As Paul gives us an analogy between weapons for the spiritual battle and the armor of a Roman soldier, we see that truth and righteousness are the foundation. Paul was under house arrest, probably in Rome. He was trying to pastor the believers who lived in Ephesus from a distance. So, while he was writing this letter, he was also chained to a Roman guard.
Paul lists the armor pieces in the order that a Roman soldier would have put them on. He begins with the foundational pieces. Ephesians 6:14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.[1]
The Belt of Truth
A belt of a Roman soldier was leather and about six inches wide. It not only held clothing together but also provided a place of attachment for the breastplate and the sheath for the sword. So this belt was foundational for other armor pieces. A tightened belt denoted that the soldier was on duty, while a loosened belt meant he was off duty.
It is fitting that Paul denoted this belt as truth. Our ability to withstand the schemes of the devil depends on the truth of God’s Word. If our Christian message is not true, it is worthless. As followers of Jesus, we must practice truth ourselves. If we start lying, everything will fall apart. King David lied about his sin with Bathsheba, and as a result, things did not go well. Psalm 51 gives us insight into his struggles.
Jesus Christ revealed God’s truth to us, and by following His teachings, we have the foundation for Christian living. