The Armor of God - RIGHTEOUSNESS | Ephesians Study

Ephesians 6:11-14

(11)  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

(12)  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

(13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

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

The second piece of armor is the breastplate - that which covers the chest and protects it. This armor is righteousness (equity [of character or act]; specially [Christian] justification:). The simple definition and reference to armor implies that this righteousness is more than what comes from us. It is something we must put on, not draw from ourselves.

- We can receive all we need to know about righteousness from God's Word

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16)

- Righteousness by faith in God

"And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness."(Genesis 15:6)

"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." (Galatians 5:5)

- Righteousness by keeping the law

"And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us." (Deuteronomy 6:25)

- Clothing of righteousness

"I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem." (Job 29:14)

"Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy." (Psalm 132:9)

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)

"By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left," (2 Corinthians 6:7)

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." (Revelations 19:7-8)

- God of our righteousness

"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer." (Psalm 4:1)

- God's righteousness

"For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright." (Psalm 11:7)

"Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps." (Psalm 85:12-13)

- Path of righteousness

"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:3)

- Righteousness comes from God

"He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." (Psalm 24:5)

"In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted." (Psalm 89:16)

"In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE Lord OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."(Jeremiah 23:6)

"In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness." (Jeremiah 33:16)

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Romans 10:3-4)

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21)

"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:24)

"Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:11)

"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" (Philippians 3:9)

- Sacrifices of righteousness

"Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar." (Psalm 51:19)

- Righteousness of God's Word

"Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness." (Psalm 119:123)

"The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live." (Psalm 19:144)

"My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness." (Psalm 119:172)

"All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them." (Proverbs 8:8)

- Promises for righteousness

"The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness." (Proverbs 11:5-6)

"Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner." (Proverbs 13:6)

"He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour." (Proverbs 21:21)

 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12)

- Righteousness by truth

" He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit." (Proverbs 12:17)

- Righteousness: reflection of our love for God

"The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness." (Proverbs 15:9)

- Righteousness and peace

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." (Isaiah 32:17)

"And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3:18)

- Seeking righteousness

"Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." (Zephaniah 2:3)

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (1 Timothy 6:11)

"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22)

- Our members as righteousness

"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." (Romans 6:13)

"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (Romans 6:18)

- Righteousness and believers

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14:17)

"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." (1 Corinthians 15:34)

- Righteousness by chastening

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:11)

- Wrath defeats righteousness

"For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." (James 1:20)

- Saved for righteousness

"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

- Suffering because of righteousness

"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;" (1 Peter 3:14)

As believers, it is but our duty to be righteous in the Lord. We must seek righteousness - and seeing as God's Word is profitable for instruction in righteousness and is righteousness Itself, we must again turn to the Bible to know how to live righteously.