Truth, What is Truth?
Knowing that we’re in a battle between good and evil, and knowing that we can only survive by trusting in God’s power, we start looking at the first piece of God’s mighty armour, the belt of truth. What is the truth, and how can that truth be so powerful that it protects us from the attacks of the very strong spiritual enemies that war against God and His Church? Knowing this and trusting God’s promises about this will truly set us free.
Scripture
Ephesians 6:14 ESV Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Bible Study Questions
Stand therefore
We are told to stand because of what has come before this verse. Review all that we've learned from the previous verses about the armour of God and then think about who this is speaking to and why they need to stand firm having the belt of truth wrapped around them.
Ephesians 6:14 - ESV Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
The previous verses have revealed, that it's God's power that has already won the battle
We are in a war, and our war is not against human beings
We are going to go through trying and evil times
We must stand firm in our faith using the armour that God has given us.
Ephesians 6:10-13 - ESV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. 13 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.
Settled on the Truth, and by the Truth
The Greek underlying the commandment to "having fasted on the belt of truth", instructs us to "gird our loins with truth". It's clearly not telling us to put on a physical belt around our waist. Peter helps us to understand what it means when he uses a similar phrase. Does it mean just knowing the truth?
Ephesians 6:14 - ESV Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Ephesians 6:14 - KJV Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
The belt is always on, we "have" it. Resting soldiers would put down other items, but wouldn't remove their belts.
The loins are the centre of our core. They give us stability and the ability to stay standing
The mind interprets information and comprehends it, it remembers and applies it
Girding up, means being prepared.
We must be prepared by knowing the truth and holding on to it.
1 Peter 1:13 - KJV 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;
Luke 12:35 - KJV Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
What is Truth?
If we understand the urgency of constantly being ready by knowing and trusting in the truth, then we need to know what truth is being referred to. What is the truth that we need as a belt and anchor for all God's Armour?
Ephesians 6:14 - ESV Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
We're talking about God's Armour and God's strength and Mighty Power.
If the belt is His Armour, it's His truth
God's truth is a broad subject, we need to prioritise to understand what truth is being spoken about primarily
Ephesians 6:10 - ESV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
John 14:6 - ESV Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 17:17 - ESV Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Hebrews 6:18 - ESV so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
The devastating effect of the lie
The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul in Romans 1 shows how devastation follows the suppressing of the truth and leads to all evil. What can be known about God is evident from the world around us, the Bible and Jesus Christ. Is it enough just to believe that God exists in order to avoid these awful consequences described in Romans 1?
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Knowing the truth about God and believing it is critical.
Tozer says what we think about God is the most important thing about us, because when we suppress the truth about God or are ignorant of Him we are headed for destruction.
It's not enough to just believe in God's existence.
Quote "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us". AW Tozer
James 2:19 - ESV You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe — and shudder!
What it means to truly believe in God
If the most important truth to know and to hold is the truth about God, then what does it mean to really know and believe in the truth about God?
Hebrews 11:6 - ESV And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
God exists and created us all
He has the goodness to reward His creation when they seek Him
He has the power to carry out His promises.
We must believe the Word, Character and Power of God in order to believe in Him.
Set free by the Word of God
The whole Truth about who God is and what He's done is not revealed in the creation, we need to look at God's Word and what it records of Jesus. When we study the life and teaching of Jesus, we see God for who He really is, and understand what He's done for us through Christ Jesus, and what He expects from us. What does the enemy try to do with the true Word of God, and how does Jesus show us the way to deal with his attacks?
John 8:31-32 - ESV So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Ignorance of God, wilful and otherwise destroys us.
We are enslaved to sin and our own wicked desires.
The truth as spoken by Jesus Christ sets us free, saves us and restores us.
Genesis 3:1 - ESV Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
Matthew 4:3-4 - ESV And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
The Truth about God
When Moses asks to see God's glory, He graciously reveals Himself to Moses. While Moses does get to physically see something of God, His view is limited by God. God does however reveal who He is to Moses. What do you learn about God from what He reveals to Moses, and the order in which He reveals His characteristics?
Exodus 34:6-7 - ESV The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”