Romans 6:13 reads, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments [weapons or arms is the word used in the Greek] of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as weapons [not instruments] of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Read this part again; “…as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as weapons of righteousness” How will we be a weapon of righteousness if we don’t know what righteousness is? I know for a fact if our only source is what is found in Christian bookstores, we don’t know what righteousness is. It’s a shame and it saddens me, because God has left a record to explain it to us. When we truly understand what righteousness is, there is no way anybody could think they could even be close by applying in their lives any righteous acts based on their efforts. It’s because some don’t know that they keep trying to gain righteousness in their own power, without realizing no matter how much they try, they fall short, and not just a step or two, but miles short.

How are we used as a soldier by Jesus Christ as weapons of righteousness unto God? I want you to stop right now and ask yourself that question. There are acts of righteousness that some of you are aware of. I know because I read your messages, but that is just the beginning. Through these messages on the breastplate, I will give us better insight into what God sees righteousness as. Foremost, He sees it through His Son, just in case you think I’m going to go into some foolish thought to convince you that somehow, we can obtain righteousness because we know about some information presented here in God’s Word. It all has to come through His Son. No matter how much you know of God’s Word, His Word will either make you realize you can’t do it on your own, even though you know about it, or you can have all the benefits of righteousness if you let God do the work through the Holy Spirit in you. I’m repeating myself, but I want to make sure this is clear. I’m not one of these silly Christians saying that we can make a checklist and develop righteousness in our own strength. No, I’m not saying that at all. It can only be done through God’s Spirit as a weapon of righteousness because we are no longer under the law; we are under grace.

To begin laying the groundwork, go to II Timothy 3:16. Paul is writing to Timothy and in verse 16, begins to sum up the letter. Paul knows he is about ready to finish his course. He has fought the good fight of faith and is charging Timothy to keep in remembrance the things he was taught and the gift that was given to him by God so that he could also complete the ministry that he was called and chosen to do. Verse 16 begins,

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof [or to be proven], for correction [our basic training or boot camp], for instruction in righteousness:”

Remember that. To me therefore scripture must be verifiable, especially now that we have so many translations and opinions to confuse scripture more than ever. We see this with all the opinions about how certain words, phrases or verses were translated in scripture. Scripture is given by inspiration of God because it is profitable for setting doctrine straight. In Paul’s day, it didn’t take much for different philosophies of the same doctrine to take off and start pointing men in a wrong direction, from the views that catered to the flesh through humanism, rather than the message of the cross; deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Christ. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God for reproof or for proving. In other words, God is saying, “Go ahead and prove scripture; see if it is not given by me.”

When was the last time someone gave you instruction in righteousness? I walk a fine line here. That is why I repeat over and over that I can’t instruct you to be righteous, but God’s Word can. And what God’s Word instructs is to see how righteousness works through us by the Holy Spirit. Because of that, it is also a fine line you walk. Given the chance, the devil will twist something in scripture or something that we hear to make us think we are experiencing what righteousness is, but we cannot. The Scripture is for our instruction in righteousness. The instructional lessons come from God’s Word and are implanted into our life and imputed into us for God’s purposes. Verse 17 goes on to say,

“That the man of God may be perfect [No, be complete or keep progressing towards completion. We will never be totally completed down here; we are a work in progress.], thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

This is where Christians are so confused and where preachers have gravely mistaken what righteousness is. Because the word works is ergon, this verse should actually read,

“That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good [agathos in the Greek] works [ergon, or all the good employment of whatever].”

In the context of this verse, it is with the Word of God. Paul was writing to Timothy, but even so, we can apply it to ourselves whether we are a preacher or not. This kind of instruction is for our completion, or “thoroughly furnished unto all good ergon;” all the good things that come about if the Word of God is employed correctly. Chapter 4:1 continues,

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. [My job is to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.] For the time will come when they will not endure [hold up is a better translation] sound doctrine [That time has already come, and it is getting worse.]; but after their own lusts [desires is a better translation] shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”

Those itching ears would be preachers listening closely to see what their congregations like to hear so their pews stay filled and the offerings will keep coming in, or whatever other purpose they have for preaching false doctrines. They have the attitude that they will preach anything they know that you want to hear. Reading on the verse 4,

The truth is, the matter that is under consideration, which is also used in Ephesians 6:14, “girding your loins about with truth.” What is under consideration is what will happen as time marches on since Paul wrote this letter. Churches will have teachers with itching ears, teaching what they think they want to hear to please them, rather than teaching the inspired scripture given by God to reprove, correct, and instruct you in righteousness.

Fables is mythos in the Greek and where we get our English word mythology. Paul is saying here that preachers with itching ears will turn away people by using mythology, even though not all mythology is necessarily fable; there is truth to some myths. However, these teachers are using just a bit of the truth to create their own fables, their own myths to lead men astray keeping them satisfied and knowing they are preaching what they want to hear. For example, we have one of the largest churches in the world today doing just that and they fill up the stands with the ‘what can God do for you today’ message. However, in verse 5 we read,

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions [or kakopatheo,hardships and sufferings], do the work of an evangelist [A better translation for work is ergon, employment of the Word of God], make full proof of thy ministry.”

In other words, Paul is telling Timothy, “Make sure your ministry will last until God calls you home. Keep preaching, keep teaching, keep trusting in God, and keep enduring the afflictions, the hardships, and the sufferings because that is why you were called.” What a message! If you really stop to think about it, what a farewell message Timothy is getting from Paul. Paul goes on in verse 6 to tell Timothy,

When it is all said and done, we will receive a crown of righteousness. Until then, we are to use the inspired Word of God for our training and correction, but also for our instruction in righteousness, so that step by step we may get closer and closer to completion, and even though it will not completely happen down here, so we can be thoroughly furnished in the good employment of His Word. I know I keep repeating myself, but I want it to sink in. We have two purposes in life as a soldier of Jesus Christ: First, to serve Him personally in your own personal relationship with God; and second, to serve Him where He has put you in the capacity, He has called you to employ the Word of God. It is not complicated. In fact, it is very easy to understand, but so many don’t want to take that step because it requires commitment. To be continued.