1. Jesus is Our Righteousness
Ephesians 6:14
Jesus is Our Righteousness

2. Righteousness is protective
The breastplate protected the chest, heart, and lungs.
So righteousness can perform a protective function in our battles against the enemy.

3. Two ways that righteousness can protect us
Christ’s righteousness that protects us from Satan’s accusations.
Romans 3:21-22: “21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe….”
Revelation 12:10: “10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”

4. Two ways that righteousness can protect us
Righteous living protects us against Satan’s temptations.
How do we know Paul is referring to our righteous deeds in Ephesians 6:14?
How Paul uses the word “righteousness” in Ephesians.

5. Two ways that righteousness can protect us
Righteous living protects us against Satan’s temptations.
Ephesians 4:20-24: “20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

6. Two ways that righteousness can protect us
Righteous living protects us against Satan’s temptations.
Two important qualifications:
Our righteous living does not win the war or win our salvation.
Our righteous living is only possible because of Christ’s work.

7. Two ways that righteousness can protect us
Righteous living protects us against Satan’s temptations.
Righteous living is a powerful way of standing firm in the small battles that we deal with this side of heaven.
Harold Hoehner, “As a soldier’s breastplate protected his chest from enemy attacks, so sanctifying righteous living guards believers’ hearts against the assaults of the devil.”
Andrew Lincoln, “Doing right and practicing justice is…vital for the Christian soldier in his or her battle against the powers of evil.”

8. Two ways that righteousness can protect us
Righteous living protects us against Satan’s temptations.
a. Righteous habits are a great way to fight temptation.

9. Two ways that righteousness can protect us
Righteous living protects us against Satan’s temptations.
Righteous habits are a great way to fight temptation.
Righteous habits teach us what is so good about righteousness so that we are more apt to do what is righteous.

10. Two ways that righteousness can protect us
These two kinds of righteousness working together.

11. Two ways that righteousness can protect us
These two kinds of righteousness working together.
“Understanding that God has declared us righteous by faith alone encourages us to repent and keep fighting after we fall, confident that He has covered our failures to follow His command.”
(Ligonier Ministries)

12. The breastplate of righteousness is closely connected to justice
Isaiah 59:14-17a: “14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. 15 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head….”

13. The breastplate of righteousness is closely connected to justice
Isaiah 11:4-5: “4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.”