Ephesians Part 37

Next, Paul instructs believers to put on the breastplate of righteousness. In a soldier’s armor, the breastplate protects the heart and vital organs. Spiritually, righteousness guards the core of who we are. Without it, we are exposed to fatal blows from the enemy. Satan knows this, which is why he relentlessly works to weaken our commitment to live according to God’s standards. 

Over 50 years ago, broadcaster Paul Harvey presented a self-authored perspective entitled “If I Were the Devil.” Many who heard it in 1965 dismissed it as dramatic or extreme, yet his predictions sound very similar to today’s headlines. Harvey suggested that if he were the devil, he would plunge the world into darkness, whisper lies into homes and churches, convince people that God does not matter, and replace righteousness with rebellion. He imagined the enemy dismantling families, corrupting morals, filling media with filth, encouraging crime, promoting addiction, and removing God from public life. Tragically, his words now reflect the world around us. 

Scripture confirms that we are living in a hostile environment. Ephesians 2 describes Satan as the prince of the power of the air who influences and permeates society. Before God calls us and we respond to His invitation, we live in conflict, consumed by our own desires. In the physical world, unhealthy food full of poisonous additives is everywhere and leads to disease when consumed carelessly. The same is true spiritually. If our spiritual diet consists of empty distraction or deceptive teaching, we starve ourselves of righteousness. It requires effort and deliberate choice to feed on what nourishes the soul. 

If we fail to put on righteousness, we step onto the battlefield without protection. This is exactly what Satan wants. He would be pleased if believers were spiritually apathetic or lukewarm. He wants us to give up the fight or adopt a faith that requires no obedience. Jesus asked in Luke 6 why people call Him Lord yet refuse to do what He says. He likened obedience to a solid foundation that cannot be shaken. 

Jesus made righteousness central to His teaching. In Matthew 5, He reminded us that He did not come to abolish God’s law but to fulfill it. He warned that those who set aside God’s commands and teach others to do the same would lose status in His Kingdom, but those who obey and teach righteousness will be called great. True righteousness goes beyond outward appearance into the heart where murder begins as anger, adultery begins as lust, and selfish motives corrupt every area of life. 

The Sermon on the Mount teaches that humans often obsess over status, possessions, image and recognition. But Jesus directed us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and trust that our needs will be provided. Psalm 119 reminds us that God’s commandments define righteousness. Scripture provides multiple definitions of sin to help us understand the enemy’s strategy. Sin is breaking God’s law. It is knowing what is right but refusing to do it. It is violating a conscience trained by truth. It wages war within us and, if left unchallenged, leads to death. 

God makes sin and righteousness personal, as each individual is invited into a relationship with Him, and each individual will be accountable for their own response. Righteousness is a matter of individual covenant. Ezekiel 18 teaches that each soul bears responsibility and that repentance leads to life. God wants His people to turn, live and walk in righteousness. 

Paul uses clothing imagery in Colossians 3 to describe this transformation. We must take off the old behaviors that once defined us and put on the new person created in Christ’s image. Righteousness is not something we produce on our own merit. Isaiah wrote that our own righteousness is like filthy rags. We rely on God’s grace and mercy to cleanse us, and then we cooperate with Him by living in obedience. Revelation 19 pictures the bride of Christ dressed in fine linen which represents the righteous acts of the saints.  

Let us choose righteousness daily. Let us protect our hearts with obedience to God’s law, devotion to His truth, and reliance on His grace. With the breastplate in place, we can stand firm against the enemy and remain in the fight. 

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.