Girt your loins in truth

Ephesians 6:14a

What is Truth?

• Correspondence theory of truth• Rational truth• Empirical truth• Truth is relative • It’s impossible to know the truth• Truth is an illusion• Truth is only in the realm of ideas• Truth is only what we experience • If I believe it is true

Where is Truth?

Where is Truth?

• Economics?

• Science?

• Culture?

• All these may contain truths,

• But, where and what is “THE TRUTH”.

John 18:37–38a

37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

Ephesians 6:10–17 (ESV)

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, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

• Isaiah 11:4–5 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness* the belt of his loins.

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth (Lit. “Having girt about your loins with truth,”)

A good soldier stands firm.

A good soldier puts on truth.

• Truth is more than simply telling the truth.

• It implies trustworthiness, dependability, steadfastness, faithfulness.

Old Testament

• emeṯ, usually translated “truth,” is related to the verb āman

“support, sustain, establish,” to the noun emûnâ “firmness, faithfulness,” and to āmen “truly,” the source of the exclamation

“Amen!”

God of “truth”

Deuteronomy 32:4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness* and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

New Testament

• Etymologically ἀλήθεια has the meaning of …. ἀλήθεια, therefore, denotes the “full or real state of affairs.”

John 1:1–17 (ESV)1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

• John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

Power of Truth

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

Enemy stands in the lie

• John 8:44–46 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

Jesus is the Truth.

• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

• Matthew 24:22–24 (ESV)

• 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

We must stand firm to Truth

• God is truth: Reliable, trustworthy, faithful, steadfast.

• God’s Word is truth: reliable, trustworthy, faithful, steadfast.

• Jesus is truth.

• The Gospel is truth.

John 18:37–38a

37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

Pilate didn’t listen.

What about You?