Welcome back to the second part of our series on your spiritual weapons. In the introduction, we examined the foundation of why the weapons exist, and how we are not as spiritually unequipped as we sometimes tend to believe. Now, beginning with this episode, we will start a deep dive into each of the pieces of equipment listed in Ephesians 6, to see what each piece does, and how to use it for spiritual victory as God intends.
The Belt of Truth
The first piece of the armor that’s mentioned is the belt of truth in Ephesians 6:14. Now the Roman soldier’s belt (called a cingulum or balteus) wasn’t just a simple decorative strap or sash, it quite literally held the rest of the pieces together tightly. It kept the breastplate in-place, and we can already begin to see where the spiritual allegory is going with this.
Knowing then, the importance of truth, we need to understand what truth is. In John 14:6, Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” — so immediately we can know whatever truth is, Jesus is at the very root of it.
Ephesians chapter 1 develops this thought even further. Verse 7, tells us that: in Him [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
This is the gospel message at its core. Furthermore in verses 13 and 14, we see:
“ 13In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.”
Which again reinforces the gospel message, Christ’s finished work, and also identifies the that the gospel of our salvation is indeed the word of truth.
What the Belt of Truth Does
Now we know that truth is Jesus and the essence of His gospel, the message of His accomplished sacrifice and our redemption through Him.
Let’s now examine what the belt of truth actually does. We’ve already seen that a roman soldier’s physical belt was a piece that quite literally holds everything else together. Spiritually-speaking, the belt of truth does the same thing: holds the other spiritual armor and weapons together. Let me explain…
It is the truth of the Gospel, the finished work of Christ and your new identity in Him, that holds every other piece together. Knowing the truth of Christ secures your righteous in your heart—something that the enemy will always try to attack and sabotage. However by knowing the truth (not just remembering it, but actually knowing the truth of Christ personally for yourself), you will not be vulnerable to the enemy’s lies. In this way, the belt of truth holds together your righteousness, your faith, your confidence in Christ and who you are in Him.
Ephesians 4:29 says Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.
Many people assume this is referring to basic lying, and there is that element to it— but there’s also a deeper meaning, regarding the spiritual truth of Christ. Don’t lie, by denying the reality of the finished work of Christ. Don’t call yourself a dirty rotten sinner, when Jesus paid a very high price to redeem you and make you righteous. Don’t say that you are powerless, or worthless, when Jesus has given you the Holy Spirit of power, and made you worthy.
Conclusion
From a spiritual and scriptural standpoint, lying is not about denying your hand was in the cookie jar, but when one denies the finished work of Christ, or that He has accomplished what He claims. When a Christian says that they are condemned, or that they must somehow add their own work to the finished work of Christ to make their salvation better or complete. That they must put their own hand to what Jesus has done, is absolutely untruthful.
My friend, Jesus has accomplished your redemption; the work is finished. In fact, Jesus took great pains to declare the work paid in full on the cross. Now, I encourage you today to be truthful regarding what He has done, specifically for you, personally.
Join me again next time, as we continue looking at our spiritual weapons, specifically the breastplate of righteousness.
Be blessed.
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