The Breastplate of Righteousness: Standing Firm Against Satan's Accusation.

Ephesians 6:14

In the spiritual battlefield of life, we often find ourselves facing relentless attacks from an unseen enemy. Like a roaring lion, our adversary prowls around, seeking to devour us with accusations, doubt, and shame. But we are not left defenseless. We have been given divine armor to protect us and help us stand firm in the face of these spiritual assaults.

The Breastplate of Righteousness: Our Shield Against Accusation

One of the most crucial pieces of this spiritual armor is the breastplate of righteousness. Just as ancient Roman soldiers wore a breastplate to protect their vital organs, we too must don this spiritual protection to guard our hearts and minds.

But what exactly is this righteousness we're called to put on? It's not our own self-righteousness, which the Bible describes as filthy rags. No, this breastplate represents a twofold righteousness that comes from God Himself.

First, there's imputed righteousness - the perfect righteousness of Christ credited to our account when we put our faith in Him. This is the great exchange at the heart of the gospel: Jesus takes our sin upon Himself and gives us His righteousness in return. When God looks at us, He no longer sees our sin and failure, but the spotless righteousness of His Son.

Secondly, there's imparted righteousness - the actual righteousness produced in us by the Holy Spirit as we grow in Christ. This is the process of sanctification, where God works in us to make us more like Jesus day by day.

Both aspects of righteousness are crucial in our spiritual battles. When Satan comes hurling accusations, reminding us of past sins and failures, we can stand firm in the imputed righteousness of Christ. We remind the accuser that our debt has been paid in full by the blood of Jesus. As one old hymn puts it: "Well may the accuser roar of sins that I have done. I know them all and thousands more; Jehovah knoweth none."

At the same time, we also stand in the imparted righteousness God is working out in us. We can tell the enemy, "God isn't finished with me yet. He's still at work, conforming me to the image of His Son."

The Adversary's Tactics: Understanding the Enemy's Playbook

To effectively use our spiritual armor, we must understand how our enemy operates. Satan's primary tactic is accusation. He accuses God to man, man to God, and even the God-man, Jesus Christ.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan accused God of withholding good things from Adam and Eve. In the book of Job, he accused Job of having a superficial faith. And in the wilderness, he tried to accuse Jesus of lacking faith in the Father's protection.

Today, Satan still whispers accusations into our minds and hearts. He reminds us of past sins, instills doubt about God's love and forgiveness, and tries to convince us we're unworthy to approach God in prayer or worship. His goal is to drive us away from God, robbing us of peace, joy, and assurance.

But here's where the breastplate of righteousness becomes so vital. When we're clothed in Christ's righteousness, Satan's accusations fall flat. We can stand firm, knowing that our standing before God is secure not because of our own merits, but because of what Jesus has done for us.

Standing Firm: Practical Application

So how do we practically apply this truth in our daily spiritual battles? Here are a few key steps:

1. Preach the gospel to yourself daily. Remind yourself of who you are in Christ and the righteousness He has given you.

2. When accused, look to Christ, not yourself. Don't get caught in the trap of introspection and self-condemnation. Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus and His finished work.

3. Actively pursue sanctification. While our standing before God is secure in Christ, we're still called to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling." Pursue holiness and practice spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible study, and worship.

4. Remember God's ongoing work in you. You're not who you once were, and you're not yet who you'll be. Trust that God is faithfully completing the good work He began in you.

5. Don't give the enemy a foothold. Be diligent in putting off the old self and putting on the new. Unconfessed sin and compromise can make us vulnerable to the enemy's attacks.

A Powerful Illustration

Martin Luther, the great Reformer, once had a vivid dream that perfectly illustrates the power of Christ's righteousness in our spiritual battles. In the dream, Satan appeared at the foot of Luther's bed with a long scroll listing all of Luther's sins. As the devil read through the damning list, Luther felt his soul slipping towards hell.

But then Jesus intervened, telling Luther to command Satan to unroll the rest of the scroll. When he did, Luther saw written in crimson ink across the bottom: "This entire account of Martin Luther is paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ."

What a powerful reminder! When the enemy comes at us with accusations, we can stand firm in the knowledge that our debt has been paid in full by the blood of Jesus.

Living in Lion Country

We live in dangerous territory, surrounded by spiritual predators seeking to devour us. But we don't face these battles alone or unarmed. God has given us His armor, including the crucial breastplate of righteousness.

So put on that breastplate daily. Stand firm in the righteousness of Christ credited to your account. Actively pursue the righteousness God is working out in you. And when the roaring lion charges, don't run. Stand your ground, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and watch as the enemy retreats.

Remember, in Christ, you are more than a conqueror. Your accuser has been silenced. Your debt has been paid. And your God is still at work, transforming you day by day into the image of His Son. Stand firm in that truth, and no spiritual attack can overcome you.