The Belt Of Truth
Prison Epistles: Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings...
Together as we have traveled through the book of Ephesians we have journeyed with God in examining the “Glorious Church Of Christ.”
We have seen that the “glorious church of Christ” was in the eternal plans of the Father.
We have studied of the great dangers of being outside of His church and dire need of being in it and apart of it.
We have come to know the importance of not only the eternally planned blood bought church but the Law that was created to govern it and the beautiful unity it created.
We have witnessed in our studies how proper leadership will guide those that are “new in Christ” to walk “not in futility of mind” but “according to truth and love, sacrifice and submission.”
Paul then, in our text, begins to explain how one stays strong and firm in such endeavors.
How husbands, wives, children, masters, slaves, and everyone else can walk according to truth and love, sacrifice and submission.
It’s with the special armor God made just for us.
Today we look at the first piece in this special armor...”The Belt of Truth.”
10 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,
Truth Is Unwavering
Truth Is Unwavering
Truth defined
Truth defined
Dictionary.com defines truth as “a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like.”
Dictionary.com defines truth as “a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like.”
Vines quotes Cremer and defines biblical truth as “the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter.”
Dictionary.com defines it best most
Truth is not relative.
Truth is not relative.
Many hold to the idea of one of Merriam Webster’s definitions of truth which is...
“a judgment, proposition, or idea that is truth or accepted as true.”
Today we live in a “truth is relative” society and is not only believed but taught everywhere.
This is called Relativism.
The Bible has something else to say concerning truth.
God is perfect, holy, and righteous; because of this He simply cannot lie.
18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
God cannot lie, therefore, everything He had written in the Bible is truth.
16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Jn
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Not only that but God clearly isn’t afraid of “fact checking” as they say today.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Truth is knowable.
Truth is knowable.
Though skeptics and critics of God’s holy Word want everyone to believe their lies that “truth is relative” and therefore there is no truth one can understand, this simply is not true.
God’s Word not only points to truth but recognizes that it is knowable.
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Summery
Summery
When we buckle the belt of truth on ourselves we understand where truth comes from and what it is.
Truth Is To Be Actively Worn
Truth Is To Be Actively Worn
Defining the word “gird” or “fasten.”
Defining the word “gird” or “fasten.”
Logos defines this word as “to be or become fastened with a belt (or similar device) for securing one’s clothing; usually in preparation for strenuous activity or labor.”
BDAG defines this word as “to gird oneself...Such girding is an indication that one is prepared for some activity.”
Truth is not stagnate but active.
Truth is not stagnate but active.
William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 801.
When we fasten the “belt of truth” around us we are demonstrating to Satan that we are not going to sit back and believe the lies he tells anymore.
We are no longer going to be Satan’s patsies being tossed to and fro by the winds of his deceptions and lies.
Fastening the belt of truth means...
Rightly handling God’s Word i.e. not being satisfied with anything less than “perfect knowledge.”
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
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5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Making God’s Word a light to every decision.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Proving everything
Summery
Summery
test
Conclusion
Conclusion
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.