Conformity to a known law (covenant)
Law: the system of rules regulating the actions of its participants

• Righteousness promotes the peace and well-being of our relationships with one another.

• Unrighteousness is breaking the laws because it disrupts relationship (covenant) with man and God!

• People soon begin to create ways to justify going around God’s process of relationships (10 commandments, and 603 to explain the relations of the 10)

Rom 10:2,3
2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, (covenant of relationship) and seeking to establish their own righteousness (covenant of relationship), have not submitted to the righteousness of God.  NKJV

• Many of us know what God’s word says, but like the nation of Israel, ignore it!

• Like the Pharisees, we have created our own moral code (righteousness) when it comes to relationship with God and man. (husband, wife, friends)

• When we do this it means we have not accepted His terms of His covenant in Christ!

• How many of you would declare yourself righteous based upon your relationships? 

Did God create a loophole for us to be righteous or are we justifiable righteous?  

Rom 5:17-19
 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. NLT

• Notice, it was Christ’s act of Righteousness 
• Notice, because one other person obeyed God many will be made righteous

Rom 8:3-4
3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. NLT
Rom 3:21-28
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. NLT
Eph 4:21-24
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. NLT

2. Why the breastplate and not the Belt, shoes, etc.?

• The heart is the seat or the headquarters of my beliefs. 

1 Peter 3:3-4
3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel —  4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God NKJV
Prov 4:23
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.  NKJV

• The heart is the inner hidden  aspect of man, the location of all deliberation 

Mental: the place of action and reaction takes place
Will: the place of decisions, rationale or irrational
Emotions: the area of visible response

• The heart is the focus and determination of the mind and the response of our emotions.  
• The heart is at the root of the problem, this is the place where God does His work!

Jer 17:9-10
9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?  10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.  NKJV

3. Restoring relationship by creating a safe place for God to grow up!

• Growing in Spiritual Maturity by developing Righteousness!

Heb 5:12-14
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  NKJV

Unskilled: inexperienced
Reason of use: a habit, whether of body or of mind a power acquired by custom, practice, use
Senses: moral discrimination
Exercised: to exercise naked to exercise vigorously, in any way, either the body or the mind
Discern: to separate, to discern

Conclusion: It’s all about relationships with God and Man. The Breastplate covers the heart as we grow in discernment about ourselves and others!