Equipped with Truth: Standing Firm in Spiritual Battle

 

Summary

In Ephesians 6:14, Paul instructs believers to "stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth." This is the first piece of the armor of God that we must put on to withstand the devil's schemes. The Christian life is a spiritual battle against the forces of darkness, and awareness of this conflict is a mark of true spiritual maturity. Without the whole armor of God, we are already defeated. The loins, being the pivot of human strength, must be girded with truth, which is not a vague concept but a clearly defined doctrine found in the Bible.

The truth is not merely a general message about goodness, morality, or religion. It is not about sentimental comfort or constant appeals for decisions. It is a comprehensive system of doctrine, a body of divinity, that includes the whole plan and purpose of salvation. This truth is most clearly expounded in the New Testament Epistles, which go beyond the Gospels and Acts in explaining the person and work of Jesus Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the doctrine of salvation.

Understanding this truth involves more than a superficial acquaintance with Scripture. It requires delving into the depths of doctrine, understanding the meaning and purpose of salvation, and applying this knowledge to withstand the devil's attacks. The truth includes God's eternal purpose, the person and work of Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of salvation. It is a complete and unified system that equips us to stand firm against the devil's schemes.

Key Takeaways:

- The Christian life is a spiritual battle, and awareness of this conflict is a sign of spiritual maturity. Without the armor of God, we are already defeated. The loins, representing human strength, must be girded with truth, which is essential for standing firm against the devil's schemes. [01:19]

- Truth is not a vague concept but a clearly defined doctrine found in the Bible. It is not merely about goodness, morality, or religion, nor is it about sentimental comfort or constant appeals for decisions. It is a comprehensive system of doctrine that includes the whole plan and purpose of salvation. [03:28]

- The truth is most clearly expounded in the New Testament Epistles, which go beyond the Gospels and Acts in explaining the person and work of Jesus Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the doctrine of salvation. Understanding this truth requires delving into the depths of doctrine and applying this knowledge to withstand the devil's attacks. [23:34]

- The truth includes God's eternal purpose, the person and work of Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of salvation. It is a complete and unified system that equips us to stand firm against the devil's schemes. This understanding is essential for spiritual strength and victory. [32:20]

- To truly know the truth, we must go beyond a superficial acquaintance with Scripture. We must delve into the depths of doctrine, understand the meaning and purpose of salvation, and apply this knowledge to withstand the devil's attacks. This involves a systematic understanding of the truth, which is essential for spiritual strength and victory. [46:00]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:14
[01:19] - The Spiritual Battle
[02:30] - The Importance of Truth
[03:28] - Defining Truth
[05:15] - The Role of Doctrine
[09:35] - The Church's Challenge
[13:11] - Misunderstandings of Truth
[17:15] - The Power of Teaching
[19:06] - The Message of Scripture
[23:34] - The Epistles and Truth
[26:50] - The Apostles' Teaching
[32:20] - The Plan of Salvation
[36:28] - Understanding the Cross
[41:34] - Assurance of Salvation
[45:45] - The System of Truth
[49:00] - Closing Hymn and Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 6:14: "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth."
- 2 Timothy 3:8-10: "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean by instructing believers to "stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth" in Ephesians 6:14? How does this relate to the concept of spiritual armor? [00:31]
2. According to the sermon, why is it essential for Christians to be aware of the spiritual battle they are engaged in? [01:19]
3. How does the sermon define "truth" in the context of Ephesians 6:14, and why is it important to have a clear understanding of it? [03:28]
4. What role do the New Testament Epistles play in explaining the truth that Paul refers to in Ephesians 6:14? [23:34]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding the "whole plan and purpose of salvation" equip believers to withstand the devil's schemes, as mentioned in the sermon? [32:20]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a superficial acquaintance with Scripture is insufficient for spiritual maturity? [46:00]
3. How does the sermon differentiate between the truth found in the New Testament Epistles and the general message of goodness or morality? [11:22]
4. What is the significance of the role of the Holy Spirit in applying the truth to believers' lives, as discussed in the sermon? [38:22]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current understanding of the truth as a comprehensive system of doctrine. How can you deepen your knowledge of this truth to better withstand spiritual attacks? [46:00]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of delving into the depths of doctrine. What practical steps can you take to study and understand the New Testament Epistles more thoroughly? [23:34]
3. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more open to the Spirit's guidance in understanding and applying biblical truth? [38:22]
4. The sermon warns against a superficial acquaintance with Scripture. What changes can you make in your Bible study habits to ensure a deeper engagement with the text? [46:00]
5. How can you apply the truth of God's eternal purpose and the assurance of salvation to your daily life, especially when facing challenges or doubts? [32:20]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel spiritually vulnerable. How can the truth of Scripture help you stand firm in that area? [01:19]
7. The sermon discusses the importance of understanding the person and work of Christ. How can you incorporate this understanding into your conversations with others about faith? [23:34]

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Maturity Through Awareness of Battle
The Christian life is not a passive journey but a spiritual battle against the forces of darkness. Awareness of this conflict is a sign of spiritual maturity, as it acknowledges the reality of the devil's schemes. Without the armor of God, believers are already defeated. The loins, representing human strength, must be girded with truth, which is essential for standing firm against these schemes. This truth is not a vague concept but a clearly defined doctrine found in the Bible. Understanding and applying this truth is crucial for spiritual strength and victory. [01:19]

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What specific area of your life feels like a spiritual battle right now, and how can you actively seek God's truth to stand firm in it today?


