The belt of Truth

1. The Beltof Truth – 12th
May 2017
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of
righteousness in place” (Ephesians 6:14).
Whenthe apostle Paul describesthe armorof God,he istalkingaboutmore than a simple setof helpful
tips.He istalkingaboutthe impregnabledefensesof the AlmightyGod.These are keystowithstanding
the attacks and onslaughtsof the greatdragon of old,Satan the devil. The armorof God is ultimate and
infinitelypowerful toolsavailable tousas Christians forprotectionfromthe evil one.Butwhyof all
thingsa belt?Paul couldhave startedwiththe mightyswordof the Spirit,the toweringshield of faith,
the shiningbreastplate of righteousness—anythingbuta belt…?Buthe didn't.So that begsthe
question—why?
The beltof a solderplayedacrucial role inthe effectivenessof asoldier'sarmor. The apostle Paul here is
referringtothe beltmade of truth, holdingupandkeepinginplace all the otherpiecesof armour.
Naturallyspeaking,abeltisusedto holdthingsinplace;spirituallythe beltof truthdoesthe same thing.
Our knowledgeof truthkeepsussecure inChristandmakeseffective all the otherpiecesof armour.But
thenwhatis truth?
We can readwhere Jesussaidin John17:17,“ Sanctifythem by Your truth. Your wordis truth.” The
meaningof sanctificationis"the state of properfunctioningorpurify."Tosanctifysomeoneor
somethingistosetthat personor thingapart forthe use intendedbyitsdesigner.A humanbeingis
sanctified,therefore,whenhe orshe livesaccordingtoGod's designandpurpose. Inthe above passage
Jesus, isprayingtothe Father,givesaclearand straightforwarddefinitionof truth: ThatisGod's Word.
The Holy Bible (Scripture—the wordof truth) wasgivenbyinspirationof God whichliterallymeans
"God-breathed"!He activelyandfullyinspiredthe Bible toreveal Histruthtous. Paul referredtothe
Beltof Truth because our convictiontothe truth should encompassus andmust be boundaroundus
and writtenonour hearts—ourconvictionmustreachbeyondanoutwardshow.
The beltusedinRoman armor,providedaplace for the soldier'ssword. AsforChristiansthe swordis
the swordof the Spirit andneedsa sheath.Truthis vital because,likeaRomansoldier'sbelt,itallowsus
to carry the swordof the Spiritanduse iteffectively. The beltof truthis the firstpiece of the “full armor
of God” to be listedin Ephesians6:10–17. The passage beginswiththe admonitionfromthe apostle
Paul to “be strong inthe Lord andin the strengthof hismight.”Thisis the keyto understandingthe
armor of God.All the piecesof the armor belongto God and come fromHim. Truth,righteousness,the
gospel,faith,andsalvation—all are giftsof Godto Hispeople fortheirprotectionand defense.The belt
of truthis the firstpart of the armor listedbecause,withouttruth,we are lost,andthe schemesof the
devil will surelyoverpowerus.
It isfittingthatthe beltof truthis the firstpiece of the whole armorof God. Jesusis“the way, the truth,
and the life”,anditisonlythroughHim that we come to God as we can learnfrom John14:6, Jesus
answered, “Iam the way and the truth and the life. Noone comes to the Father except throughme.”
Therefore, truthisof the utmostimportance inthe life of a Christian.Withouttruth,the restof the

2. armor wouldbe of no use to us because we wouldnothave the Spiritof truth.We can getan
understandingfrom John15:26,“Whenthe Advocate comes, whomI will send to you from the Father—
the Spirit oftruth whogoes out from the Father—hewill testify aboutme.”
In referringtothe whole armorof God, Paul invokesthe image of asoldierreadyforbattle.The beltof a
RomansoldierinPaul’sdaywasnot a simple leatherstrapsuchas we weartoday.It wasa thick,heavy
leatherandmetal bandwitha protective piece hangingdownfromthe frontof it.The beltheldthe
soldier’sswordandotherweapons.The beltof truthof the spiritual armorholdsthe swordof the Spirit,
linkingtruthandthe Word of God because the Wordof God is truth.
As statedin Ephesians6:14, we are toldto fastenthe beltof trutharound us.No matterthe wording,we
are to activelylayholdof the truthand use it. As Christianswe needtoknow thatthe beltof truth isa
crucial piece of defensive armorguardingourinmostbeinginthe battle againstthe liesanddeceptions
of the enemy.Withoutanunderstandingof truth throughthe wordof God,we are leftvulnerableto
beingasstatedin Ephesians4:14, “Then we will no longerbe infants,tossedback andforth by the
waves, andblownhere andthere by every windof teachingand by the cunningandcraftinessof
people intheir deceitful scheming.” Because havingthe Beltof truthprotectsusand preparesusfor the
battle thatis part of everyChristian’slife…“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around
your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” (Ephesians 6:14).