1. Sermon THE ARMOR OF GOD- THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS Eph 6:10-17 Introduction

2. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

3. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

4. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

5. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17 ESV)

7. BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS Is it the alien justifying righteousness of Christ that guards our hearts, or is it the experiential sanctifying righteousness that guards our hearts in the midst of attack?

8. WHAT CAN COVER OUR HEARTS in the face of such accusations?

9. We need a righteousness outside ourselves to give us a sense of security and hope when our sins are thrown up at us by the accuser. We need to know that we have an ADVOCATE BEFORE THE FATHER, Jesus Christ the righteous one, who pleads His righteousness on our behalf.

10. One of the hardest things to believe is that our standing before God has nothing to do with our obedience, but it has everything to do with the obedience of Christ.

11. On the one hand the conscience cannot accept justification without sanctification. The motivation for this commitment to sanctification is knowing the freeness of God’s love in Christ.

12. On the other hand the conscience cannot accept sanctification unless it is based on a foundation in justification. We need an ALIEN righteousness to cover our sins and to give us a righteous record before God.

13. God’s gracious provision includes grace for sanctification as well as for justification. We are accepted through faith in Christ and we are delivered from the bondage of sin by the indwelling Christ. The GOOD NEWS is that through Christ we not only have forgiveness, but we have a new standing with the full favor of God

14. THE GOOD NEWS is that union with Christ by faith means that He got what we deserved, so that we can get what He deserved.