Day 2: Truth as a Defined Doctrine
Truth in the Christian faith is not merely about goodness, morality, or religion, nor is it about sentimental comfort or constant appeals for decisions. It is a comprehensive system of doctrine that includes the whole plan and purpose of salvation. This truth is most clearly expounded in the New Testament Epistles, which go beyond the Gospels and Acts in explaining the person and work of Jesus Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the doctrine of salvation. Understanding this truth requires delving into the depths of doctrine and applying this knowledge to withstand the devil's attacks. [03:28]

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your understanding of biblical doctrine this week, and how might this impact your daily walk with Christ?


Day 3: The Epistles and the Depth of Truth
The truth of the Christian faith is most clearly expounded in the New Testament Epistles. These writings go beyond the Gospels and Acts in explaining the person and work of Jesus Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the doctrine of salvation. Understanding this truth involves more than a superficial acquaintance with Scripture. It requires delving into the depths of doctrine, understanding the meaning and purpose of salvation, and applying this knowledge to withstand the devil's attacks. This understanding is essential for spiritual strength and victory. [23:34]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate a deeper study of the Epistles into your daily routine, and what specific steps will you take to apply their teachings to your life?


Day 4: The Unified System of Truth
The truth includes God's eternal purpose, the person and work of Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of salvation. It is a complete and unified system that equips believers to stand firm against the devil's schemes. This understanding is essential for spiritual strength and victory. To truly know the truth, one must go beyond a superficial acquaintance with Scripture. This involves a systematic understanding of the truth, which is essential for spiritual strength and victory. [32:20]

"For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." (Acts 20:27, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure that your understanding of God's truth is comprehensive and not superficial, and how can this impact your spiritual battles?


Day 5: Delving into the Depths of Doctrine
To truly know the truth, believers must go beyond a superficial acquaintance with Scripture. They must delve into the depths of doctrine, understand the meaning and purpose of salvation, and apply this knowledge to withstand the devil's attacks. This involves a systematic understanding of the truth, which is essential for spiritual strength and victory. The truth is a complete and unified system that equips believers to stand firm against the devil's schemes. [46:00]

"Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God." (Hebrews 6:1, ESV)

Reflection: What specific doctrines or areas of Scripture do you feel called to study more deeply, and how can this pursuit of knowledge strengthen your faith and resilience against spiritual challenges?

Quotes


The Christian Life is one which is involved of necessity in this terrible struggle with the devil and his powers as our Lord himself when he was in this world had to wage this Warfare was engaged in this fight so are we his followers it is a mark in other words of the fact that we are truly Christian if we are aware of this conflict. [00:01:12]

The first piece we must put on is this girdle of Truth the loins are always said to be the most powerful part of men the kind of pivot on which all human strength turns and therefore he starts with this and nothing is more essential than that the lines should be truly G about and the point he makes is that they must be G about with truth. [00:02:26]

There is nothing as I see it which is more important for us as individual Christians and for the church as a whole at the present time than just this with the whole state of the world as it is this seems to me to be the first and the chiefest problem confronting the Christian Church how are we to fight the Wilds of the devil. [00:09:33]

There are some people who seem to think that the truth consists of of nothing but constant appeals for decisions of some sort or another now I don't only mean appeals in Evangelistic campaigns there is an increasing tendency in certain parts of the church in certain parts of the world to be always appealing on a Sunday morning service as well as a Sunday evening service. [00:15:01]

The truth this faith of which he speaks is also his teaching the teaching that he had imparted to people like Timothy in order that they in turn as he's reminded him might go on and teach others so it's his teaching his Doctrine and then he puts it in another way in verse 14 but continue thou he says in the things which thou has learned. [00:06:13]

The truth is to be found as I'm defining the truth with which we are to guard our lines it is to be found in the Epistles in a way that is not to be found even in the gospels in the book of the acts now then here we come to the Crux of the whole matter I wonder whether we are clear about this. [00:23:17]

The New Testament Epistles are nothing after all but synopses of Christian doctrine there is no doubt that the apostles taught this as they ministered in the early church now the the book of Acts doesn't go into this in detail because as I say its main function was meant to be something else and something different it's primarily a history of the founding of the church and the early days. [00:26:50]

The truth about which the Apostle is speaking here is a truth that is to be found essentially in these new testament Epistles what are they well the New Testament Epistles are nothing after all but synopses of Christian doctrine there is no doubt that the apostles taught this as they ministered in the early church. [00:26:50]

The truth is not merely some general message about goodness and morality I say that of course because there are large numbers who obviously think that that is the truth that the Bible is just a book that in general teaches us to live good lives and to be moral and that's seems to be the beginning and the end of it. [00:11:16]

The truth is not merely some general message about goodness and morality I say that of course because there are large numbers who obviously think that that is the truth that the Bible is just a book that in general teaches us to live good lives and to be moral and that's seems to be the beginning and the end of it. [00:11:16]

The truth is not merely some general message about goodness and morality I say that of course because there are large numbers who obviously think that that is the truth that the Bible is just a book that in general teaches us to live good lives and to be moral and that's seems to be the beginning and the end of it. [00:11:16]

The truth is not merely some general message about goodness and morality I say that of course because there are large numbers who obviously think that that is the truth that the Bible is just a book that in general teaches us to live good lives and to be moral and that's seems to be the beginning and the end of it. [00:11:16]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 24, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?