A note from our Pastor:

”Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

Ephesians 6:14

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

As we take up our study verse this week, the order in which the Apostle begins to describe the whole armor of God is not random. Rather, the description proceeds in the order in which a Roman soldier would have prepared himself to go out into the field. In our verse this week, first putting on the breastplate of righteousness and then putting on the belt of truth.

The breastplate was the first item of armor the Roman soldier put on. The breastplate fit over the head and went on top of the flowing robes or garments worn on a daily basis. The breastplate was rigid, but must also be fit tightly against the soldier in order to be effective. Thus, it would have been necessary to put on the breast plate before putting on the helmet. The breastplate’s purpose was to protect the vital organs from various forms of attack.

In spiritual terms, the breastplate for the child of God is the righteousness of Jesus Christ which has been given unto us. The righteousness of Christ which the child of God is able to put on protects from all the wrath and accusations of the devil. This breastplate repels all the barbs of condemnation. The righteousness of Christ provides our justification and thus protects the child of God in the most vital sense. Other attacks may land and do damage, but none of the attacks can take away the salvation which is secured in Jesus Christ.

The belt or girdle of the Roman soldier was the next item to be put on. The belt served several purposes. First, it secured and locked in the breastplate. Second, it held all the tools of the soldier from the sword to the pen. The belt, often made of iron or steel, was designed to keep all of the rest of the armor in place.

In this sense, the Apostle compares truth for the child of God to the belt of the soldier. Without the truth of Jesus Christ, the rest of the armor of God becomes askew. Like the belt, the truth of Jesus Christ is both simple in form and yet weighty. This portion of the armor points back to the need for the Child of God to study the scriptures and be well acquainted with the teachings of the scriptures. Without this element the rest of the armor is going to have limited effectiveness.

As we consider the whole armor of God, the first two aspects are the righteousness of Christ given unto the children of God which protects us vitally and the truth of Jesus Christ which tells us of his salvation.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah