Righteousness By Grace Through Faith

Ephesians 6:10, 11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Do you remember the story of David and Goliath? The giant Philistine blasphemes the living God before the armies of Israel and requires that they send a man to fight with him and settle the feud between the two groups in a death match. David, intrepid by faith, approaches King Saul with his desire to vindicate the character of God and dispatch this uncircumcised Philistine. Saul consents, recognizing the unconquerable faith and purpose of the stripling but requires barebacked David to utilize his armor.

1 Samuel 17:38, 39 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

Saul's armor was too big and dangerous for David to use in battle. The armor of God--The armor that God offers us--however, fits perfectly. His breastplate of righteousness was worn by His Son, "made under the law," (Gal. 4:4), "like unto his brethren" (Heb. 2:17), "in the likeness of sinful flesh," (Romans 8:3), "but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," (Heb. 4:15). That breastplate has been proven. That breastplate is nothing less than righteousness by faith. David was clothed in it as he doffed Saul's imitation armor and left to stand up to the Philistine. David had a giant which accused the Israelites day and night. Sound familiar? We ourselves have a giant Lion to contend with (see 1 Peter 5:8), "the accuser of our brethren," (Rev. 12:10). David's death match with Goliath is a microcosm of the great controversy.    

2 Timothy 2:1  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

In the context of the great controversy "strength" is righteousness.

• Psa 105:4  Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. 

• Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If the strength of God is the righteousness of God supplied to us and salvation is of course nothing less than righteousness and right standing with God, then these thoughts logically follow:

1. Strong in grace
2. Righteousness by grace 
3. Saved by grace through faith
4. Righteousness by grace through faith.

Therefore, the source of our strength, our victory, our righteousness--our overcoming of the "sins which doth so easily beset us," (Heb. 12:1), is God's grace accessed through faith. Our righteousness is not our own, it is the gift of God, the gift of His grace.