What is the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14)?

Before God our righteousness is perfect, it is Christ Himself, and we are the righteousness of God in Him: but we do not need armour there, we are sitting in the heavenly places: all is peace, all is perfect. But here we need armour, real practical armour, and first of all to have the loins girt about with truth. The loins are the place of strength when duly girt, but represent the intimate affections and movements of the heart. If we allow our hearts to wander where they will, instead of abiding in communion with God, Satan has easy hold upon us. This piece of armour is then the application of the truth to the most intimate movements, the first movements of the heart. We gird up the loins. This is done, not when Satan is present; it is a work with God, which is done by applying the truth to our souls in His presence, judging everything in us by this means, and putting a bridle on the heart that it may only move under His eye. This is true liberty and true joy, because the new man enjoys God in uninterrupted communion; but here the Spirit speaks of it with respect to the safeguard which it will be to us against the attacks of the enemy. At the same time it is not merely the repression of evil thoughts — that is its consequence: it is the action of the truth, of the power of God, acting by the revelation of everything as it is — of all that He Himself teaches, bringing the conscience into His presence, keeping it thus in His thoughts; all that God has said in His word, and the unseen realities having their true force and their application to the heart that stirs in us, so that its movements should have their character from God's own word and not from its own desires, everything going on in the presence of God.

The first part then of our armour is to have the loins girt about with truth. The word first girds about my own loins before I can use it as a sword. The girding about the loins is that strengthening and giving of firmness to the whole man, which cannot be if all is left loose in his ways and mind, and which flows from the application of truth to his soul. And this application of truth to his soul, though an internal operation, has a double bearing. It is the application to the heart and conscience of all that is revealed in Christ. Now, this first judges all that is not of Christ, detects it and judges it; at the same time what is in the heart is seen in its true light as compared with what I see in Christ revealed as truth to my heart. I have judged what springs from the flesh and is adapted to it; it has lost its false appearances and deceiving power, and - as Christ is really there - its power altogether. I do not let my heart go after it; it has lost its place there, because not seen by the flesh, but judged by the Spirit. Instead of having any attractions for the heart inspired by this, it has its true hateful character. Christ, as truth, has put it into its true light, out of the affections, and into its own judged hatefulness. It is no longer myself as a moral affection at all. It is sin and flesh in my eyes. But besides this, there is what has wrought this judgment, the revelation of the truth itself of Christ in the heart. Hence what is good is loved, has power in the heart, authority there; the will and affections are bridled by what has authority over them - instead of being let loose - while they, at the same time, delight in what exercises this authority over them. They are girded up, restrained, given moral tone and firmness, by the known value of that which is an obligation, because it is in Christ; a delight because it is good. For in man obligation, where it is in grace, gives strength. That is when the thing itself is delighted in, not imposed on, as a law. It is a governed heart, not an ungoverned will. Yet it is intelligent, and delights in what it sees in Christ. It governs itself. The girding about the loins with truth then is the application of the truth to the affections, so that a man is braced up, having to do with what is right in authority over his soul, while he delights in it too.

The Apostle is speaking figuratively of course, for we find that each item of the armour is something of a moral and spiritual sort which is to be taken up by us: things which though given to us by God, and hence to be taken by us, are also to be put on in a practical and experimental way. The first item is truth. That is to be as a girdle to our loins. The girding up of the loins expresses a preparing for activity. All our activities are to be circumscribed by truth. The truth is to govern us. The truth is given to us by God, but we are to put it on, so that it may govern us. God's word is truth; but it is not truth in the Bible which is going to defend us, but rather truth applied in a practical way to all our activities.

And we must put on the whole armor of God, the panoply of God. It is the only way that we can get the victory and stand and withstand. First, the loins are to be girt about with truth. Even so our Lord exhorted, "Let your loins be girded about" (Luke 12:35).

It is the girdle around the loins, which holds all things together. The girdle is the truth. What truth? The truth of heavenly things, heavenly blessings, acceptance in Christ, oneness with Him, the truth so fully revealed in this Epistle. This we need as a girdle to hold up our garments, our habits, so that in the warfare and conflict we may not be entangled with the affairs of this life (2 Tim. 2:4). The truth is to govern our conduct, our affections.

Girding is the application of truth to the soul — the intimate dealing of the word with the will — the movements of the heart. This is arming for conflict in a most practical and effectual way; but it must be done in the presence of God before we meet the enemy. The soldier's girdle fastens his other pieces of armour more closely to him, whereby he is able to march, and strong to fight. "Thou hast girded me with strength," says the psalmist, "unto the battle." (Ps. 18:39.) There is also an allusion to the custom of the oriental nations, who gird their long loose garments about their loins, that they may not hinder them in their travelling or working. Elijah girded up his loins, and ran after Ahab. (1 Kings 18:46.) It is the bracing up of the affections, the whole inner man, for Christ, and for the things of Christ. When the heart cleaves to the Lord, as the garments cleaves to the loins under the tight belt of the girdle, the enemy cannot reach the gates of the soul.

