Ephesians 6:10-20 reads
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in
the strength of his might. Put on the
whole armor of God, that you may be able
to stand against the schemes of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers
over this present darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
places. Therefore take up the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done
all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having
fastened on the belt of truth, and having
put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and, as shoes for your feet, having put
on the readiness given by the gospel of
peace. In all circumstances take up the
shield of faith, with which you can extin-
guish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
and take the helmet of salvation, and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word
of God, praying at all times in the Spirit,
with all prayer and supplication. To that
end keep alert with all perseverance, mak-
ing supplication for all the saints, and
also for me, that words may be given to
me in opening my mouth boldly to pro-
claim the mystery of the gospel, for
which I am an ambassador in chains, that
I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
(ESV)
The Armor of God is a set of armor which when put on by the believer serves to protect us form satan, prepare us for what comes our way, to defeat satan in his lies and sinful ways, and have security in God to be able to enter into the world and minister as well as live as we have been commanded in Christ! Without the set of armor we would be susceptible to the attacks from satan and his followers. Just as if we don’t put on the armor but neglect to polish it and maintain the armor or even neglect to put on one or two of its pieces it is the same as not even putting it on at all; perhaps more dangerous is neglecting or not properly maintaining the armor as we may think we are protected when in fact we are not. It is important to keep up the armor in its entirety. What is this “Armor of God” though? It is in its entirety, the gifts God grants us, to sustain us and the ministry that is Him in the world we live in. It is my intention to write several more papers detailing the “Armor of God” and it’s pieces in detail, so we may know how to maintain, put on, and grow into the “Whole Armor of God”.
The first piece of armor, the belt of truth, is the key component to God’s armor. Following the illustration of armor, a belt is used to hold all the other pieces in place and secure. Without the belt the rest of the armor would fall to the ground and be useless. The belt fastens all the armor together in place in the same way truth does for the born again. For without truth keeping us firmly planted in Christ what use are we to him? If we teach false teachings, or hesitate in what the truth is what good are we truly? We must be firmly planted in the truth, to have a prayer in defeating satan when he comes our way. Satan’s ways are of lies and deceit, and if we are not firm in the truth then we are unable to stand the fire satan sends our way. The truth allows us to be bold for the glory of God and His son Jesus Christ.
Truth is the foundation that all Christianity is centered and based upon. This is illustrated very well in Mathew 7:24-27,
“Everyone then who hears these
words of mine and does them will be like
a wise man who built his house on the
rock. And the rain fell, and the floods
came, and the winds blew and beat on that
house, but it did not fall, because it had
been founded on the rock. And everyone
who hears these words of mine and does
not do them will be like a foolish man
who built his house on the sand. And the
rain fell, and the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat against that house,
and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
(ESV)
Jesus knows that when you build your faith in a false teaching it will not be able to stand the tests that it will come to face in this world. Jesus knew this to be true so He preached it, that man may understand and come to the truth that will endure and protect.
Paul says
“According to the grace of God given to
me, like a skilled master builder I laid a
foundation, and someone else is building
upon it. Let each one take care how he
builds upon it. For no one can lay a
foundation other than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ Now if anyone
builds on the foundation with gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, straw, -
each one’s work will become manifest,
for the day will disclose it, because it will
be revealed by fire, and the fire will test
what sort of work each one has done
(1 Corinthians 3:10-13ESV)”.
Not much too really explain. Jesus is the only foundation of truth by which all fire can test, and yet, it will endure. If a foundation is built upon anything else, it will too be tested and will not be able to withstand the fire. Putting on the Belt of Truth allows us to withstand the test of fire satan tries to throw at us by being firmly planted on the foundations of Christ.
Further more, truth protects us from satan and all he stands for when the truth is in us and allowed to work in us. John17:16-19 says,
“They are not of the
world, just as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them in the truth; your word
is truth. As you sent me into the world,
so I have sent them into the world. And
for their sake I consecrate myself, that
they also may be sanctified in truth.”
(ESV)
Jesus says to sanctify them in the word which is truth, and in John14:6 Jesus says “I am the way, and the truth, and the life”, illustrating that Jesus is both the word and truth; and when we allow Jesus to work within us He becomes the belt of truth, which then separates us from the world, and builds the firm foundation that we need to minister and live in the world the way God demands. This is also evident in John chapter 15 when Jesus is described the helper and the spirit of truth.
It is a common mis-understanding that one can find truth in many different religions and or forums. What is important to know and understand is that truth can only be found in Jesus Christ. Jesus himself said
“I am
the way, and the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the father except through
me” (John 14:6 ESV).
Further more, Jesus has a kind of carefree attitude toward proving this fact, because He knows that when the truth is sought with an open and earnest heart, they will have to acknowledge the truth in Him. Jesus speaks to this effect in Mathew 7:7&8-
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find; knock, and it will
be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives, and the one who seeks finds, and
to the one who knocks it will be opened
(ESV)”.
The Belt of Truth is a vitally important concept that all believers should understand and need to put on. Study the word, seek the truth with an open heart and mind, be open to those who teach the word, be weary of false doctrine and teachings that you are warned of by the holy spirit in your heart and mind, be weary of pride in any one doctrine or teaching, be open to others opinions, and know the value of truth in your heart.
Moved
14 years ago