This is a command, not a suggestion. It is clear, we are to put on the full armor, not just select pieces of the armor, but the whole armor. This is where Christians get into trouble. We only want to do what is easy and do only what come natural. But the Word of God is clear. We are to put on the whole armor. We will be examining each piece of the armor. The first piece list is TRUTH.
We are to gird our loins with Truth, or as other translations have it, we are to put on the belt of truth.
To put it all in context, I want to read the entire passage on the Armor of God, even through we will only be examining verses 13-14a.
Ephesians 6:10–18
In this current crisis of culture this war of cultures we are experiencing, currently called “cancel culture,” one of the first casualties of this war is the truth. We have political correctness run amok. We can’t say anything for fear of offending someone. It seems the only people you are aloud to offend today is Christians. I for one, am sick of it.
We have what Orson Wells calls doublespeak. For example, we have the bill pending in congress called the “equality bill” which on closer examination reveals that it about anything but equality for all, especially where Christians are concern. Words are being changed around. We heard a former president say he is for the freedom of worship, meaning we can say do within these walls what we want but nothing about freedom to live out our religion in the world. The words "Freedom of religion" is not being called "Freedom of worship" and they are not the same.
Now you can change you birth certificate to read whatever sex you want it to be. The language in the law is carefully written to say you may change your sex from that which was “assigned at birth.”
“Assigned at birth?” You mean someone arbitrarily assigned me my sex at my birth and now I can go back and change it? We can now officially and legally lie on our birth certificates. That defies logic and biology, but that is the world in which we live.
Abortion and killing the preborn has long been called a “freedom of choice” We use the word “gay” instead of homosexual, and Marxism in the church is called “liberation Theology” or “Progressive Christianity.” We must be careful, just because “Christian” words are used, does not make it Christian.
Anyone that disagrees the liberal left and those of the “cancel coulter movement” is labeled racist and a hater. And the list goes on.
What is the truth? This problem we have with truth is nothing new. 2,000 years ago, an innocent man was placed on trial, falsely accused, but the politically correct thing to do had everyone demanding crucifixion. It took a Roman governor to ask the question, “what is truth?”
John 18:38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.
I can identify with Pilate here. The evidence is clear, but the world demand a false verdict. The question “What is truth?” is being asked by many today. Even our president has been fed up with he has called “fake news.” Even with this COVID-19 pandemic that is ongoing, many wonder what is the truth? Is it real? Do the wearing of masks work or not? Many people read the reports on Facebook, and if its in print on Facebook, it must be so, right?
We are enslaved to the what the world calls truth and to many people are bound by the lies of the world, their own lies and the deception of the wicked one – the Devil. What are we to do? Jesus said:
John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
And how shall we know the truth? The truth is not a concept or an abstract concept to be grasped. It is a person. Again, Jesus said:
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
We can know the truth. And the truth can free us from the lies of the world. Now, let’s get back to the armor of God.
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
First word is “therefore,” and it means that Paul is making a conclusion based on what was said before. What was said that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, so we must put on the whole armor of God, so we can stand against the evil forces in the heavenly places, so we can resist the day of evil. What day is that evil day? I don’t know about you, but that evil day is just about every day.
We do to all we can with every piece of armor in place just to stand firm, with out giving the devil an opportunity.
Ephesians 6:14a Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH …
With every piece of armor in place, we are again reminded to stand firm. Paul was well acquainted with Roman armor as worn by the typical Roman soldier. He was chained to a soldier who guarded him in prison for many years. Each piece of armor had a purpose.
To gird your loins, in the Greek implied putting a belt around your waist. For the Roman soldier, the belt was central. Everything else was hung or supported by the belt. It held the tunic in place allowing freedom of movement. The belt was always worn.
Paul, was well versed in the Old Testament, so using armor to convey spiritual truths is not new. Paul was most likely referring to the Greek translations of the Old Testament, as most all OT quotes in the NT is from the LXX (Septuagint). Note in NASB95 how OT quotes are in all caps.
Isaiah 11:5 (Septuagint English translation) And he shall have his loins girt with righteousness, and his sides clothed with truth.
This passage in Isaiah is in reference to the coming Messiah. Paul is making reference to the Messiah as our example. This gives the sense of faithfulness and integrity to the word “Truth.” In the writings of Paul, he had three uses for the words true and truth.
The Truth of God
The Truth of the Gospel
Truth in Christian Living
First let’s consider putting on "The Truth of God."
This is what God has revealed about Himself, through His son Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:18–20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
God has revealed Himself, but man has repressed the truth. A big problem is that that most of the world cannot get past the very first verse in the Bible:
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The world has rejected the truth God has revealed about Himself and man has deliberately chosen not to believe the truth of God and many have chosen to believe there is no God.
Romans 1:25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
All people worship something– but those who worship God – the One and only True God, must do so in Spirit and truth.
John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
What does it mean to worship God in Truth? Worship that is beyond inward expression, but outward to commensurate with just who God truly is – through Jesus Christ. We need to wear the truth of God.
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
We also need to wear "The Truth of the Gospel."
Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise …
Paul often equated the Gospel with the truth. What is the gospel? The Gospel is simply the joyful proclamation of God’s redemptive activity in Christ on behalf of men, who are enslaved by sin to condemnation. Jesus died for our sins.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
We need to wear the belt of the truth which is the Gospel, for by it men, women, boys, and girls are saved.
Lastly, we need to be putting on "Truth in Christian Living."
In the Greek, Paul uses the word truth as a verb, “Truthing” – of which we have no English equivalent. Paul would say “truthing in love,” whereas we translate:
Ephesians 4:15a but, speaking the truth in love …
The same Greek verb for Truth is used here:
Galatians 4:16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
We need to be “truthing” in our lives. We must live out the truth. This is what we walk in; to love is to rejoice in the truth.
1 Corinthians 13:6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
Walk with integrity:
3 John 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
If we are knowing the truth, how are we handling it?
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Knowing the truth will help us from being deceived, by the devil and by the world. The devil and all who are swayed by the devil do not know the truth.
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
The world is under the sway of the devil. As God’s people, we are pillars of truth in the world.
1 Timothy 3:15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
We, as the church, are the pillars of truth in this community. And where do we readily find the truth? The word of God is truth and we are sanctified by the truth:
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
We have the truth right here in our hands. In order to fight off the evil, we must put on truth.
Ephesians 6:14a Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH
The question is, do you know the truth? The truth is not a what, but a who.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Do you know the truth? Do you possess the truth? Are you wearing the truth? Are we living out the truth every day?
