Ephesians Putting on Your Armor ~ The Belt of Truth Ephesians 6:14 The issue of truth is the issue of how we live life. This is why society is in chaos. Without any understanding of truth, or that there even is truth, we end up with a schizophrenic society. What s happened to truth? Consider this. We don t want our children sexually active, so we teach them how to be sexually active. Schools require parents approval to give an aspirin, but not an abortion. We know kids haven t developed the maturity or focus to be given significant amounts of responsibility, so we put them behind the wheel of a massive machine capable of doing massive damage. What s happened to truth? We recognize behaviors as self destructive, alcoholism, rampant sexuality, hedonism, but instead of helping people find ways of self-control, we try to find ways of avoiding the consequence of destructive behaviors. What s happened to truth? After all, consider our leadership. We want leaders with character and values. This of course means we certainly wouldn t want to confuse their personal lives and how they live them, with their public life and the quality of their service. Just because someone is sexually profligate, or drinks and kills someone doesn t mean they shouldn t be leading us. What s happened to truth? Of course it s not surprising society has lost sight of truth. Even the church doesn t seem to have it. Scripture says, love your spouse, but pragmatism says God wants me to be happy, so I can get a divorce. Scripture says the lost are sinners in need of a savior. But common sense says, Telling people they re sinners is offensive. Tell them how being a Christian can make their life happier and easier. What s happened to truth? We can t live a godly life without God s Truth. We can t fight a spiritual war without the belt of truth. And there is truth with a capital T. I Introduction II The Belt of Truth Verse 14 III Paul s Point IV Application Introduction: This morning we are going to talk about Truth. Of course this can be a bit troubling because there is no such thing as absolute truth, well except there is no absolute truth. And that s the problem today. If we try to talk about truth outside a biblical context we come up with a lot of irrationality. The practical concern then is, it is hard to talk to people about God s truth when they have no concept of truth. It is hard to stand against Satan without truth.
I think the approach I want to take in this section of our study on Ephesians is to first examine the context of each element in the armor, next consider Paul s application, and finally look at the broader issues in scripture. The Belt of Truth: So first let us take a look at the Roman belt. The NIV Bible Background Commentary states: The belt or girdle may refer to the leather apron beneath the armor or to the metal belt protecting the lower abdomen. 1 Stott adds: Usually made of leather, the soldier s belt belongs rather to his underwear than his armour. Yet it was essential. It gathered his tunic together and also held his sword. It ensured that he was unimpeded with marching. As he buckled it on, it gave him a sense of hidden strength and confidence. Belts and braces still do. To tighten one s belt can mean not only to accept a time of austerity during a food shortage but also to prepare oneself for action, which the ancients would have called girding up their loins. 2 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13 KJV). Wiersbe summarizes the purpose of the belt this way: The girdle holds the other parts of the armor together, and truth is the integrating force in the life of the victorious Christian. The girdle also held the sword. Unless we practice the truth, we cannot use the Word of truth. 3 Paul s Point: There are two possibilities in interpreting truth in this context, either of which are consistent with the general teachings of scripture. 1. Revealed truth. This view holds that Paul is referring to God s truth revealed in Christ and in the scriptures. 2. Sincerity and Integrity. Because of the absence of a definitive article some interpret this relating to characteristics to be found in a believer. Of course the second is not a valid understanding in and of itself, because sincerity, and even integrity within an individuals framework is meaningless unless grounded in objective and actual truth, the truth found in God s word. As a consequence, Gurnell reconciles these two positions by stating: I think it right to comprise both. Both true doctrine and true sincerity are required to make the girdle complete. One will not do without the other. It is possible to find good meanings and a kind of sincerity without, yea against, the truth. Many follow an error in the simplicity of their hearts. These do ill while they mean well. Good intentions do not make a good action. no more than a fair mark makes a good shot 1 Keener, Craig S., IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1993. 2 Stott, John R. W., The Message of Ephesians, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1979, p. 277. 3 Wiersbe, Warren W., The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament ~ Volume 2, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1971, p. 58. ) 170 (
by an unskillful archer. Neither is it enough to have truth on our side, if we do not have truth in our hearts. Jehu was a great stickler against Baal, but he kicked down all again by his hypocrisy. Both sincerity, to set forth a right end; and knowledge of the word of truth, are necessary to direct us in the right way to that end. 4 Reality is, we can t be who God s calls us to be if we don t live in light of how God calls us to live. We can t stand up to the wiles of the devil, if we don t live in God s truth with sincerity and integrity. While it is the Sword of Truth, that is the Word, that is used offensively, it is God s truth used inwardly that becomes the foundation of the Whole Armor. Application: Okay, first we probably should define The word truth, aletheia in the NT and a variety of words, chiefly emeth in the OT, always connotes (1) the interrelated consistency of statements and their correspondence with the facts of reality and (2) the facts themselves. The biblical use of the word has rich suggestive meanings that go beyond the literal connotations. When Moses (Exod 18:21 KJV) refers to able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, there is suggested integrity of character a kind of reliability that goes beyond the literal meaning to include those aspects of personal behavior that seem to be implied by the love of truth. The concept of truth is assumed to be derived from the character of God (Heb 6:18; cf. Exod 18:21; 2 Tim 2:13; Titus 1:2). Jesus refers to the gospel of the grace of God as the truth (John 8:31-32; 17:17). One of the saddest scenes in the Bible (John 18:37-38) is the one in which Pilate asks Jesus, What is truth? and does not even wait for an answer. Those who disbelieve the gospel are morally reprehensible in the sight of God (3:18-19, 36; 2 Thess 2:10-12). Christ is the truth. 