Righteousness of God by Faith
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:14
Originally preached March 18, 1962
Scripture
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Sermon Description
What do Christians do when they face spiritual depression, and their feelings and emotions forsake them? How do they react when they are unsure in their Christianity and are filled with doubts and questions? The answer to these questions are in Ephesians 6:14, where the Christian is told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. How exactly does this breastplate of righteousness help when Christians go through times like these? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:14 titled “Righteousness of God by Faith,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones speaks on the importance of putting on the breastplate of righteousness and how it protects the Christian from the lies of the devil. Rather than relying on feelings and works to feel secure in one’s salvation, the breastplate of righteousness reminds the Christian that it is the righteousness of Christ through faith that saves them. When a Christian is unsure and full of doubts during the dry seasons of life, they can lean upon the righteousness of God for strength as they wait on and rest in Him. As believers, it is essential to put on the breastplate of righteousness because it will carry the Christian through any forsaken feelings, questions, or doubts they have and keep them safe.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul exhorts Christians to put on the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6 in order to stand against the wiles of the devil.
- The breastplate of righteousness protects the feelings, sensibilities, affections and conscience. It provides assurance and confidence in the face of the devil's attacks.
- The devil tempts people to rely primarily on their feelings and experiences. But feelings and experiences vary and change. The breastplate of righteousness - our standing in Christ - is the only sure foundation.
- The breastplate of righteousness protects against discouragement from perceived lack of progress, difficulties in ministry, trials and tribulations. It reminds us that God will complete the work he began.
- Summary: Our feelings and experiences come and go, but God never changes. We must grasp hold of his strength and righteousness, not our own frail experiences. This is the only protection against the devil.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Breastplate of Righteousness?
What does the breastplate of righteousness refer to in Ephesians 6:14?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the breastplate of righteousness mentioned in Ephesians 6:14 refers to "the righteousness which is of God by faith, the righteousness that is imputed to every Christian, the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, put to our account, and also the imparted righteousness." It's not merely personal integrity but the righteousness of Christ that protects vital parts of our spiritual being - our feelings, affections, conscience, desire, and will against the devil's attacks.
How does the breastplate of righteousness protect believers against spiritual attacks?
The breastplate of righteousness provides protection in several key ways:
- It gives believers a "general sense of confidence and of reassurance" in their salvation
- It protects against fluctuating feelings and emotions that can destabilize faith
- It prevents believers from basing their spiritual standing on experiences rather than Christ's work
- It guards against discouragement when our works and activities seem to fail
- It shields believers during periods of spiritual depression, trials, and troubles
As Lloyd-Jones states: "If you go to meet an enemy and are aware that certain vital parts of your body are exposed to attack, and you've got nothing to protect them, well, half your time you're looking at yourself and at them instead of keeping your eye on the enemy."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones warn against relying on feelings in the Christian life?
Lloyd-Jones warns that relying exclusively on feelings is dangerous because feelings are variable and inconsistent. The devil's "special strategy at this point is this. He tries to make us rely unduly upon our feelings and upon our sensations." When these feelings inevitably fluctuate or disappear, believers who base their faith on them are left vulnerable to doubt and spiritual collapse.
Lloyd-Jones quotes a hymn: "I dare not trust my sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand." He emphasizes that "the subjective must always follow the objective" - our feelings should be the result of our standing in Christ, not the foundation of it.
How should Christians respond to spiritual depression according to Lloyd-Jones?
When facing spiritual depression, Lloyd-Jones advises believers to:
- Put on the breastplate of righteousness by remembering their justified position in Christ
- "Rest in the Lord" and "wait patiently for Him" even when circumstances are confusing
- Hold to the truth that "all things work together for good to them that love God"
- Remember God's unchanging nature despite changing feelings and circumstances
Lloyd-Jones quotes the hymn: "I grasp thy strength, make it mine own, my heart with peace is blessed. I lose my hold, and then comes down darkness and cold unrest. Let me no more my comfort draw from my frail hold of thee, in this alone rejoice with awe, thy mighty grasp of me."
What is the relationship between works and righteousness in the Christian life?
Lloyd-Jones warns that Christians can subtly begin to rely on their own activities and good works rather than Christ's righteousness. He points out that "the devil knows us so well. And he tries to bring us back into a subtle reliance once more upon works and upon ourselves and upon our own activities."
He reminds believers of Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 3 that all our works will be tested by fire on judgment day, and that even if all our works are burned up, we ourselves will still be saved "yet so as by fire" because our salvation rests on Christ's righteousness, not our own works. Lloyd-Jones cautions: "One of the greatest tragedies to me in Christian life today, and particularly perhaps amongst evangelical people, is to see the number of people who are living on their own activities."
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.