Welcome to Episode 18 of “Be Strong: The Armor of God” by Walking with Purpose. In this episode, the focus is on the breastplate of righteousness. The importance of putting on this piece of armor and understanding righteousness is explored through key scriptures like Ephesians 6:14, Proverbs 4:23, John 14:15, and more. The episode also discusses the different types of righteousness and encourages self-reflection to identify personal vices or weaknesses that hinder righteousness. Join Lisa and Laura as they delve deeper into this topic and provide practical insights for living a righteous life.
In the “Hope for Right Now” podcast by Walking with Purpose, Lisa and Laura discuss relevant Bible studies to help women know Christ through scripture. In this episode, titled “The Breastplate of Righteousness,” they dive into Ephesians 6:14 and explore the significance of the breastplate as a piece of armor in the spiritual battle. Through guided reflection questions, they encourage listeners to identify and let go of detrimental comfort or benefits in their lives. Understanding different types of righteousness, such as infused righteousness received through faith in Christ, is emphasized as a way to overcome challenges and live beyond personal strength. Join in to discover how righteousness plays a crucial role in the spiritual battle and gain practical insights for personal growth.
The Importance of the Breastplate of Righteousness
Exploring the significance of the breastplate of righteousness
The breastplate of righteousness is an essential component of the armor of God, as mentioned in Ephesians 6:14. This piece of armor plays a crucial role in protecting our hearts from the attacks of the enemy. It serves to safeguard our emotions, desires, and motives, ensuring that we remain steadfast in our pursuit of righteousness.
Righteousness, as defined in the Bible, refers to a state of moral integrity and uprightness before God. It is a characteristic that all believers are called to embody, as it reflects the character of Christ. The breastplate of righteousness, therefore, represents our commitment to live in alignment with God’s standards and values.
Defining righteousness
To understand the significance of the breastplate of righteousness, it is important to first define what righteousness entails. Righteousness can be categorized into four different types:
- Performative righteousness: This type of righteousness involves adhering to a set of rules and regulations in an attempt to earn favor with God. It is motivated by a desire to be seen as righteous by others and often leads to a legalistic approach to faith.
- Comparative righteousness: Comparative righteousness involves comparing oneself to others and finding a false sense of righteousness in being more morally upright or religiously devoted than those around us. It leads to a self-righteous attitude and fosters a judgmental spirit.
- Infused righteousness: Infused righteousness is a type of righteousness that is received as a gift from God. It is not earned through our own efforts but is instead imputed to us through faith in Christ. This righteousness is made possible through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, who took our sins upon Himself and exchanged them for His righteousness.
- Practical righteousness: Practical righteousness is the outward expression of our infused righteousness. It is the daily choices and actions we make that align with God’s commands and reflect His character. Practical righteousness involves living a life of obedience to God and actively seeking to do what is right in His eyes.
Understanding these different types of righteousness helps us grasp the significance of the breastplate of righteousness. It reminds us that righteousness is not merely a set of rules to follow or a standard to be achieved on our own. It is a gift from God that we receive through faith, and it empowers us to live a life of practical righteousness.
Four Kinds of Righteousness
Performative righteousness
Performative righteousness is characterized by rule-keeping and a desire to earn favor and approval from others. It often stems from a misguided understanding of what it means to be righteous, believing that adherence to external behaviors determines one’s standing with God. However, this type of righteousness can lead to a legalistic mindset and a focus on outward appearances rather than the condition of the heart.
Comparative righteousness
Comparative righteousness involves comparing oneself to others and finding a false sense of righteousness in being morally superior or more religiously devoted than those around us. This type of righteousness fosters a judgmental spirit and a self-righteous attitude, which can hinder genuine relationships with others and distort our understanding of God’s grace and love.
Infused righteousness
Infused righteousness is the righteousness that is received as a gift from God through faith in Christ. It is not something we can earn or achieve on our own, but is instead imputed to us through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus. When we put our trust in Him, His righteousness is credited to our account, and we are seen as righteous in God’s sight.
Practical righteousness
Practical righteousness is the outward expression of the infused righteousness we receive from God. It involves living a life of obedience to God’s commands and seeking to do what is right in His eyes. Practical righteousness encompasses every area of our lives, from our thoughts and attitudes to our words and actions. It requires a dependence on the Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us to make choices that reflect God’s character.
