The unbreakable Righteousness of Jesus Christ
God has given us armoured spiritual protection from the attacks of the enemy, we’ve learned that we wear these through reading, trusting and praying through the Word of God. Having looked at the attack against who God is, and the belt of truth, we turn to the Breastplate of Righteousness, and the attack on who we are in God’s eyes. Job is given to us as an example of how to fight under the protection of God’s Righteousness through Jesus Christ our King.
Scripture
Ephesians 6:10-14 - ESV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Bible Study Questions
The target of the attack
While the enemy attacks everything that God has created, there are times when we are deceived into thinking we're being attacked because we are the worst sinners and have been separated from God. We are tempted into think there is no hope for us. Have a look at the following Scriptures, who is the target of attack, and was there no hope for them?
Job 1:1 - ESV There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
Luke 22:31 - ESV “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
Matthew 4:1 - ESV Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
What is the attack aimed at achieving?
Attacks from the enemy can come in so many different forms, but always with the same ultimate purpose. What is this purpose?
Job 1:9-11 - ESV Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
Genesis 3:4-5 - ESV But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Who can be righteous? Who can be good enough?
When our relationship with God is under attack, we are tempted to think it's over, we're too far gone, or sometimes we're tempted to think that we can fix it with our effort. Are we too far gone, and can we fix it through our own effort?
Job 25:4 - ESV How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?
Philippians 3:9 - ESV and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith —
Romans 3:10-12 - ESV as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
What is the right way to deal with the attack on our relationship with God?
When our relationship with God is attacked, we are either made aware of our sin and failings and made to believe we're beyond hope, or they're hidden from us and we're tricked into thinking everything is fine. How should we deal with these attacks?
Job 32:1 - ESV So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
Luke 18:9 - ESV He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
Luke 18:13 - ESV But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
Job was an amazing child of God, but was He without sin?
When we're tempted to think of ourselves are perfect, "good enough" or even better than most, we need to be reminded of something. Job was righteous, right with God, in his own eyes, and God Himself singled out Job for his extraordinary character, but was Job "good enough"?
Job 1:8 - ESV And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
Job 40:8 - ESV Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
The time has come, be restored to God.
God's questioning of Job convicts him of his own sin and brings him to repentance. How does Job repent, in a way that his friends don't? What do we learn from Job as to how we are made right with God?
Job 42:1-6 - ESV Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Mark 1:14-15 - ESV Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
How do we answer the attack on our right standing with God?
The Armour of God gives us the Breastplate of Righteousness. What has Job taught us about God's Righteousness and how to have the Breastplate firmly in place to protect against the attacks of the enemy?
Ephesians 6:13-14 - ESV Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Romans 3:21-24 - ESV But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it — 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,