“Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth…”
I mentioned to you last week in some closing remarks, that these next four verses in chapter six should be approached with some degree of caution.
Some have gotten carried away with the application of the Christian armor as an analogy, and in the end gotten entirely away from the spiritual application altogether.
It is interesting to think about; that Paul was in prison writing this, guarded by Roman soldiers, and he may have actually been looking at one of them as he named the pieces of armor and compared them to spiritual truth.
But let’s keep it that way; a comparison. An illustration, nothing more. If we lose sight of our goal and begin focusing on the physical realm, we’ll miss his message altogether and accomplish nothing.
THE BELT
Part of the Roman soldier’s uniform was a wide belt. As well as serving as a place to hang a sword sheathe, the belt was also used, as a soldier approached battle, to tuck in loose clothing that might otherwise hinder sword use, entangle the legs, or give the enemy something easy to grab hold of.
Most of us have heard the term ’girded loins’ explained in reference to the Children of Israel preparing to leave Egypt. When they were working or getting ready for long travel, they would gather their long robes up and tuck them in a waist sash or belt, to free their legs for unhindered movement.
When God gave instructions to Moses for the first Passover meal, He told Moses to eat the meal with sandals on and loins girded. When the morning came they were to be ready to move out as soon as the Lord told them to go.
As a type of the Christian life, Passover and the slaying of the Lamb represented the sacrifice of Christ and the provision of our salvation.
The message for us is clear; when we come to God in faith and apply the blood of the Lamb to our lives by faith, God expects the believer then to gird up his loins and move out from the old life into the new, behind his new leader, headed for a promised land. No time for encumbrances. Listen to I Peter 1:13
“Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
So when Paul tells the believer to gird his loins with truth, he is speaking of something the believer does, first of all; not something that is done to the believer. He says “having girded your loins…” Something we do.
And he’s suggesting action. Work. Battle. Forward movement.
At least that. He may also have been thinking of the limited protection the belt would give the mid-section. The belly. The gut. I make this supposition because it is truth he is applying as his illustration, and truth taken into the innermost being, the gut if you will, protects from the daggers of error.
Let’s go on now and talk about this.
TRUTH
As we go, we must not lose sight of the fact that we’re being exhorted here to prepare and protect ourselves with truth. So we need to arrive at a clear definition of what, specifically, this truth is.
It cannot be just some general truth about some thing. That should be obvious to us. For instance, I might say, “Next week we’ll be setting our clocks forward one hour for daylight savings”. That is true. But certainly that is not the truth Paul is telling us to surround ourselves with to help us stand against the attacks of the enemy.
He also cannot be generalizing about some philosophical approach to truth. “You gird yourself with your ideal of truth, and I’ll gird myself with mine, and then we’ll march on together”.
A ship’s captain one day recorded in the ship’s log, "First-mate drunk today." It was a true statement, but was the first incident where the mate had been drunk while on duty. The mate pleaded with the captain to amend the statement, but the captain refused, saying it was a true statement.
The next time the First-mate was in charge of the ship, he recorded in the log, "Captain sober today."
Both statements true, but it may be rather difficult to work together in unity, telling those kinds of ’truths’ about one another.
No, Paul wasn’t generalizing. He was speaking very specifically of truth, but not of a particular truth; but of Biblical truth.
What Biblical truth? Well, truth pertaining to salvation to begin with. What I mean by that is not the truth that needs to be known to be saved, but the truth about what salvation is. When people first come to Christ they might know they are saved, by the witness of the Holy Spirit, newly come to them. But they don’t really understand what has happened or how. They must be taught this, just like a human doesn’t understand the birth process by going through it. They must be taught later.
I think very many Christians do not really know about the doctrine, or fundamental Christian belief, about why and how they were saved. They have heard that Jesus died to pay for their sins, and they believe He was buried and rose bodily on the third day, and having come in true repentance and confessed these things as they have believed, they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and are saved.
But in many cases they’ve not seen the need to study and understand the doctrines of their faith, to the degree that they can then articulate those beliefs to others.
There are a great many well-meaning Christians who can say, “Jesus loves you; why don’t you come to church with me?” And that’s about the best they can do. And the reason in many of those cases is that they have never been taught. No one has sought to teach them, never recognizing the need for every believer to have that knowledge.
I have taught through the first eight chapters of Romans more than half a dozen times, to a different group of people each time.
In every case, without exception, the best answer I’ve gotten when I asked someone, early in the class, to define the doctrine of Justification, has been “Just as if I’d never sinned”. It is usually shouted out by someone with a big smile on their face, apparently proud that they have that doctrine down pat, and happy they were able to get it out so that maybe I’d go to someone else for a definition of that tricky ol’ sanctification doctrine. And perish, forbid that I should ask them about regeneration!
I despise catchy one-line phrases that supposedly define these very important and basic beliefs of the Christian faith. It doesn’t matter that there is some truth in them, they are not complete, and their incompleteness itself makes them a lie.
Saying “Just as if I’d never sinned” may help me remember the word ‘Justified’, but it falls far short of telling me or anyone just what Justification is, or what it means in reference to my relationship with God.
The only acceptable definition of the doctrine of Justification, is a complete definition. And if a person cannot say it, then they do not know it. If you can’t articulate it to someone else, then you do not really have a grasp of what it is.
Paul said to the Romans, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we exult in hope of the glory of God” Romans 5:1,2
The result of justification then, is peace with God, having been ushered into His grace, and having the sure and joyful hope of final glorification in His presence.
The simple definition of the doctrine is, having been declared right with God through faith in the shed blood and resurrection of Christ.
When a believer comes to a clear understanding of this, when he knows that he stands right before God, by God’s own declaration, through faith in Christ’s atoning work, and then comes to understand that this declaration of his right standing means that he is a recipient of God’s free and marvelous grace and that his future glorification is certain, then he has girded his loins with truth.
But there is more to it than this. This is only his beginning. It is fundamental, but the believer must continue to seek and be taught scriptural truth. The doctrines, and the directives.
A. W. Tozer wrote: “The unattended garden will soon be overrun with weeds; the heart that fails to cultivate truth and root out error will shortly be a theological wilderness. “
Lloyd-Jones made the point that the church has put unity before doctrine and suffered for it, and I think he has hit the nail squarely on the head.
(THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER, Ch 14 - Baker Books 1977)
Oh, let’s not put people to sleep with these dry, dusty, boring teachings about Justification and Regeneration and Sanctification, and the attributes and decrees of God, and all that stuff that should be kept in the seminary.
Let’s use the Bible to teach them how to deal with the struggles of life and how to keep the peace with one another, and how to do this and how to do that; but leave the theology to the theologians. That stuff just isn’t practical in the everyday believer’s everyday life.
And that is absolutely backwards! Without the foundation of these things, taught clearly and frequently enough that people get it and are able themselves to expound it, the builder builds on sand. And no matter how good the material is; it may be sound and Biblical and very accurate; it will not be useful in the Christian’s life for the kind of stability called for when Paul says ’stand firm’. Certainly not for doing spiritual battle and kingdom building work.
In my own Christian experience I went through many ups and downs, falling and failing, living under a weight of legalism but largely ignorant of the meaning and application of the basic doctrines of the faith to my daily life.
After years of struggle, and finally coming to know and understand the things that I should have been taught as a brand new believer, I have discovered them to be very helpful indeed, in applying the rest of scripture in my daily walk.
Because you see, the clear understanding of the truths concerning regeneration, and sanctification and justification, is what gives the Christian a real sense of his security, and his acceptance in Christ with Almighty God. And the absolutely liberating realization that all his needs forever have been sufficiently provided for in the death and resurrection of his Lord.
GIRDED MEANS GUARDED
Another benefit realized in being girded with sound Biblical teaching, is that the believer is also guarded against error.
President Harry S. Truman, is his typical subtle and gentle approach to things, said,
“Everybody has the right to express what he thinks. That, of course, lets the crackpots in. But if you cannot tell a crackpot when you see one, then you ought to be taken in.”
Well, I agree with his sentiment, if not his harsh demeanor. Like a friend of mine said once, everyone is entitled to his own stupid opinion. Where Christians get taken in, is when they fail to realize that what they are hearing and agreeing to is often just the opinion of the speaker, or his own private interpretation of a verse or passage of scripture, often being used out of context, and so they swallow error.
They cannot recognize error, because they do not know truth.
And then there are the charlatans. The crooks. Not the guy in the alley with a ski mask and knife, but the smiling, neatly trimmed, smooth voiced television preacher. Or the traveling evangelist, who gets himself speaking engagements or week-long revivals in churches around the country. And they come with their garbage doctrines that promise physical and material blessing with no accountability or responsibility.
They suggest a no-tribulation, no-trouble existence for the one who really has faith. And they no more have the leading of the Holy Spirit in their ministry than a carnival pitchman.
They’ll tell half-truths and cleverly worded falsehoods and tickle your ears with whatever they think you want to hear, just to get what they want out of you, and they haven’t a moments care for your eternal soul, or the success or failure of your daily Christian walk.
