What did a Roman soldier carry in each hand in battle?
In battle, a Roman soldier carried his weapon in his right hand and his shield in his left hand. These were the two items that carried the man into battle, and Paul used that picture to illustrate righteousness in both hands instead of a sword and shield.
Les teaches that Paul often uses contemporary things, such as the Roman soldier, to make a point. The Roman soldier in battle carried his weapon in his right hand and his shield in his left; those two items carried the man into battle. Paul makes the same analogy, but instead of a sword and a shield, the believer has righteousness in both hands. Les connects this to Romans 3:22, where the righteousness of God is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all who believe, with no difference between Jew and Gentile, black and white, rich and poor; God's righteousness is imputed and covers every believer.