East Cooper Baptist Church s1

East Cooper Baptist Church

March 30, 2014

The Belt of Truth

Ephesians 6:10-14a

10Finally,be strong in the Lord and inthe strength of his might.11Put onthe whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand againstthe schemes of the devil.12Forwe do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but againstthe rulers, against the authorities, againstthe cosmic powers overthis present darkness, againstthe spiritual forces of evilin the heavenly places.13Thereforetake up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand inthe evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.14STAND THEREFORE,HAVING FASTENED ON THE BELT OF TRUTH, andhaving put on the breastplate of righteousness.

“Notice, further, the double emphasis upon the “whole” armour. “Put on the whole armour of God.” “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God.” This again is something of crucial importance. It means that we do not pick and choose in this matter. If you are to be a soldier in this army, if you are to fight victoriously in this crusade, you have to put on the entire equipment given to you. That is a rule in any army. You cannot select which parts of your uniform you are going to put on. If you say, “I do not think this is going to suit me I do not quite like that”, you know exactly what will happen to you. And that is infinitely more true in this spiritual realm and warfare with which we are concerned. The moment you begin to say, “I need this helmet, but I do not need the breastplate”, you are already defeated. You need it all – “the whole armour of God” – because your understanding is inadequate. It is God alone who knows your enemy, and He knows exactly the provision that is essential to you if you are to continue standing .Every single part and portion of this armour is absolutely essential; and the first thing you have to learn is that you are not in a position to pick and choose.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Christian Soldier, p. 179

The purpose of the belt (of truth) is to provide freedom of movement and security for the combatant in the midst of battle.

**As we read, study, learn, and apply Scripture in the context of community, the Word of God rightly heard and applied HEALS and TRANSFORMS us.

“Scripture will ultimately suffice for a saving knowledge of God only when its certainty is founded upon the inward persuasion of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, these human testimonies which exist to confirm it will not be in vain if, as secondary aids to our feebleness, they follow that chief and highest testimony. But those who wish to prove to unbelievers that Scripture is the Word of God are acting foolishly, for only by faith can this be known. Augustine, therefore, justly warns that godliness and peace of mind ought to come first if a man is to understand anything of such great matters.” John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1-9-13

Speak, O Lord

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.
Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.

Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

In opposing the concept of the belt of truth, the devil has several fronts. Among them are:

1.  To blind us to the glory, wonder, and majesty of Christ as expressed in the Word.

“18Butthe path of the righteous is likethe light of dawn, which shinesbrighter and brighter untilfull day. 19The way of the wicked is like deepdarkness;they do not know over what theystumble.” Proverbs 4:18-19

“9How cana young man keep his way pure?By guarding it according to your word. 10With my whole heart I seek you;let me notwander from your commandments! 11I havestored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:9-11

“12Indeed, all who desire tolive a godly life in Christ Jesuswill be persecuted,13whileevil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving andbeing deceived.14But as for you,continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whomyou learned it15and howfrom childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings,which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:12-16

“31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him,“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,32and you willknow the truth, and the truthwill set you free.” John 8:31-32

2.  We become mere information gatherers and not disciples panting for transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit as the person and work of Christ is exalted.

“14And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, butas they go on their way they are choked by thecares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, andbear fruit with patience. 16“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.17For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.18Take care then how you hear,for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

Luke 8:14-18 (see Heb. 5:12-14)

Equipping people to pursue Christ passionately to impact the culture.

“So anyone who thinks that he has understood the divine scriptures or any part of them, but cannot by his understanding build up this double love of God and neighbor, has not yet succeeded in understanding them.”

Augustine, On Christian Teaching, I-26

Questions for Discussion:

1.  What is the purpose of the belt in the armor of a warrior?

2.  Why does the concept of the intake of Scripture in “the context of community” involve the church relationships in the body of Christ today but also a historical perspective? Why is that important?

3.  Why is the internal witness of the Holy Spirit important in bringing people to understand the beauty and wonder of Scripture? How do we show our commitment to this doctrine in the way we study the Bible?

4.  What is “cognitive dissonance”? How does an understanding of the glory of Christ help eradicate this issue?

5.  How do we become “mere gatherers of systematic biblical information” instead of men and women who long for transformation?

6.  What is the “double love” that Augustine mentioned regarding the end result of all Scripture study?

Bonus: Regarding the statement by World Vision reversing a two day old policy change that would have allowed it to hire Christians in same-sex marriages in the U.S. do you agree that it was “Orwellian double-speak” when the board said, “We are heartbroken over the pain and confusion we have caused many of our friends, who saw this decision as a reversal of our strong commitment to Biblical authority. We ask that you understand that this was never the board’s intent”?