Wearing the "Right" thing.

The next piece of armor that the Roman legionnaire wore as listed in Eph. chapter 6 is a breastplate or "Lorica Segmentata". Verse 14b tells us to wear "...righteousness like armor on your chest".

Breastplate armor and the helmet, other than offensive weapons, were the most important parts of a soldiers array. The breastplate covered the torso protecting the vital organs. Lorica Segmentata is actually a medieval term used to describe the armor that in Latin is "lamina" (metal) and "lames" (segments}. As shown in the picture this armor covered the torso and shoulders of the soldier. It was constructed of metal strips tied together and attached to a leather vest, coming into use during 1st century. Some legionaries wore a early type of chain mail under the breastplate. This armor was designed not only to protect the torso from weapons, but to allow freedom of movement. While a Roman soldier could be wounded on his extremities, survive and possible even keep on fighting, a wound to the torso would be fatal in most cases.

Righteousness is defined by Webster as "acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin". By Christ's blood we have been deemed righteous, and living a righteous life allows us not only to be "free from guilt", it helps keep us from sin. We are told "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounding you have been healed." I Peter 2:24. While we cannot, due to our fallen nature, remain sinless living a righteous life through Christ we have the protection of God's armor. Like armor righteousness deflects the weapons of Satan temptation, guilt and accusations. The breastplate protects our spiritual "torso" as we fight, deflecting spiritual weapons just as it protected the Roman from real weapons. With proper "maintenance"(bible study and prayer) righteousness as armor will help shield us from sin.

Isaiah 59:16-18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
16 He saw that there was no man—
He was amazed that there was no one interceding; (A)
so His own arm brought salvation,
and His own righteousness supported Him.

17 He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on His head; (B)
He put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and He wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak. (C)

18 Thus He will repay according to [their] deeds: (D)
fury to His enemies,
retribution to His foes,
and He will repay the coastlands.

Photo from http://www.legionxxiv.org/loricapage/