The Belt of Truth
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: This week we continue our series “Armor all” where we continue to discuss the Armor of God in Ephesians chapter 6. Last week we introduced the series by discussing why it was important to equip the whole armor of God. Today we begin talking about the pieces of the Armor of God. We start with the belt of truth. This isn’t the most exciting piece of armor. When you hear people talk about Armor, or you see a Halloween costume of a child clad in armor, I doubt the belt is the part they are most proud of. When it comes to movies where the character wears armor, I doubt the belt is the most important part. Instead it’s probably a helmet, a breastplate, or weapon. There are only 2 occasions I can think of where the “belt” is the cool accessory. The first is the WWE championship belt, people really want this belt, or a replica of the belt. The second is Batman’s utility belt. This belt had Bata-rangs, bat-bolas, bat stun guns, smoke bombs, tear gas pellets, and a transponder device for the bat-mobile. The belt of truth also functions as a utility belt, because the functionality of the whole suit of armor depends upon the belt.
Read Ephesians 6:14-20
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 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, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
We all know the importance of a good belt right? Many can attest that a belt goes a long way to ensure your wardrobe functions properly. Have you ever forgotten a belt when you clearly need one? The functionality of whatever outfit you are wearing is suddenly compromised. An outfit that you may ordinarily enjoy suddenly becomes a distraction and inconvenience. A belt is very important for our wardrobe.
The belt of the Roman Soldier was even more important. The belt of the Roman Soldier would do SO MUCH more than make sure that trousers or pants are properly secured. The belt of the Roman Soldier would hold his entire uniform together. The belt would hold the tunic, the armor pieces, and the soldier's sword in place.
The only modern day belt that comes close to functioning in a similar matter is a belt on a Football uniform. How many of you either played football or had kids who played football? If so, you know that many football uniforms have a belt. This belt of course secures those pants in place, but it does more. The belt on a football uniform is designed to hold the padding that goes around your waist in place. One day in practice, we were doing strength and conditioning exercises at the end of the day, when all of a sudden the belt on my football uniform broke. I felt my pants suddenly loosen, so I instinctively grabbed them to make sure they didn’t fall down.
However before I knew it my entire uniform was falling apart. All the armor and padding I had started falling onto the ground. It was quite the embarrassment and a sight to behold. Without the belt, everything fell apart
If this illustration doesn’t resonate with you, think of it this way. What is a bale of hay without bailing wire? It becomes loose straw, grass, whatever. However when bound by wire, this grass becomes compact and thus is a bale of hay. Without the wire it all falls apart.
A Roman soldier's uniform would also completely fall apart without the belt holding it in place. He would be unable to fight leaving him ineffective as a soldier and in mortal danger.
This is exactly why Paul compares the truth of the gospel to the belt of a soldier. Without the truth, everything falls apart. If the gospel isn’t true, our faith falls apart. In 1st Corinthians 15:12-16
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
Paul declares that without the truth of the resurrection, our faith is in vain. Paul takes this a step further and says that without the truth of the resurrection, Christians should be pitied above all other people, because we are hopeless. The truth of the gospel holds everything together. Because of this, we must remember the words of Christ while praying in the Garden. Christ is praying for strength and boldness for his disciples. Words found in John 17:17-19
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
This is how we fasten or tighten the belt of truth, we let the truth sanctify us as Christ prayed that it would.
The process of sanctification means that we are set apart. Christ prays the truth of the gospel to set us apart. However, in order for this to happen, we have to let it happen. Just because Christ prayed we be sanctified by truth, it doesn't mean we will be if we actively choose not to be set apart by the truth of the gospel.
So let us surrender to Christ, surrender to its truth, and let its truth define us. This is what it means to fasten and secure the belt of truth in God’s armor.
Let us make sure we put on that belt daily.