The Belt of Truth, chapters 4-6

The wind of every whim promises freedom, so we’re quick to let the breeze carry us where it will and shape us how it may. There’s a catch, though, and we realize we’ve slowly drifted into the enemy’s briar patch of distortion. His lying thorn bush frays us at the edges, and his deceptive burrs attach themselves and won’t let go. 

They won’t let us go. 

But the belt of truth gathers loose ends in its embrace, cinching down what otherwise strays and snags. Thoughts, emotions, desires, beliefs - all of them billowing - will either get tangled in the devil’s lair or be taken captive under the bandwidth of truth. Restriction is inevitable. It comes by the hand of the enemy or by the belt of truth, but only one option guarantees freedom. 

As we conclude our search for the belt of truth in the book of Ephesians, may we choose to be held together by truth we discover in chapters 4-6: 

Lie: I can live however I want now that I’m a believer.

Truth: I have a responsibility in Christ that calls for specific character qualities. 4:1-3

Lie: Everybody should be/think like me.

Truth: Grace gives oneness in salvation, but diversity in its application. 4:4-12

Lie: Everyone else might have a part to play in Christ’s body, but I don’t. 

Truth: I have a unique role in the growth and maturity of the body of Christ. 4:12-16

Lie: I can keep old patterns and habits that are just part of who I am.

Truth: Life looks different if I’m learning to be like Chist. 4:17-24

Lie: God doesn’t really care about little sins.

Truth: My new self in Christ completely replaces the old self. 4:24-32

Lie: I can define love. 

Truth: Christ Himself defines love. 5:1-6

Lie: A corner of darkness in my life is fine.

Truth: In Christ, we’re children of light. 5:7-14

Lie: A little foolishness is normal. 

Truth: The Spirit leads with wisdom. 5:15-21

Lie: The Bible promotes domineering leadership in marriage.

Truth: The flourishing of His bride is central to Christ’s self-sacrificial leadership, so a husband who does not have that goal isn’t leading like Christ. 5:21-33

Lie: God doesn’t notice how I treat people in certain contexts of my life.

Truth: The Lord is concerned with how I interact at home and at work. 6:1-9

Lie: My work is too insignificant to be meaningful.

Truth: The Lord rewards what I do on any scale, big or small. 6:8

Lie: I can manage this life.

Truth: Strength comes only from the Lord himself. 6:10

Lie: The devil is just too strong for me.

Truth: In Christ’s armor, I can stand against the devil. 6:11

Lie: Those people are the real problem.

Truth: The real enemy in my life is a spiritual one. 6:12,13

Lie: There’s too much to do to stop and pray.

Truth: Life in the Spirit is covered in prayer. 6:18-20

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

-Jesus

John 17:17

The Belt of Truth, chapters 2 & 3

I’m continuing to comb through Ephesians, searching for evidence of the various pieces of armor listed specifically by the end of the book.  The belt of truth may seem like an odd item at the top of the list, but actually, the remaining pieces depend on it for their power. Without truth, there is no salvation, nothing to put faith in, no gospel to proclaim, nothing to quench lies, no word that pierces like a sword. With an enemy such as ours, truth is our necessary beginning.

[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, 

for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, 

for he is a liar and the father of lies.

-Jesus

John 8:44

Our enemy is void of truth and actively opposes it, seeks its death, and speaks against it. Lies flow from him and through him as his heart language, the most natural words dripping off his forked tongue. We are not left defenseless. May the belt of truth in Ephesians 2 & 3 wrap you in its life-giving support and enable you to distinguish and follow God’s voice without hindrance:

Lie: My salvation isn’t really that miraculous.

Truth: God’s mercy raised me from death to life. 2:1-7

Lie: God isn’t good.

Truth: The gospel reveals God as rich in mercy, love, grace, and kindness. 2:4-7

Lie: I’m a good enough person to merit salvation.

Truth: Only God’s grace can save. 2:8,9

Lie: I don’t have a purpose like someone else has.

Truth: God had good works planned out for me when He saved me. 2:10

Lie: God is far away from me and likes it that way.

