The Belt of Truth

Introduction:

1. What is the Belt of Truth?

The Roman Soldier

Girding of the Loins.

Holding Other Armor in Place

“Gird your loins” is a euphemism for “Prepare yourself”

Why is truth the belt?

Knowing the Truth, and Walking in the truth, prepares us for battle.

Truth is the foundation upon which the rest of our armor is built.

2. Why Do We Need the Belt of Truth?

Reason 1: The Enemy is a Deceiver

He deceaved Adam and Eve in the Garden.

In John 8:44 Jesus calls Satan the Father of lies.

Revelation 12:9 refers to Satan as the who “deceives the whole world.”

1 Peter 5:6-11 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

I want to draw your attention to two things here.

Satan is a roaring lion looking who he may devour.

I want you to also notice that Peter’s instruction to them about how to overcome the Devil is built upon truth.

“Be sober minded” that is to have a truthful and honest assessment of yourself.

Then he says to “resist him firm in the faith” now Peter is using the word faith here in a different way that Paul uses it when he is talking about he shield of faith back in Epehsians 6. Here Peter talks about “The faith” which refers to the core doctrines that we believe as Christians. He could have just as easily said “Stand firm in the truths of our faith.”

Deception is the primary tool of our Enemy. Therefore, truth is our most foundational defensive weapon against his attacks.

Reason 2: Your Heart is Easily Deceived

Jeremiah 17:9 ““The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”

Your heart, apart from the transformative power of the Gospel, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, wants to be deceived.

This is why the Bible talks so much about self deception:

1 Corinthians 3:18 “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.”

Galatians 6:3 “For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

James 1:26 “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.”

1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

This is also why the Bible repeatedly warns us agains the deception of others

Ephesians 5:6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

2 Timothy 3:13 “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

1 John 3:7-8 “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”

Your heart is prone to deception, therefore you must stand ready, having armed yourself with the belt of truth, so that you standfast in the face of lies that would derail and destroy your faith.

3. How do we Put on the Belt of Truth?

Meditate on the truth

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Avoid Error

4. Abide in the truth

Jesus is the Truth

John 8:31-32 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.””

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.”

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth

John 16:13-14 ““But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”

Conclusion: