The Breastplate of Righteousness - Pastor’s Heart

Hi Folks!

We're continuing with our study of dressing for success in God's army.

Notice this second piece of God's armour fits over our breast area. That is where our heart is, and from our heart (spirit) flow the issues of our lives (Proverbs 4:23). Many of life's daily issues in our Christian walk can be out of line with God's will if we are not wearing this breastplate correctly. To ensure we are wearing this breastplate correctly there are two kinds of righteousness we need to be looking at.

Firstly there is the righteousness that has been given to us as a free gift from God when we were born again (Rom 5:17). This is received by faith. Do you believe it? It literally means "Right standing with God". When you were born from above the Holy Spirit did a recreative work in you. You are now a new creature in Christ Jesus (2Cor 5:17), the old man has passed away and this new man is from God. "He who knew no sin was made to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2Cor 5:21 KJV).

Folks this is good news. This new man on the inside of us (our spirit man) has been washed with the blood of Jesus, a holy new creation in God's very own image and likeness. You have God's character residing inside of you right now. In fact that's where God is, in your recreated spirit man. He did this so that He could live inside of you and me as His temple.

This brings me to my second point about righteousness.

"Do you not know that your bodies are a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is within you - the Spirit whom you have from God? And you are not your own, for you have been redeemed at infinite cost, therefore glorify God in your bodies" (1Cor 6:19-20 WEY).

God the Father through the Holy Spirit has cleaned up our spirit man but our soul and body He has done absolutely nothing with this side of heaven. He has left that responsibility to us.

The Word of God instructs us to "awake to righteousness and do not sin" (1Cor 15:34);

"seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matt 6:33);

"if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9).

You see, unholy living and anything we do contrary to God's written will (the Word), and His spoken command to you (through the Holy Spirit's leading or through those He has placed in authority over you) is unrighteousness.

So there you have it. Firstly there is righteousness given to us as a free gift from God, and secondly there is a righteous lifestyle that we must live if we are to have our breastplate firmly in place.

David

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