Truth: Christ’s blood brings me near to God. 2:11-13

Lie: There are too many long-standing differences for peace to ever be reality.

Truth: Only through Christ can peace be accomplished. 2:14-18

Lie: I don’t belong.

Truth: I’m a member of God’s family and part of its very structure. 2:19-22

Lie: God makes Himself at home in those perfect people, but not in me.

Truth: God lives in me. 2:22

Lie: God plays favorites.

Truth: The Gospel is all-inclusive. 3:1-6

Lie: One person can’t make much of a difference.

Truth: God gives each individual specific grace to steward in His kingdom. Eph 3:2,7

Lie: The church is an outdated idea.

Truth: The church, when functioning properly, reveals God’s wisdom. 3:7-13

Lie: Faith is a dead-end.

Truth: Faith in Christ is the path toward experiencing the fullness of God. 3:14-19

Lie: Because of my background, I should keep my spiritual expectations low.

Truth: I cannot even imagine the possibilities that exist through God’s power in me. 3:20,21

…the reason I was born and came into the world

was to testify to the truth. 

Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.

-Jesus

What is truth?

- Pilate

John 18:37,38

The Belt of Truth, chapter 1

The brazen alarm signals yet another morning, and I’d rather it not interrupt like it does. Ugh. But an appealing aroma wafts over the airwaves, so I might as well find its caffeinated source. Mmm. The furnace shudders like it too is throwing off covers, gearing up to push back against the resistance around it. Brr. 

Barely noticeable to my senses still shrouded in sleep, comes another subtle sound I’ve tried to imagine away. As it grows louder, it’s clearly that familiar battlecry, and I want to pull up the blankets or turn up distraction against it. That’s just what the enemy hopes for, aimed to destroy the disarmed before daybreak.

I rise to the occasion in a bathrobe, lucky to find both slippers. But that won’t be enough.

The invisible attack is merciless. It goes for the gut with its lies, cuts through the heart in accusations, sends a blow to the head with confusion, and renders me useless at the knees. If only I had armor ready at sunrise, I’d wake up to the truth, and I wouldn’t be hit with reality.

Unfortunately, truth and reality have been divided in two, leaving me vulnerable. Reality is, I just need sleep, coffee, warmth. Truth is, I’m at war. 

Like folding back the closet doors to a suit of armor, Ephesians 6 reveals our hefty wardrobe. For the next few Monday mornings, we’re pulling each piece from the previous chapters of Ephesians and trying them on.  We’ll ask questions about the armor such as, What truth from chapters 1-5 holds us together like a belt and frees us to live without hindrance? What do previous chapters say about salvation that informs our minds, protecting us like a helmet? And so on. Piece by piece, we’ll sort through Ephesians to better understand how to arm ourselves.

Below, is a look at how Ephesians 1 contains the first piece of armor, the belt of truth. May one of these truths bind your heart to reality and free you from the lies meant to unravel you.

Lie: God is holding out on me. 

Truth: God hasn’t held back a single blessing in Christ. 1:3 

Lie: God is impatient for me to get myself together. 

Truth: I was picked by the Father before I did anything for Him. 1:4

Lie: God shouldn't have embraced such a flawed person like me. 

Truth: God chose me to be evidence of His astonishing grace and to praise Him for it. 1:6

Lie: I’ve gotta pay God back for all I’ve done against Him.

Truth: My forgiveness through Jesus’ blood is a lavish gift from God. 1:7

Lie: There’s no future for me.

Truth: I’ve been promised an inheritance. 1:11-14

Lie: I can’t really be sure about what God promises.

Truth: I possess the Holy Spirit who guarantees I’ll receive what’s promised to me. 1:11-14

Lie: I’m too far behind.

Truth: The Spirit gives understanding. 1:15-19

Lie: I’m powerless.

Truth: Inside of me is the resurrection power that raised Christ. 1:19-21

Lie: Authority is falling apart.

Truth: Christ rules over all. 1:21-23

“...if you abide in my word, 

you are truly my disciples, 

and you will know the truth, 

and the truth will set you free.” 

-Jesus 

John 8:31,32