Katika Waefeso 6:14, we read about the second element of the spiritual armor of God, which is the breastplate of righteousness. What does the Bible say about the breastplate of righteousness? What is the breastplate of righteousness and what does it mean having on the breastplate of righteousness?
What does having on the breastplate of righteousness mean?
Kwa hiyo twaeni silaha zote za Mungu, mpate kuweza kushindana siku ya uovu, na baada ya kufanya yote, kusimama. Simama kwa hiyo, mkiwa mmejifunga kweli viunoni, na kuvaa dirii ya haki kifuani (Waefeso 6:13-14)
Jesus is righteous and walked in obedience to His Father in righteousness on earth. Kila mtu, who is born again in Christ has been made righteous by His blood and is reconciled with the Father and shall walk just like Jesus; Mwana wa Mungu, as son of God after the Spirit in righteousness.
Every person is a sinner
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes (Warumi 3:10-18)
Tazama, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me (Zaburi 51:5)
Kila mtu, ambaye amezaliwa hapa duniani, is born in unrighteousness and belongs to the generation of fallen man (mzee) and is a sinner.
No one is born in righteousness and/or has been made righteous by his or her own works, including the works of the law of Moses, since the fallen state of the old man and the sin nature of the old man can’t be changed by the works of the law. Kwa sababu hiyo, sin and death will continue to reign in man.
Kila mtu, who thinks and believes that (s)he has been made righteous and saved by his or her own works, including keeping the law of Moses, doesn’t live in the truth, but lives in a lie. Just like everyone, who says, hiyo (s)he has no sin, misleads himself or herself and lives in a lie (Warumi 3:20, Wagalatia 2:21, 1 Yohana 1:8)
There is only njia moja to be made righteous and be saved and that is by faith in Jesus Christ, Mwana wa Mungu aliye hai, na kwa damu yake (Warumi 1:16, Warumi 3:28, Warumi 5:10-21, Waefeso 1:7, Wakolosai 1:13-14, Wafilipi 3:9).
Being made righteous by the redemptive work and the blood of Jesus Christ
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Yohana 3:16).
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (Warumi 3:21-26)
Therefore God sent out of love His Son to the earth as an atoning sacrifice and the Substitute for fallen man, so that everyone, who believes in Him would no longer live in bondage to death, but would have the ability to be redeemed from the power of sin and death that reign in the flesh and to become in Him a new man, who is created after the image of God in righteousness.
Because by the blood of Jesus Christ and kuzaliwa upya katika Kristo; the death of the flesh in which death reigns and that produces the fruit of death which is sin, and the resurrection of the spirit from the dead, in which life reigns and produces the fruit of righteousness, the old man no longer exists, but the old man has become the new man.
Not every person remains a sinner
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Wakolosai 1:12-14)
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (Warumi 3:28)
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous (Warumi 5:18-19)
The new man is no longer the old man. Therefore the new man is no longer a sinner, but has been made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ.
From the moment you are made righteous in Christ, it is a sin to call yourself a sinner.
Because by calling yourself a sinner, you say indirectly that God is a Liar, that His Word lies, that Jesus has not been made sin, and that His redemptive work is not finished.
Kwa hiyo, by saying that, you deny the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
Because you say, that His work was not sufficient and the blood of Jesus Christ is not powerful enough to change your state as a sinner and make you righteous before God.
As long as you see yourself as a sinner after you’ve become born again, and keep confessing that you are a sinner, there is something wrong. Because a sinner is someone, who obeys sin and perseveres in sin, and enjoys living in sin. A sinner is rebellious and prideful and is not willing to yield to God and His will. Because the flesh in which the sinful nature dwells, always rebels against the Spirit and refuses to submit to the law of the Spirit.
Why do people say, that you are a sinner and will always remain a sinner? So that people don’t have to die to the flesh and put off the works of the old man, but keep doing the works of the flesh, without being confronted by others and call them to repentance.
But as long as you want to do the works of the flesh and want to obey sin, it actually proves that you don’t belong to God and His Kingdom, but that you still belong to the world and the ruler of the world; shetani (Soma pia: Once a sinner, always a sinner?)
The new creation has been made righteous in Jesus Christ
Basi mtu akiwa ndani ya Kristo, yeye ni kiumbe kipya: mambo ya kale yamepita; tazama, mambo yote yamekuwa mapya (2 Wakorintho 5:17)
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 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 Wakorintho 5:20-21)
Neno linasema, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God has been made sin, so that everyone by faith and regeneration in Jesus Christ becomes a new creation and be made the righteousness of God in Him.
