Dr. Bradford Reaves
Crossway Christian Fellowship
Hagerstown, MD
www.mycrossway.org
To watch this sermon, go to: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/episodes/149276
We are in the closing section of what has been an amazing letter from the Apostle Paul to the Ephesian Church. This church lived in the shadow of the heart of pagan worship and destruction. And so we can see how the culture around them was trying to encroach on the power of the gospel over their lives. Paul has given them an incredible distinction of the believer’s life in Jesus alone. What we have learned is that our lives are a beacon of spiritual victory over the forces of darkness around us because of the strength of Jesus Christ within us.
Every one of us has the same strength through the same Lord, which was Paul’s initial exhortation in the opening verses of this section: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Therefore we all are to clothe ourselves in the armor of God. And really this is symbolic of our clothing ourselves in the Lord Jesus himself. Not our strength, his strength. Not our truth, his truth. Not our righteousness, his righteousness. Not our peace, his peace. Not our faith and salvation, but his. Not our prayers, but praying in the Spirit. That is the image of the victorious believer and we all have these tremendous resources for the entirety of our lives until we see him face to face.
Because the reality of what Paul is trying to convey is that we will face trials and hardships in our Christian walk. Not only did Paul tell us that, but Jesus also promised us that in John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” So you can be sure that Satan is going to do all he can to disrupt your faith and trust in Christ. He’s going to relentlessly try to cause you to stumble in your walk.
Let me provide you with some ways that Satan attacks:
-He’ll convince you of impending doom (2 Corinthians 2:11; 4:4),
-Through a constant barrage of lies and half-truths (John 8:44),
-Through false self-righteousness,
-Through deceptive and false teachings (1 Tim 4:1, Matt 7:15, Acts 20:30) to undermine God’s character and power and confuse us with false doctrine,
-To doubt God’s grace and forgiveness,
-Through hindering faithfulness in worship and Christian service,
-Through the pride of self to depend on our own or worldly resources,
-Disobedience to God’s commands. (Matt 4:1-11, 2 Cor 11:3, Luke 22:3-6),
-Through sickness and disease.
James tells us in James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” The way we do that is by clothing ourselves (continually) in God’s Armor of Jesus Christ. If we hold fast in Christ there is no scheme of the enemy that will be victorious over us.
?"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. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." (Ephesians 6:10–20)
Ephes 6:14 “...having fastened on the belt of truth...”
When we get up and come to church in the morning, usually the belt is the last thing we put on. In fact, for many of us, it is more of a decorative accessory to our outfit, than something utilitarian. However, for the Roman soldier, the belt would be one of the most important components of his uniform that would likely save his life in combat, which is why the Apostle Paul starts with the belt of truth. You see, a Roman soldier’s uniform started with a tunic or cloak. The tunic was basically a square piece of fabric that had holes for the head and the arms. It was the belt that gathered all the excess fabric together.
For the Roman soldier, the belt was what held his entire armor together. It tightened the clothing neatly around his body. It held the breastplate in the proper place. It had a clip where the shield rested. It held the sword where the soldier could easily get to it. It consisted of a shoulder strap that would also display the soldier’s victories. To gird yourself up with the belt is to be combat-ready. You have your uniform in place, there are no loose or hanging parts and everything is securely in place.
So when Paul says that God’s truth is like a belt, he is saying truth is foundational to your life. The believer is ready, dressed, and alert. He is quickened in his character and able to fend off false doctrine and heresy. And quite sadly, most Christians never even get their belt on.
