In Ephesians 6: An Intro to the Armor of God, we introduced Ephesians 6 by learning about our enemy. Moving forward, we will learn about each piece of armor to be fully equipped for battle. In Part 3, we will focus on the Belt of Truth.
The Balteus: A Soldiers Identifier
Part 1 demonstrated the influence the Roman Empire had on the ancient world. People were familiar with Roman armor, and their belt was no exception. Some argue that it was the most known piece. The belt was an identifier (Chris McNab, The Roman Army: The Greatest War Machine of the Ancient World ((General Military). Roman soldiers wore their belts with pride on and off duty. A thin strip of leather wrapped around the waist was commonly adorned with metal fastings made from bronze. Hanging from it were more leather strips with brass or bronze button-like decorations and, dangling from the bottom, specific markers that identified rank and unit. Most soldiers also attached a dagger to the left side.
Decimus Junius Juvenalis, also known as Juvenal, was a Roman poet in the early second century. He is cited as describing soldiers as “armed and belted men.” Additionally, Herodian of Antioch (author of the Greek writing titled History of the Empire from the Death of Marcus, a contemporary recording of Intrigue and Scandal of the first century) noted that if a legionnaire (a title given to a Roman Soldier) was dishonorably discharged, the soldier would be stripped of his belt, thus removing his identity.
Identity Today
Identity today is a hot topic raging throughout society. From a cultural perspective, identity is something we choose. The identifier could be gender, a political party, occupation, or even a club or organization. Regardless of the identity, these, too, are marked by some identifier. Whether it be a flag, school logo, team jersey, or badge, culture and society say you must identify with X, Y, or Z. The challenge with the worldview of identity is that it is constantly changing. When your views change, so does your identity.
Before I was a mom, I was a body-building, fitness-loving cosmetology teacher who went to church on Sundays. When I had my son, I became a mom. But I didn’t know how to be that. My identity switched so quickly I didn’t know how to adjust and became unstable. In other words, hormone imbalances plus an identity crisis are an excellent combination for a mental breakdown. It took me a while to realize my identity doesn’t come from what I am but who I am in Christ. That’s the truth.
When your identity’s foundation is unstable, you will become unstable when life changes happen. Your identity is secure when your identity is in Christ, a firm foundation.
When your identity’s foundation is unstable, you will become unstable when life changes happen. Your identity is secure when your identity is in Christ, a firm foundation. To know what God says about your identity in Him, we look back to Ephesians, this time in chapter 1:7-14
Ephesians 1:7-14
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
The phrase “In Him” is used three times in this passage to point to what is given to us.
In Him we:
- We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
- We have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
- We were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it
Identity and Truth
The truth of our identity is that we are redeemed, forgiven, heirs of the kingdom, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Today, we don’t use wax sealed with a king’s symbol embedded in it. But in the 1st century AD, this seal held incredible significance. The wax seal on a letter of inheritance signified the document’s authenticity, security, and the sender’s authority. It served as a visual confirmation that the letter was genuine, unopened, and came from the intended party. The seal served as a symbol of authentication from the sender. By sending us His Spirit, God says that our salvation and inheritance are sealed, and no one can break that.
That is the truth of your identity. The Truth of God is never changing. When you “put on” the truth of your identity in Him, you do not have to walk in the instability of the world, insecure about your eternity or relationship with God. You are secured, and you can walk in the stability of that TRUTH.
Truth: Objective or Subjective?
What does “truth” even mean? That’s another cultural hot topic of discussion. Commonly, we hear “truth is subjective” or “there is no objective truth”. Well, the devil is a liar, and John 14:6 says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In this “I AM” statement (this is not an affirmation but a proclamation of truth) made by Jesus, He is saying He is the embodiment of truth. He is not just speaking about truth, He is the ultimate truth.
In John 18:37-38 we see an interesting conversation between Jesus and Pontius Pilate. Jesus, while on trial, said, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate, being a relativist (very much like today’s culture and society asking the same question with a dash of “my truth” or “your truth”), replied, “What is truth?”. Pilate saw Rome as truth. Additionally, Caesar was the truth; the Roman soldiers and armies were the truth, and political power was the truth. Yet Jesus knew what truth was; the Law of God is truth.
The Law of God is truth.
The Law was given to Israel to demonstrate the righteousness of God and their inability to live by the Law perfectly. Jesus reminded His listeners and followers of several aspects of the Law in the Sermon on the Mount. After establishing in Matthew 5:17-20 that He is the fulfillment of the Law and that “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” He then follows up 6 points with “But I say unto you . . .” statements (Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44). These clarifying statements of the true meaning of these laws directly equate Himself with the Law of God as the authoritative standard of righteousness. Only Jesus, as the incarnate Word of God (John 1:1), is the source of all truth. This is further supported by John 17:17, which goes on to say, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” God’s word is the standard of truth, and believers are sanctified and set apart through it.
Conclusion: Put on Your Belt
In the belt of Truth, we see that when we put our identity in Jesus, we walk in our identity as a child of God, seated by the Holy Spirit as we await our inheritance. We identify with Truth. The truth of Jesus and the Gospel. The truth of His birth, life, death, and resurrection. The truth of our inability to live a life of righteousness apart from Him. And the most brutal truth for some is that we need a savior. In a world where “women have the power and don’t need a man,” I humbly lay down my power, put on the dress of a damsel in distress, and welcome not just any man but the Man to rescue me. I put on the belt of Truth with the pride of a legionnaire and walk in the truth of Jesus Christ. The question is, do you?
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