Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Putting on the Breastplate of Righteousness protects me from two avenues of Satanic attack.

Protection from Pride

On the one hand, we can get so focused on our authority in Christ, that we go to an unbiblical extreme that is really nothing more than sinful pride and arrogance. Putting on the breastplate of righteousness protects me from spiritual cockiness and arrogance, esteeming myself better than others, from self-confidence (rather than Christ-confidence), and from self-righteousness. Satan is extremely clever at slipping in this deception on believers. Some are especially susceptible to it. And often, when we have been drawn into it, we don’t recognize it in ourselves. We may think that we are being “spiritual” when we are really only being arrogant! If Satan can deceive us here, we are greatly hindered in our effectiveness for the Lord.

Protection from Condemnation

The Breastplate of Righteousness also protects me from overwhelming vague feelings of condemnation and guilt (as a result of past sins). Without the breastplate of righteousness we can be paralyzed by feelings of unworthiness, worthlessness, hopelessness, and discouragement because of past failures. Without it we can feel so undeserving that we don’t expect anything from the Lord. Again, Satan knows that many Christians are susceptible to defeat at this point. It’s easy to make them feel so guilty and unworthy that they feel they can be of no use to the Lord. Great damage has been done by the enemy with this weapon on God’s people.

The Breastplate of Righteousness keeps the effective spiritual warrior balanced between these two ungodly extremes.

You might want to pray along these lines:

“Father, I confess that my own righteousness is as filthy rags. I confess that my good deeds are powerless to protect me from Satan and that I have failed often and deserve hell. My rightousness is weak, feeble, short-lived, and inconsistent.” (“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”—Isaiah 64:6).

“I also confess that You, Father, are Jehovah-Tsidkenu, my Eternal Righteousness.” (“In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness [Hebrew: Jehovah-Tsidkenu].” —Jeremiah 23:6).

“I confess that now You have made me righteous, Father, in Christ Jesus.” (“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” —2 Corinthians 5:21)

“I confess that there is now no condemnation for me because I am in Christ Jesus.” (“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” —Romans 8:1)

“I receive Your imputed righteousness for my justification, therefore I can come boldly to the Throne of Grace.” (“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16)

“I receive Your imparted righteousness, therefore I am enabled to practice righteousness by obedience as I grow in sanctification.” (“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.” —1 John 3:7).

The point is, of course, that we have all blown it, and blown it badly. Even those who don’t think they have blown it badly, have blown it badly! So we must not ever think that we are “good enough” to do significant things for God.

But, by His grace, we have been forgiven, cleansed, and declared “righteous” in Jesus Christ. So we must not ever think that we are “not good enough” go do significant things for God!

Steve Hall
1997