Righteousness -- Faith in His Love

"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." (1 Thessalonians 5: 8)

The breastplate of righteousness guards the heart of every believer. Here, it is faith and love which guard the heart.

Faith works through love (Galatians 5: 6): God's love, for this love is shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5: 5).

Yet Paul uses different elements when describing the breastplate of the believer in his Epistle to the Ephesians:

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” (Ephesians 6: 14)

Righteousness, the perfect standing of acceptance that we have before God in Christ, works in our lives because we have faith in God's love:

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. " (1 John 4: 10)

Because Jesus came to be the mercy-seat for our sins, we receive His righteousness:

"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 Corinthians 5: 21)

Have faith in God, whose love sent His Son to die for you, that you may receive His righteousness!

This faith, this love, manifests this righteousness in your life to protect your heart!