We are warriors clothed in Christ with absolute confidence that we are right with God and in this we find peace.
Paul used the armor of the roman soldier as a model for his analogy. It was a huge honor to become a Roman soldier. Very powerful person in society with very few limitations. Paul says, "Stand firm" giving the idea being confident, head held high and shoulders thrown back.
The breastplate was composed of two different pieces of metal. The more a soldier walked the more these pieces of metal would rub together. Over time the breastplate of the experienced warriors developed a brilliant shine.
The beauty of the soldiers breastplate was enhanced by using it and walking in it. A whole legion of Roman soldiers walking toward the enemy in the sunshine would produce an awesome glare which would hinder the enemy. The breastplate is not only a defensive weapon but also an offensive weapon.
The devil wants to immobilize your mind and emotions. He can do this with believers who do not know they are righteous. They become easy prey!
People who don't know they have been made "righteous" tend to habitually walk in condemnation robbing them of their peace. If you allow him to do so the enemy will victimize you to the point that you no longer pray with confidence.
He says, “You’ll never be good enough to be used by God.” But God’s Word says, “Stand up, throw your shoulders back and walk with confidence!"
2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (NIV)
Stop letting the devil paralyze your faith. Keep walking! Your reflection of the light of Jesus is getting brighter! Moments of question will come. When we look at ourselves we see what we have done. But when God looks at us he sees what he has done!
You’re not chosen because you are gifted. You’re chosen because you are loved!
Your Heavenly Father will affirm you forward. With every step you continue to take, you become more beautiful to the eye of God, and more blinding to the eye of the enemy.
We see the progression of Truth, Righteousness and now Peace. The sandals of peace were dangerous to any enemy as they had spikes anywhere from 1-3” long.
When the peace of God is in operation in your life, it puts spikes on the bottom of your feet that hold you in place. Having done…Stand firm then!
Ps 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (NIV)
GP2RL: Purpose to have communion alone as well as with your friends and family some time this week thanking God for the righteousness of Christ that has been given to you.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Describe somebody you believe to be a very good person. How much does God love you compared to them and why do you feel that way?
Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. NIV
If you believe good behavior justifies you then you walk in pride. If you believe your bad behavior disqualifies you then you walk in condemnation. Salvation through Christ isn’t about being good or being right. Salvation is about being righteous, in fact it is about being the very righteousness of God.
2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (NIV)
The Message Bible says it this way - 2 Cor 5:20-21 We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you. How? you say. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God. (Message)
The devil wants to immobilize the mind and emotions of every believer. His best work happens with believers who do not know they are righteous making them easy prey! People who don’t know they have been made “righteous” tend to habitually walk in condemnation.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
2. Think of a time when you did something you know you shouldn’t have in life. No need to mention the mistake you made but share how it affected your peace of mind and possibly relationships in your life.
He throws lying accusations that penetrate their minds and make them feel like they are failures.
To become a Roman soldier was not something taken lightly. It was with great pride that a soldier assumed this powerful position of carrying out the orders of the Roman Empire. The authority held by the soldier had few limitations. When one assumed this position he was extremely proud and confident in his accomplishment.
The enemy has victimized many to the point that they can no longer pray with confidence. He has convinced others that they will never be good enough to be used by God. But the Word of God tells us in verse 14 to stand up, throw our shoulders back and hold our head up high as we walk tall like all proud and victorious soldiers walk.
Paul says, “Stand therefore...” “stand” in the Greek is a word that means to “stand upright.” It is the image of one who is so confident that he is holding his head up high, with his shoulders thrown back.
This is the posture we should take in our stand against the enemy. Our confidence isn’t in us but that we are clothed with Christ in the power of His might taking our stand.
As Roman soldiers walked in their breastplates, something incredible would begin to happen. When you rub two pieces of metal against each other for a long time, they begin to add a lustre to each other. When the Roman soldier walked around with his breastplate on; those smaller, scale-like pieces of metal would rub up against each other causing each piece to have a beautiful shine. The beauty of the soldiers breastplate was enhanced by using it and walking in it. A whole legion of Roman soldiers walking toward the enemy in the sunshine would produce an awesome glare which would hinder the enemy. The breastplate is not only a defensive weapon but also an offensive weapon.
The cross of Christ will cover anything you’re willing to uncover.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
3. What are some reasons we tend to avoid immediately coming before God when we sin?
Spiritually mature people are those who have learned to lessen the time between sin and repentance.
Take some time to reflect on all Jesus has done for us. Consider receiving communion together, thanking God for the sacrifice of Christ that makes us righteous.
GOING DEEPER:
Adam Clarke’s Commentary says the following: “As the breast-plate defends the heart and lungs, and all those vital functionaries that are contained in what is called the region of the thorax; so this righteousness defends everything on which the man’s spiritual existence depends.”
Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Obviously, then, righteousness doesn’t mean that someone must be perfect. So, if we are to put on the breastplate of righteousness as an important part of our armor, what are we to do?
Notice again Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Every action begins with a thought, and our thoughts need to be brought in line with God’s words and commands. Correct (righteous) choices in life flow from a mind dwelling on God’s Word. The time to start this process is now!
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS is a weapon; it is our breastplate! Isa 59:17 "For he put on righteousness as a breastplate..." The breastplate was the most beautiful, shiniest, most glamorous piece of weaponry that the Roman soldier possessed. The first thing you would notice when looking at a Roman soldier was his beautiful breastplate. The breastplate began at the top of his neck and went all the way down to the knees. It was composed of two different pieces of metal. They were held together by solid brass rings on top of the shoulders.
As Roman soldiers walked to and fro in their breastplates, something incredible would begin to happen. When you rub two pieces of metal against each other for a long time, they begin to add a lustre to each other. When the Roman soldier walked around with his breastplate on those smaller, scale-like pieces of metal would rub up against each other, thus causing each piece to have a beautiful shine. The beauty of the soldiers breastplate was enhanced by using it and walking in it. A whole legion of Roman soldierswalking toward the enemy in the sunshine would produce an awesome glare which would hinder the enemy. The breastplate is not only a defensive weapon but also an offensive weapon. Understand that the devil is offended and aggravated at your righteous position. A person who is not engaged in battle does not need to wear this kind of weaponry. You wear this kind of weaponry because someone out there wants to hurt you very badly!
The devil wants to immobilize the mind and emotions of a person. He does this best as he finds believers who do not know they are righteous. They are easy prey! People who don't know they have been made "righteous" tend to habitually walk in condemnation. The reason is because the devil comes to condemn them. He throws lying accusations that penetrate their minds and make them feel like they are failures. The enemy has victimized many to the point that they can no longer pray with confidence. He has convinced others that they will never be good enough to be used by God. But the Word of God tells us in verse 14 to stand up, throw our shoulders back and hold our head up high as we walk tall like all proud and victorious soldiers walk.
Every Roman soldier owned a beautiful breastplate of brass. However, if it was going to be useful to the soldier, he had to put it on. As stated already, the more he walked in that breastplate, the more beautiful it became, as the individual smaller pieces of scale-like metal began to add a lustre to each other. This is exactly what happens when you begin to walk in your righteousness. Keep walking...keep marching...keep moving forward, and do not let the enemy talk you out of enjoying the benefits of your right standing with God. As you walk in your "breastplate of righteousness," a RIGHTEOUS CONSCIOUSNESS WILL BEGIN TO OVERTAKE YOUR FALSE EMOTIONS OF UNWORTHINESS AND CONDEMNATION. A righteous consciousness will begin to develop in your life. As you walk in righteousness, with every step you take, you will become more and more gorgeous to the eye of God, and more and more dangerously blinding to the eye of the enemy.
SHOES OF PEACE: The shoes were primarily composed of two parts: 1. the greave, and 2. the shoe itself. These shoes were exceptionally dangerous to any foe. The greave was a piece of beautifully tooled metal that began at the top of the knee and extended down past the lower leg, finally resting on the upper portion of the foot. This tube-like piece of metal caused the Roman soldier's shoes to look like boots that were made of brass. The shoe itself was made of two pieces of metal. On the top and bottom, the foot was covered with fine pieces of brass. The sides of the shoe were held together by multiple pieces of durable leather. On the bottom, these shoes were affixed with extremely dangerous spikes - spikes that were one to three inches long. If you were involved in active combat, your spikes could be close to three inches long. These were killer shoes.
According to Paul, peace is an awesome weapon; it is defensive and offensive. Peace will not only protect you; peace is also a brutal weapon, which when used correctly, keeps spiritual foes where they belong - under your feet "Ouch!". One good kick, and the enemy is crushed. The enemy seems to calm a bit when you walk up in these shoes.
Peace with God / Peace of God: Peace with God is what you experience when you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. It is possible to have peace with God and not know the peace of God. Col 3:15 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts..." "Rule"is taken from the Greek word "brabeuo." This word was used to portray the umpire or referee who judged the athletic games in the ancient world. Paul is saying that there is a place where the peace of God can begin to call the shots and make all the decisions in your life, instead of fretfulness, anxiety and worry. You could translate the verse, "Let the peace of God call the shots in your life" "Let the peace of God umpire your life and your actions." "Let the peace of god referee your emotions and your decisions."
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (KJV)
When the peace of God is operative in your life, it puts spikes on the bottom of your feet that hold you in place. The peace of God makes you immovable.
Ps 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (NIV)