Ephesians Part 100

INTRO: We are looking at the Christian soldier in Ephesians 6:10-20. In the last two messages we looked at the belt of truth. Truth is under attack today more than it has been for around, I would say, 500 years. Our modern nations have become reprobate. They cannot discern between their right hand and their left. They do not know the difference between a man and a woman, literally. It is unthinkable!

For the Christian to stand against the wiles of the devil and to be able to stand in the evil day, he will have to wear this belt. In verse 11 Paul says, "Put on the whole armor." In verse he says, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God." We have looked at one piece, the very first piece. And now we come to the second piece, the breastplate of righteousness.

Where the soldier of worldly kingdoms wore a breastplate, the soldier in the kingdom of God is to wear righteousness. What a book is the Bible! It is God's special revelation to man teaching him how to get right with God and how to live right. And before one can get right with God or live right, one must have the truth as to what is right. So it is truth before righteousness.

Picture a soldier in the Roman army. They have come to fight toe to toe. And there is a soldier whose belt has come undone. His tunica is flowing and tangles with his arm, and as he thrusts his sword, the robe wraps around his arm in the wind and he is done.

Now picture a Christian who has a flimsy stand on truth, what a hay-day does Satan have with him? He might even let him live and talk him into coming over to his side. Truth is the benchmark of the Christian life.

But picture this soldier now with his belt in place, but he has no