"Stand, therefore, having girt your loins about with truth, and put on the breastplate of righteousness, and shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace." I have changed the English Version slightly, so as to adhere more closely to the true sense, which supposes not only a settled position, but the soul in activity according to the summons of the Holy Ghost. Much mischief has arisen from regarding this passage as if it treated of standing, whereas, in truth, it is essentially different. It is practical arming and conflict, founded on the most blessed standing anywhere revealed in the New Testament, and suitably closing the epistle which reveals it.

To know the truth and be set free by the truth is one thing; to have girt about our loins with truth is another. It is the intimate dealing of truth with the soul, so that there is no laxity of heart or indulged will, but, on the contrary, the affections and judgment braced up to Christ and the things of Christ. Thus the saint cleaves to the Lord with full purpose of heart; and, self being searched and judged by the truth, there is vigour imparted through the revelation of His mind and grace, which are now more than ever enjoyed. It is the power of truth in keeping the soul, delivered in God's rich mercy, and too thankful to be under an authority so comprehensive and penetrating and absolute, as to leave nothing, let it be ever so inward, outside the range of God's will and the saint's obedience. To bear and delight in this, however, assumes that the heart is established in grace; it can then welcome the truth in all its energetic claim and control.

(V. 14). 1. The Girdle of Truth. We are to stand with our loins girt about with truth. Spiritually this speaks of the thoughts and affections held in order by the truth. By applying the truth to ourselves, and thus judging all the thoughts and movements of the heart by the truth, we should not only be set free from the inward working of the flesh, but we should have our affections formed according to the truth, and thus have the lowly mind with our affections set on things above.

The first part of the armour is the girdle of truth; truth in the inward parts, the state formed in us through the Word of God learned in communion with Christ. When addressing the Father, the Lord Jesus prayed for His own, "Sanctify them by the truth: Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). It is as the truth enters into the soul by the word that the moral state is produced that sets us apart for God in this world, and that gives us power to resist all that is not according to truth.

Verse 14. We have now placed before us in detail the several instruments and weapons, both of protection and offence, which make up together the whole armour of God. But before the warrior is armed, his place and attitude are assigned to him. He is to stand. It is not when composing themselves to slumber that men put on their armour, but when newly awakened by the trumpet of alarm. That warning is uttered, both loudly and with no uncertain sound, by the Spirit of Jesus, during the continuance of the evil day. Being then set upon his watch, the first essential in the equipment of a good soldier of Christ is, that his loins be girt about with truth. They whom he addressed had "heard the word of truth, the Gospel of their salvation." In that confession they are exhorted now to stand. Truth is the power which creates a Christian, and his walk (Gal. 5:7; 3 John 3, 4) and work (John 3:21) should be according to his standing in the sight of God. By the knowledge of the truth we were made free. We continue so while we abide in that which first gave liberty to our souls. If we relax that girdle, our strength is gone, and we are ready to be again entangled with the yoke of bondage. Simplicity in Christ is the best preparation for fidelity to Christ. The force of the figure used is easily perceived. The girdle of a man is that which strengthens him. It is when we brace our feeble minds with the sure testimonies of salvation that we are filled with calmness and assurance. Nothing can confer on us stability and fixedness of heart but unqualified reliance on the truth of God. Natural sincerity of character is no safeguard against the wiles of spiritual deceit. Truth disallows self-confidence, while it settles the believing soul in Christ. Moreover, it is truth alone that sanctifies the soul (2 John 17:17), and keeps it in the way of holiness and peace.

This direction to gird ourselves with truth suggests at once the characteristic quality of the adversary against whom we are called to arm. Satan is a liar always. If he prevails, it is by guile. On the other hand, Christ is the Truth. If we walk in Him, we have both strength and light. The deceiver has no power over those who, in the spirit of their minds, confine themselves habitually within the truth of God. The simplicity of Christ disperses as a cloud those manifold delusions by which the pure minds of God's children might be otherwise defiled (2 Peter 1:13; 3:2). If the girdle of truth is on the loins of our mind, our expectations, both of good and evil, will be regulated by the word of God. Afflictions, therefore, will not take us by surprise, nor shall we count it a strange thing if even fiery trial come upon us, as a consequence of our endeavour to maintain a godly walk. We shall not cast away our confidence in the day of tribulation, nor be drawn away from Our steadfastness by the error of the wicked. The word which searches us will also stablish us and hold us up. We shall both know the hope of our calling, and be strengthened to occupy with patience until the closing of the evil day.*

"Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth." Truth is never really ours but as the affections are kept in order by it. I might preach beautiful truth, and many delight in the truth, but the soul not having been in communion with God in the truth spoken, the loins would not be girt with it.