The Breastplate of Righteousness
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:14
Originally preached March 11, 1962
Scripture
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Sermon Description
A breastplate was one of the most important pieces of armor worn by soldiers because it protected their vital organs in battle. As such, when Paul tells the Christian to put on the breastplate of righteousness, he is urging them to protect their vital parts of the heart and mind from the fiery darts of the devil. But how does one protect their heart and mind by putting on the breastplate of righteousness? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:14 titled “The Breastplate of Righteousness,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains the meaning behind this passage. He begins by stating that one’s own righteousness alone is not enough to be victorious in battle, but rather the only righteousness that can protect is that of God. He then explains the two aspects of God extending his righteousness: imputed and imparted righteousness. Imputed righteousness is the righteousness the Christian receives from God through their faith in Him. But it does not stop there. Imparted righteousness is what makes God’s righteousness a part of who they are as they become a new creation in Him. God imputes and imparts His perfect righteousness to His people so that they can be protected and stand firm in the day of battle.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon text is Ephesians 6:14, specifically focusing on the phrase "having on the breastplate of righteousness".
- The sermon examines the armor of God that Paul describes in Ephesians 6, specifically focusing on the breastplate of righteousness in this message.
- The breastplate covers vital areas like the heart, lungs, and abdomen. These areas represent things like our feelings, affections, conscience, desires and will. These areas need protection.
- Some interpret "righteousness" here as moral rectitude or integrity. But our own righteousness is useless against the devil.
- The righteousness referred to is the righteousness of God given to us, not our own righteousness. This is made up of imputed righteousness (justification by faith, Christ's righteousness credited to us) and imparted righteousness (Christ's righteousness infused in us, sanctification).
- Imputed righteousness gives us confidence and assurance of salvation. We can overcome the devil by relying on Christ's righteousness, not our own.
- We must rely completely on Christ's righteousness, not our own righteousness or good works. Our own righteousness is useless against the devil.
- Paul longed to know Christ and His righteousness more fully. We should seek to do the same.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on "The Breastplate of Righteousness"
What does the breastplate of righteousness refer to in Ephesians 6:14?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the breastplate of righteousness refers to the righteousness that God provides for us, not our own moral rectitude or personal integrity. It's part of the spiritual armor that protects vital aspects of our spiritual life, including our heart, conscience, desires, and will. This righteousness has two components: imputed righteousness (Christ's righteousness credited to us) and imparted righteousness (righteousness that God works within us over time).
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguish between imputed righteousness and imparted righteousness?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that imputed righteousness is Christ's perfect righteousness that God credits to our account when we believe. It's like taking something that belongs to one person and putting it to the account of another. God imputes our sins to Christ and Christ's righteousness to us. Imparted righteousness, on the other hand, is the righteousness that God actually works within us through sanctification. It's infused or injected into us, causing us to grow in holiness through the new life implanted in us at regeneration.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones reject the idea that the breastplate refers to our own moral integrity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects this interpretation because our own integrity and goodness are inadequate when facing the devil's attacks. He states: "Man's integrity at his best is but as wax before the devil." He notes that even the most saintly people in history felt deeply their own inadequacy and sinfulness. Our own righteousness is "dung and refuse" (referencing Paul in Philippians 3) when it comes to spiritual warfare, and we need God's provided righteousness to stand firm.
What parts of our being does the breastplate protect, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the breastplate protects the most sensitive and vital parts of our spiritual life: the heart, lungs, and what the ancients considered the seat of affections (the abdominal organs). Spiritually, this represents our feelings, affections, conscience, desires, and will - areas where the devil often attacks. Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that these are areas where we are particularly vulnerable and need special protection.
How does putting on the breastplate of righteousness help believers in spiritual warfare?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the breastplate of righteousness helps believers by giving them confidence in spiritual warfare. When we know we're clothed in Christ's righteousness rather than our own, we can stand firm against the devil's accusations and attacks. He quotes 1 John 5:18-19, saying that "that wicked one toucheth him not" because we are in Christ and protected by His righteousness. It provides assurance of salvation and a firm foundation, unlike relying on our own righteousness, which is "sinking sand."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean when he says "the joy of the Lord is your strength" in the context of spiritual warfare?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones quotes Ezra to illustrate that our strength in spiritual battle comes from the joy we have in the Lord. This joy comes from appropriating the truth about God's righteousness given to us through faith. Without this joy and assurance that comes from knowing we stand in Christ's righteousness rather than our own, we are weak and vulnerable to the enemy's attacks. Our confidence must be in Christ alone, not in our feelings or spiritual experiences.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones' interpretation of the breastplate relate to Philippians 3?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones extensively references Philippians 3 to explain the breastplate of righteousness. In this passage, Paul counts his own righteousness as "dung" or "refuse" compared to gaining Christ and being found in Him, "not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that righteousness which is through the faith of Christ." Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses this passage to demonstrate that the righteousness we need is not our own but is the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Christ.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say that understanding righteousness is essential for modern Christians?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that modern Christians must understand the concept of righteousness because without it, they cannot stand against spiritual enemies. He criticizes those who simplify biblical terms and suggests that the church's job is to teach these "profundities and immensities" rather than assuming people will understand them on their own. He argues that modern people struggle spiritually precisely because they don't understand justification by faith and the righteousness that comes from God.
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.