I wondered if this is the righteousness of all believers in Christ where His blood covers our sin. My Bible's footnote says no. This is the practical, righteous character and deeds of believers. But another commentary says yes. So which is it? I'm inclined to think that when Paul uses the term "righteousness." he's NOT referring to the blood of Christ because he is writing to people who already have that. Why would he tell them to put it on? In John 14:15 Jesus says, "If you love me, you will obey my commandments." We can argue about what commandments He meant, but the fact is, He expects us to obey something. I believe it is this obedience that protects us.
We are saved by faith through grace, not by works. Yet faith without works is dead. How does this make sense? Well, our righteousness may not save us, but it protects us. The Law is so detailed, so full of wisdom and good living habits. Science has proven time and again that the law is good for us. The breastplate was a piece that went all the way around covering the core of your body. So being righteous, or following the law, protects the very core of your body. Walk out from under this protection and sickness and disease and every other evil have an opening to get to you.
The Psalms are full of praises for the Law. None of the psalms are talking about words of Christ, but about the Old Testament scriptures that the psalmists had available to them. Psalm 19: 7-11 seems to confirm that a protective righteousness comes from keeping the law:
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 1: 1-5 tells us the way of the righteous and the end of the ungodly:
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
We most definitely need Jesus first and foremost to cleanse our sins. We have nothing without His Righteousness. This is absolutely without a doubt the most important form of righteousness we can receive. If the Breastplate of Righteousness refers to the Righteousness we receive by being followers of Christ, cool. That is covered the minute we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Then why do we still suffer spiritual attack? How do we stand against it? Isn't that what Paul was trying to tell us?
There are so many things that Christians suffer in this world that I wonder if we couldn't avoid if we kept the law. The laws about food have been proven to be wise. There's probably a lot about that that we'll never really understand, but God does, He made it all! If we still kept the laws about how to clean our house and when we are clean and unclean, I wonder if we wouldn't avoid a lot of sickness and disease. I don't think we'll ever completely wipe out sickness from our lives, just like we'll never completely wipe out sin from our lives.
Anyway, it's something to think about. I know that living our lives doing whatever we want and ignoring the whole Old Testament is not doing much for anyone I know. So either God is a liar, or that is NOT the protection He was referring to.
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