You have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ. Now that you have been made righteous in Him and received the nature of God, kwa kukaa kwa Roho Mtakatifu, you shall yield yourself to God and His Word and walk after the Spirit in the truth and in righteousness.
The new man is no longer a servant of sin, but a servant of righteousness
Jesus answered them, Hakika, hakika, Nawaambia, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (Yohana 8:34-36)
Hamjui, kwamba kwake yeye ambaye mnajitoa nafsi zenu kuwa watumwa wake katika kumtii, ninyi ni watumwa wake ambaye mnamtii; kwamba ni wa dhambi inayoleta kifo, au wa utii uletao haki? (Warumi 6:16)
When you were still the old man, you were a friend of the world and lived as the world and walked after the flesh in disobedience to God and did things, of which you are now ashamed.
Dhambi; the sinful nature reigned as king in your life and had dominion over you and you obeyed it in the lusts therefore and yielded your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin and lived in uncleanness and iniquity (Warumi 6:12-13, 19-22)
But that all changed, when you became a new creation; the new man in Christ. Because by the blood of Jesus Christ, you were reconciled with God and received a new nature, causing you to no longer walk as before in unrighteousness, but causing you to walk in righteousness.
Lakini Mungu ashukuriwe, kwamba mlikuwa watumwa wa dhambi, bali mmetii kwa mioyo yenu ile namna ya mafundisho mliyopewa. Baada ya hapo kuwekwa huru kutoka kwa dhambi, mkawa watumwa wa haki. Nanena kwa jinsi ya kibinadamu kwa sababu ya udhaifu wa miili yenu: kwa maana kama vile mlivyovitoa viungo vyenu kuwa watumwa kwa uchafu na uovu kwa uovu; vivyo hivyo sasa vitoeni viungo vyenu viwe watumishi wa haki hata utakatifu.
Kwa maana mlipokuwa watumwa wa dhambi, mlikuwa huru mbali na uadilifu. Mlikuwa na matunda gani siku zile kwa mambo hayo ambayo sasa mnayaonea haya?? maana mwisho wa mambo hayo ni mauti. Lakini sasa tumewekwa huru mbali na dhambi, na kuwa watumishi wa Mungu, mna matunda yenu kwa utakatifu, na mwisho uzima wa milele. Kwa maana mshahara wa dhambi ni mauti; bali karama ya Mungu ni uzima wa milele katika Kristo Yesu Bwana wetu (Warumi 6:17-23)
When you became a son of God, you were transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God and became an enemy of the world. Kwa hiyo, you don’t belong to the world; the kingdom of darkness anymore and because of that you shall no longer live like the world and do the same unrighteous works as the world. But you belong to God and His Kingdom. You have been made righteous and holy, which means that you are separated from the world unto God, and therefore you shall obey His will and shall do the righteous works of the Kingdom, kama Yesu.
“Dhambi isitawale tena kama mfalme”
Sin no longer reigns as king in your flesh and has no dominion over you, since you have died to the flesh in Christ.
Therefore you shall no longer live as a mtumishi wa dhambi and obey sin and live in sin, but you shall have dominion through the Spirit over sin and put off the works of the flesh; the works of the old man.
You are no longer a servant of sin, but you have become a servant of God. Therefore you shall yield your members as instruments of righteousness unto God and live in righteousness and holiness.
Katika ulimwengu wa kiroho, you have been made the righteousness of God and your righteous state shall be revealed through your walk and life on earth.
Kila mtu, who is born of God does righteousness
If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him (1 Yohana 2:29)
Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Watoto wadogo, mtu asiwadanganye: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, kama vile Yeye alivyo mwadilifu. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: na hawezi kutenda dhambi, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, na watoto wa shetani: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother (1 Yohana 3:6-10)
Those who are born of God have been made righteous and because of that they shall walk just like Jesus Christ, Who is the image and reflection of God, in righteousness.
They shall no longer be dominated and led by the sin nature, that dwells in the flesh, but they shall be led by the Spirit, whereby they shall fulfill the righteousness of the law (Warumi 8:4-5 (Soma pia: ‘Is man able to fulfill the law of God?‘)
Yesu alisema, that you shall recognize the tree by its fruits. Therefore if anyone keeps walking in disobedience to God, in obedience to the sin nature, and perseveres in sin, it proves that the person is not born of God and doesn’t belong to Him.
