STAND FIRM

Breastplate of Righteousness - July 14, 2025

Ben Johnson

Ephesians 6:13-14 NLT - Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

Definition of Righteousness: RIGHT STANDING with God.

Ways People Try to Earn Righteousness:

RELIGIOUS EXCELLENCE: Striving for spiritual perfection; strict keepers of the law.

GOOD WORKS: Serving, giving, and helping-acknowledging that everyone has fallen short.

COMPETING with OTHERS: Keeping score and attempting to do more good than bad.

Luke 18:9-14 NLT – Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Moving From Reckless to Righteous

-       Jesus, the ONLY righteous ONE, offers His righteousness through faith.  

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 3:22 NLT - We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

-       Righteousness CANNOT be EARNED.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Matthew 5:6 ESV - “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

-       Righteous LIVING can only happen through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT - But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Philippians 2:13 NLT - For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

If you don't STAND for SOMETHING, you will FALL for ANYTHING.

Life Group Discussion & Questions

BREAKING THE ICE: The biblical tension between the Pharisee and the tax collector, highlights the contrast between self-righteousness and humble repentance. The Pharisee, a respected religious figure, boasts about his moral achievements and looks down on others, while the tax collector, a socially despised sinner, humbly acknowledges his guilt and pleads for God's mercy. Jesus teaches that it is the repentant tax collector—not the outwardly righteous Pharisee—who is justified before God.  Who are the two men in the parable, and what were their reputations in society at the time?

DIGGING IN: Read - Luke 18:9-14

-       What did the Pharisee pray about? What was the focus of his prayer?

-       What did the tax collector do and say in his prayer?

-       Have you ever felt like the tax collector, acknowledging your shortcomings and needing God's mercy? Describe that experience, if comfortable sharing.

-       What do the different prayers and postures of the two men reveal about their hearts?

-       Why do you think it can be so tempting to compare ourselves to others, especially in spiritual matters? What are the dangers of this practice?

-       According to Jesus, which man went home justified (right with God)? What does this reveal about God's priorities?

BRINGING IT HOME: 

How does this parable encourage approaching God, knowing He desires a genuine and humble heart?

In what ways can the principle of "everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:14 NLT) be applied to interactions with others?