". . .having put on the breastplate of righteousness"  (Eph. 6:14b).

Where does a breastplate go and what does it protect?  The breastplate is a plate of armor that goes over the chest area to protect the upper body along with the internal heart and lungs from a specific frontal attack.  Remember, we are not in a flesh and blood warfare.  Paul said, "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds" (II Cor. 10:4).  We are in a spiritual warfare, and we for sure better be using spiritual weapons.  Paul also tells us that, the Father made Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Cor. 5:21).  When our Father raised Christ from the dead, the sin sacrifice was complete and accepted.  We were reconciled to God.  When our Father raised Christ, He still considered Him His precious spotless and righteous Son.  When the Holy Spirit rebirthed us into Christ and Christ was placed in us, we received His righteousness imputed to us (Rom. 4:22-24).  Paul declares that the Father made Christ wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (I Cor. 1:30). 

Religion attempts to control man by self-works and self-righteous deeds of the Law.  Paul declares, that "there is none righteous, no not one" (Rom. 3:10).  Paul goes on and clearly states, "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20).  Religion wants very little to do with the apostle Paul and his epistles.  It is no wonder, Paul doesn't tolerate religion.  Paul exposes it for the lie that it is!  Religion tries to substitute self-efforts for Christ and His 100% finished work on the cross.  The Law was a schoolmaster or teacher, revealing our sin and bringing us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith (Gal. 3:24).  Now, that by faith we have come to Christ, we are no longer  under the Law (Gal. 3:25).  We are sons of God through faith in Christ (Gal. 3:26).  We now have received Christ and His righteousness at salvation.  Christ was judged by the Father on the cross, in order that  as Spirit rebirthed sons, we might stand in His righteousness and purity alone.

Paul also declares, "And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness" (Rom. 8:10).  Since Christ is in us from the Spirit rebirthing, there will not be any righteousness in our flesh.  All genuine righteousness in us will be in, by, and through Christ in us as us.  Christ will be expressed in and through us as the righteousness of God.  Satan may come and bring up your unighteousness to condemn you.  Satan may bring up others unrighteousness against you to anger or deceive you.  Don't be vulnerable.  We stand only in His righteousness, and His righteousness alone.  We need to see only Jesus in us and others.  Sure we all have flesh.  We don't excuse flesh.  However, in spiritual warfare, we must remained focused on our spiritual breastplate – His righteousness. Knowing and letting 100% Christ being righteousness is purity and our armor against any frontal attack of the enemy! V