The spirit of error
Kwa bahati mbaya, the spirit of error has deceived many people and has made them believe that those, who persevere in sin and sin willfully do belong to God and that God loves those, who persevere in sin and that God doesn’t mind if people keep sinning and that it doesn’t matter if you keep living in sin. But that’s half a truth and therefore a lie!
God indeed loves mankind and as proof of His love, He gave His Son, so that everyone had the ability to be redeemed from the power of the sin nature and no longer live as a slave of sin in the bondage of death and keep doing evil works of the flesh, which are an abomination to God and which God hates (Oh. Methali 6:16-19, Yeremia 44:4, Waebrania 1:9, Ufunuo 2:6-15).
Do you really think, that God doesn’t mind if a person keeps living in rebellion against His Word and His will and perseveres in sin and that God approves sin? Hapana, bila shaka hapana. Sin has cost God His Son Jesus Christ! (Soma pia: ‘The sin has killed Jesus‘).
Righteousness has no common ground with unrighteousness
But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, Ee Mungu, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows (Waebrania 1:8-9)
Don’t believe the words of people, who change the truth of God and adjust the words of God to their own carnal lusts and desires and the time in which we live. Badala yake, believe the Word.
Read, study, and search the scriptures in the Bible, so that you will find out the truth and life.
Because by the Word and the Holy Spirit you shall be able to discern the truth from the lies and expose the lies and doctrines of the spirit of error and reject them.
Don’t let anyone fool you by saying that the Bible is outdated and no longer applies.
Every word of God still applies to all mankind today and shall always apply.
Maandiko yote yametolewa kwa uvuvio wa Mungu, na yafaa kwa mafundisho, kwa karipio, kwa marekebisho, kwa mafundisho katika haki: Ili mtu wa Mungu awe mkamilifu, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timotheo 3:16-17)
The devil doesn’t sit still and has sent his henchman and placed them in influential positions worldwide. Ndiyo, even in many churches he has appointed his sons, who may look pious and righteous from the outside, but inwardly they are the exact opposite and are sons of the devil and enemies of righteousness, who promote sin and unrighteousness.
They change the truth of God into lies and approve sin and unrighteousness and lead the people astray, so that they keep living after the flesh in rebellion to God and persevere in sin (2 Wakorintho 11:14-15).
Their mouths are open graves, because every word, that proceeds out of their mouths doesn’t promote sanctified lives unto God and doesn’t lead the people to eternal life, but promotes unholy lives and leads the people to eternal death.
Kila mtu, who belongs to the world and is an enemy of righteousness and lives in disobedience to the will of God, which is revealed through the Word, and is not willing to yield to the will of God, is an enemy of God and doesn’t belong to Him.
The new man is clothed with the breastplate of righteousness
Na mfanywe wapya katika roho ya nia zenu; na kwamba mvae utu mpya, ambayo baada ya Mungu imeumbwa katika haki na utakatifu wa kweli (Waefeso 4:23-24)
As long as you stay in Jesus Christ; the Word and walk after the Spirit in obedience to God after His will and put on the new man, whereby you shall walk in righteousness and do righteous works, you shall have on the breastplate of righteousness.
You shall have on the breastplate of righteousness that guards your heart, from which are the issues of life and belongs to God(Methali 4:20-23).
You shall walk by faith after the Spirit in the Truth in righteousness after His will and nothing shall be able to touch you and harm you
The devil shall come and try to attack you and accuse you, but he shall have nothing in you, because you have been made righteous in Christ and you walk in obedience to Him in His amri and walk in His footsteps in righteousness (Oh. Yohana 14:30, 1 Yohana 5:18).
You shall speak His words and walk after His will and pray after His will and do the works in His Name after His will and the Lord shall listen and answer and empower your words and works, so that you shall bear the fruit of righteousness and exalt Jesus Christ and honor the Father (Oh. Yohana 15:7, Kiebrania 12:11, James 3:18, 1 Peter 3:12).
The saints shall be clothed in white linen and receive the crown of righteousness
Yesu alisema, Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mathayo 5:10)
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Peter 3:13)
The saints, who belong to God and have been made righteous in Christ and because of their righteous state walk in righteousness after His will, shall inherit eternal life and be clothed in white linen; the righteousness of the saints, and receive the crown of righteousness.
They shall live on the new earth, where righteousness dwells, because righteousness is the scepter of God’s Kingdom (Matendo 17:31, 2 Timotheo 2:8, Waebrania 1:8, 2 Peter 3:13, Ufunuo 19:8).
‘Kuweni chumvi ya dunia’