Understanding these four types of righteousness helps us recognize the importance of the breastplate of righteousness. It is not just about wearing an armor piece, but about embodying the righteousness that comes from God and allowing it to transform our hearts and lives.
The Role of Practical Righteousness
The breastplate of righteousness serves as a reminder of the practical righteousness we are called to live out as followers of Christ. This practical righteousness is rooted in the infused righteousness we receive through faith and enables us to make choices that protect our hearts and honor God.
Practical righteousness involves aligning our thoughts, attitudes, and actions with God’s commands and principles. It is about seeking to live a life that reflects His character and choosing to do what is right, even when it is difficult or goes against societal norms. It requires a daily commitment to surrender our will to God and lean on His strength and guidance.
Living out practical righteousness is not always easy. We are constantly faced with temptations and pressures to compromise our integrity and follow the ways of the world. However, when we choose to live in obedience to God and make choices that align with His will, we experience the blessings and protection that come with righteousness.
Expressing gratitude for God’s gift of righteousness is an important aspect of practical righteousness. Recognizing that righteousness is not something we can achieve on our own, but is a gift freely given by God, humbles us and leads us to thanksgiving. We can thank God for His grace and undeserved favor that allows us to be seen as righteous in His sight.
As we seek to live out practical righteousness, we must also recognize that it is an ongoing process. We will inevitably make mistakes and fall short of God’s standard of righteousness. However, through His grace and forgiveness, we can turn our vices into virtues and continue to grow in our pursuit of righteousness.
In conclusion, the breastplate of righteousness is a crucial piece of the armor of God. It serves as a reminder of the righteousness we have received through faith in Christ and the practical righteousness we are called to live out. By embracing the gift of righteousness and making choices that align with God’s commands, we can protect our hearts and stand firm in the midst of spiritual battles.
Join us for episode 18 in our eight-week series, Be Strong: The Armor of God. Lisa and Laura continue the deep dive into Ephesians 6:10–18, awakening us to the invisible battle that rages while encouraging us to reach for the weapons that keep us strong and steady. Today, Lisa and Laura introduce us to our second piece of armor, the breastplate of righteousness. Why is putting this piece of armor on so important? What is righteousness? Grab your Bible, notebook, and pen, and find out! This episode is not to be missed.
Open your Heart to our key Scripture.
Ephesians 6:14: Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Open your Bible to other Scriptures referenced in this episode.
Proverbs 4:23: With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life.
Proverbs 3:1–2: My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you.
John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Philippians 3:9: Not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.
Romans 5:19: For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
1 Peter 2:24: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:21: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Daniel 3, The Prayer of Azariah in the Furnace, 1: And they walked about in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to God and blessing the Lord.
Invite Him in with this episode’s questions for reflection.
What is your loose board?
What comfort or benefit does it give you that makes it difficult for you to part with it?
What sort of detriments has it brought to your life?
What would be the first step you could take this week to make a different choice?
Show mentions.
E. Stanley Jones, theologian.
The four kinds of righteousness are performative righteousness, comparative righteousness, infused righteousness, and practical righteousness.
CCC 1814: Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us.
CCC 539: The evangelists indicate the salvific meaning of this mysterious event: Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful just where the first Adam had given in to temptation. Jesus fulfills Israel’s vocation perfectly: in contrast to those who had once provoked God during forty years in the desert, Christ reveals himself as God’s Servant, totally obedient to the divine will. In this, Jesus is the devil’s conqueror: he “binds the strong man” to take back his plunder. Jesus’ victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion, the supreme act of obedience of his filial love for the Father.
Priscilla Shirer, writer.
Want to keep the conversation going? Join our private Facebook community: / 218374420694892 .
Stay in the know. Connect with us today: https://walkingwithpurpose.com/podcast
We are committed to creating content that is free and easily accessible to every woman—especially the one looking for answers but unsure of where to go. If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, prayerfully consider making a donation to support it and other WWP outreach programs that bring women closer to Christ: https://www.iatspayments.com/saaura/P…
Learn more about WWP on our website: https://walkingwithpurpose.com
Our Shop: https://shop.walkingwithpurpose.com
Follow us on Instagram: @walkingwithpurpose_official ( / walkingwithpurpose_official )
Follow us on Facebook: @walkingwithpurpose ( / walkingwithpurpose )
Follow us on Twitter: @walkingwpurpose ( / walkingwpurpose )