Two brothers were getting ready to boil some eggs to color for Easter.
"I’ll give you a dollar if you let me break three of these on your head," said the older one. "Promise?" asked the younger. "Promise!" Gleefully, the older boy broke two eggs over his brother’s head.
Standing stiff for fear the gooey mess would get all over him, the little boy asked, "When is the third egg coming?"
"It’s not," replied the brother. "That would cost me a dollar."
Source Unknown.
The charlatans will lead you down a garden path if you let them in your ignorance, with promises of blessing and victory. But in the end they’ll leave you a mess, standing helpless and waiting for the next egg to hit.
Worse than that, there have been many who have in the end found themselves on a mountain top, dressed in a white sheet and waiting for the rapture, or drinking poison and laying face down in the grass.
Am I going too far with this? No, I am not. Those people didn’t just one day step out and follow someone who said, “Hey, come with me and let’s barricade ourselves against the FBI and the ATF and shoot at them”, It began with a sincere sounding preacher telling them that Jesus loves them and wants them to live in peace and prosperity, and began its twisted growth from there.
You must be girded and guarded with truth, believer, and you won’t get it from the entertainers. They don’t know it.
Just because they know more than you, doesn’t mean necessarily that what they will teach you is good and accurate. You have a responsibility to search out the truth for yourself; to weigh everything they say ~ everything I say ~ against the Word of God as He reveals it to your own heart and soul while you diligently seek Him in it.
Christians, the way to guard against error is to gird yourself with truth. You have to know the scriptures yourself, and you must understand what you know.
It is not enough to know that one of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity is called ‘Justification’, and it is not enough to remember that if you’re justified it is just as if you’d never sinned.
For instance, that level of knowledge and understanding leaves one asking the question, ‘well, what about the next time I sin then?’ You see, it teaches nothing.
I call it T-shirt theology. It is not profitable. It is irresponsible. In fact, it can be dangerous.
READYING TO MOVE OUT
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he gives this young preacher who he calls ‘my beloved son’ (1:2) a bit of sound advice that sends a clear message to all of us, of the need not only to learn sound doctrine, but to hold steadfastly to it, preserve it, and pass it on to the next generation of believers.
First he says, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” II Tim 1:13,14
Then he says again, in chapter 2,
“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” II Tim 2:1,2
Hear these phrases! “retain the standard” “guard … the treasure” “Be strong in …grace” “entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach”
Now someone might argue with me that Paul is writing to a pastor, and admonishing him concerning the duties of a pastor.
And he was. That is true. I’m sure these verses I’ve read have been preached at many a commencement ceremony in Bible Colleges and Seminaries all over the world.
But my fellow Christians, he, and I and everyone called to preach God’s Word, are called to teach you these sound doctrines. That means you have a responsibility to learn.
And we are called to teach them to those able to teach others. And that means you!
Not only to your own children, but to children in the faith. New believers. Young believers.
A truly healthy church should be one that sees to it that every single member or attender is sat down and taught sound doctrine, so that they might have their loins girded with truth, and that they might stand firm in the evil day.
If this is not being done in any body of believers, the leadership of that local body needs to be shaken awake and exhorted to set to work in fulfilling their duty.
I want to draw this to a close today in a way that deviates a little from my usual style. I want to take you away from the text and talk about a word that I believe has application nevertheless.
If you look at verse 22 of Ephesians 6 you will see the word ‘comfort’.
“And I have sent him” (referring to Tychicus) “to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts”
This same word is used again in II Thessalonians 2:17
I’ll read verse 16 and 17. “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
When we see this word ‘comfort’ these days, the tendency is to picture a big recliner. Or a crackling fireplace. Or a warm sweater. Or maybe a sympathetic friend. Or a hug from a family member accompanied by words of condolence.
In these cases Paul has used this word he has used a Greek word that speaks of coming along side to give exhortation and encouragement.
The word might be used of a Captain on the battlefield, in the midst of his men or at the front line, yelling, “Come on men! Don’t give up! Don’t sit down! Victory lies ahead!’
This noble soldier of the Lord marched forward, often in suffering, in imprisonments, in trials, but always moving forward; and even at the end of his earthly days, chained and awaiting execution, continued to call for the teaching of sound doctrine, and standing firm in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
His last words to those he loved, his partners in the work, called for readiness and for action. And the Holy Spirit has preserved these words for us today, who live in a time when indeed, many want to have their ears tickled, who reject sound doctrine.
And loved ones, just the fact that we recognize and acknowledge that problem obligates us to gird our loins with truth and ready to move out with it. The next generation is counting on us, and that’s the direction the Lord is always moving.
