The Christian life is not without battles. The Bible speaks of a real spiritual battle, making spiritual warfare a daily experience for every believer. In Ephesians, Paul encourages us to stand firm against the schemes of the devil by putting on the full armor of God (Eph 6:10–20).
Among the armor, the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation stand out. They protect the heart and head. This article focuses on the protection of the heart which is central to our spiritual life. Like a Roman soldier wouldn't go without a breastplate, Christians shouldn't live without righteousness. This is not our own righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ. Without Christ’s righteousness, believers are exposed to satanic attacks and become easy targets for his flaming arrows.
Paul’s use of military imagery made perfect sense to his audience. The Roman soldier’s breastplate covered the body from the neck down to the waist. It protected vital organs like the heart and lungs. Without it, even a minor strike could become deadly to the soldier. In the same way, righteousness is not optional for the believer, it is essential for our spiritual survival.
The heart is so critical to our physical well-being. The heart pumps blood throughout the body. If it fails, everything else suffers. Spiritually, the heart is the center of emotions, thoughts, desires, and decisions. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Paul's language in Ephesians 6:14 draws from Isaiah 59:17, where YHWH puts on the breastplate of righteousness to deliver his people and punish enemies.
Because of its importance, the enemy always targets it. Despite this, believers are protected against his lies, temptations, accusations, guilt, and condemnation through righteousness. This righteousness is not about our own perfection. It's first the righteousness we receive through faith in Jesus Christ, giving us right standing before God. It also calls us to live rightly daily, choosing obedience, purity, and truth in a world filled with spiritual darkness.
Believers are surrounded by spiritual challenges (Eph 6:12), but God’s righteousness strengthens us to walk in holiness in a hostile world. We should not neglect this protection. The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts in spiritual battles. Without it, we're vulnerable to Satan's tactics like accusation (Rev 12:10), temptation, and deception. But Christ's righteousness assures us of no condemnation (Rom 8:1). Pursuing righteousness keeps us strong.
Jesus covers us with His righteousness but also calls us to walk in the same manner. John says: “Whoever claims he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6). The early church understood this well. Their holy lives served as both spiritual protection and public witness in the face of persecution. This is what our righteousness does, it protects us spiritually and offers a strong public witness in the face of persecution.
Today, we are called to guard our hearts, resist sin, live a life of integrity, and refuse the temptation to compromise. In societies where dishonesty and corruption are common, righteousness becomes a powerful testimony to our community. Righteousness strengthens our prayer life, gives us boldness before God, and keeps us spiritually alert (Eph 6:18b). When we stumble, righteousness reminds us of Christ’s finished work on the cross and calls us back to repentance.
To wear this armor daily, we must trust in Christ’s righteousness, be obedient, repent quickly, live with integrity, and stay connected to the Church. The breastplate is both God’s gift and our responsibility. In a world of temptation and deception, only those who guard their hearts with righteousness will stand firm.
Rev. Robert Yanduya
PAACS Associate Spiritual Dean