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24)
"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:3)
Now we are all born liars. Lying and deceit is the work of Satan. Jesus said that Satan is the father of all lies (John 8:44), and Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that the human heart is deceitful and wicked. The truth of God is the stabilizing and securing harness that holds our entire lives together. Even if things around us, our jobs, our health, our families, and our community, seem to be falling apart, God’s Word is the sure foundation that keeps us securely in his hand.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." (John 14:1)
"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)
"I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken." (Psalm 16:8)
Putting on the belt of truth is a transformative and foundational part of the believer’s salvation. The fact of the matter is we cannot receive God’s forgiveness and salvation until we see our hearts and lives against the light of God’s truth. We recognize the desperate vulnerability apart from Him.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8–9)
The word for truth is "althelia" which means: “the quality of being in accord with what is true, truthfulness, dependability, uprightness in thought and deed” and can be translated as ‘truth’ or ‘truthfulness.’ ‘Truth’ is the content of truth as opposed to falsehood as defined by the Word of God. ‘Truthfulness’ is an attitude of sincerity, honesty, integrity, or commitment.
Lying is the way you hide something that is wrong in your life or in the world around you. It is a means to avoid the consequences of your actions. Truthfulness is the revelation of God that is unchanging, unwavering, and the anchor for the soul.
Now add to that the fact that we now live in a world that has rejected the existence of absolute truth and we find ourselves in a desperate situation apart from God. This world is more fake and counterfeit than any other time in all of history. We immerse ourselves into false or imitation realities. Truth is even censored to protect the lies. No one tells the truth, the media, politicians, teachers, governments, health care, and scientists, it is the foundation of our world. And false teachers are everywhere in the church.
Believers must know the truth - God’s truth. Look at how Paul introduces the doctrine of the Inerrancy of Scripture to Timothy:
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
It is alarming the number of denominations, churches, and pastors that are now rejecting this doctrine to assuage and indulge the doctrine of demons in our culture. (2 Timothy 3:12–17)
"No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." (1 Corinthians 10:20–21)
Paul tells us that we should never be content with mediocrity, but pursue truthfulness in all areas of our culture and especially our lives.
"?And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment" (Philippians 1:9)
When we abandon the truth of God, we become disillusioned, ignorant, and deceived. We will be led astray by false doctrines and given into deceptions of Satan.
"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:21)
"Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false" (2 Thessalonians 2:11)
“The Church is the conscience of the State.” Bonhoeffer
In the last few years of our country, we have been exposed to a level of deception that most of us probably never knew could exist. Most of the intellectual elite in our country completely disavow the idea of absolute truth. It is only going to get worse. This is how a Supreme Court Justice can say with a straight face she’s unable to define what a woman is at her confirmation hearing. Truth has become a matter of offense in relegating answer that supports mob rule.
However, truth, by definition excludes, it because it exposes the lie for what it is. Truth doesn’t destroy, it reveals and in the revelation, the truth is enthroned. For the lie cannot exist in the presence of truth and will seek to destroy the truth to protect the lie. This is the heart behind cancel culture.
Now as Christians, we know the truth. We believe and know that there is such a thing as absolute truth because it is revealed on the pages of Scripture. So we are to be people of the truth and as people of the truth, we are embattled against the litany of lies that pervade our culture. The church was given the truth and entrusted with the truth to uphold it as a pillar in our culture. No wonder so many hate the church and our attempts to uphold the standard of truth through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So how about you? What is God saying to you about the truth of your life? Are you living in a deception - be it your own or another - in order to protect the lies you are living under? Maybe you are hiding the pain of your life or maybe the enemy is sending a barrage of lies telling you that God will never really love you or forgive you. There is an invitation to you this morning to put away the lies of your life and be embraced by the Truth - Jesus Christ. He said in John 8:32 “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
You see, lies keep us imprisoned - captive to the deception that we can never be free. Jesus tells us just the opposite. Truth is liberating
"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17)
And oh, the lies that Satan will tell us to keep us from God’s grace! The lies of addiction. The lies of pain. The lies of immorality. The lies of rejection. The lies of fear. The lies of greed. The lies of self-righteousness and pride. The lies of sensuality and lust. The lies of inferiority. They’re all lies! And Satan will stop at nothing to lie to you in order to keep you away from God’s grace. Run into the arms of the Savior. The first and foremost component of the armor of God is the belt of truth. It will hold everything else in place in your life.
?"The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:12)
ABC’s of Salvation.