5 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens (Exodus 18:21 KJV) God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged (Hebrews 6:18). if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself (2 Timothy 2:13). a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time (Titus 1:2). To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth (John 8:31-32; John 17:17). You are a king, then! said Pilate. Jesus answered, You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. What is truth? Pilate 4 Gurnall, William, The Christian in Complete Armor, abridgment by Jay P. Green, Sr., Sovereign Grace Trust Fund, Lafayette, ID, 1989, p. 142. 5 Douglas, J. D. and Merrill C. Tenney, editors, NIV Bible Dictionary, Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1990 ) 171 (
asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, I find no basis for a charge against him (John 18:37-38). Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God s wrath remains on him (John 3:18-19, 36). and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Next, we know that if we are to fight the good fight, we must be grounded in God s truth and live it out in our words and our walk. The problem is much of the church hasn t been typified by this kind of living, which is why she falls for Satan s lies. At worst this leads to heresies and a falling away. At best this makes Christians look like fools and brings disrepute on Christ and His body. Christian s have communicated the legend of Darwin s deathbed conversion; boycotted Procter & Gamble because its president allegedly confessed his company s ties to Satanism; defended the historicity of the Gospels through such well-known forgeries as the Pilate letter; argued for the inspiration of Scripture on the basis of imbedded Bible codes; told the tale of James Bartley, who was supposedly swallowed by a whale, to substantiate the biblical account of Johan; circulated the story of scientists discovering hell in Siberia to support the Bible s teachings concerning eternal conscious torment; perpetuated the urban legend that NASA discovered Joshua s Lost Day ; and employed sloppy journalism to circulate an endless variety of resurrection stories. 6 Is it any wonder Paul starts off by requiring truth as the foundation of the spiritual battle we are called to fight? So what is truth? This was is our question. This is the world s question What is truth? Pilate asked (John 18:38) Scripture speaks to this question frequently. Keep in mind when we started we noted putting on the Whole Armor meant putting on Christ. When Jesus was asked about truth Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). This is the problem for the world. If truth is relative, then how can we demand people believe Christ is the only way? But if truth isn t absolute, then why would we even want to try to live in a godly manner? And there is no security in a world without absolute truth. This is one reason there is so much chaos in this world and why we, as believers, find ourselves being tossed to and fro. This is 6 Hanegraaff, Hank, The Covering, W. Publishing Group, 2002, p. 41. ) 172 (
why without the belt of truth believers fall to the wiles of Satan and buy into the nonsense we ve considered in previous sections. How have you experienced this in your walk? Today, in this society we need to stand for truth even though those we speak to may have no clue as to what we are saying. We need to stand for truth culturally. You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16). And as we have said earlier, to fight the battle isn t to bind demons, it s not to perform exorcisms, it is to live the Christian life, a life grounded in truth. To stand in the church, to stand in our lives, to stand in our culture, is to stand on a firm foundation. Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25). Steadmen ends the section this way. I delight in the story of the man who came to his old friend, a music teacher, and said to him in that flippant way we moderns use. What s the good news today? The old man never said a word. He walked across the room, picked up a hammer, and struck a turning fork. As the note sounded out through the room, he said, That is A. It is A today, it was A five thousand years ago and it will be A ten thousand years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall flats his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune. He struck the note again and said, That is A, my friend, and that s the good news for today! Jesus Christ is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That is how you know you have truth. Remember that, when you feel defeated, when you are under attack, when doubts come flooding into your mind. Remember that you have girded up your loins with truth; you have found him who is solid rock. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. 7 The Solid Rock My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness seems to hide his face, I rest on his unchanging grace; In ev ry high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. 7 Stedman, Ray C., Spiritual Warfare, Word Publisher, Waco, TX, 1976, p. 73. ) 173 (
His oath, his covenant, his blood When he shall come with trumphet sound, Support me in the whelming flood; Oh, may I then in him be found; When all around my soul gives way, Dressed in his righteousness alone, He then is all my hope and stay. Faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand. 8 8 Mote, Edward, The Solid Rock, Public Domain. ) 174 (
Ephesians Putting on Your Armor ~ The Belt of Truth Ephesians 6:14 I Introduction II The Belt of Truth Verse 14 III Paul s Point IV Application I Introduction: II The Belt of Truth: (1 Peter 1:13 KJV)
III Paul s Point: 1. Revealed Truth: 2. Sincerity and Integrity IV Application: (Exodus 18:21 KJV; Hebrews 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:13; Titus 1:2; John 8:31-32, 17:17, 18:37-38, 3:18-19, 36; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; John 14:6; Matthew 5:13-16, 7:24-25) Personal Application: This week do a word study on truth. Ask yourself how should these truths should effect you daily walk. Prayer for the Week: Lord, help me to live in light of Your Truth and be an illustration of that Truth before others. Amen.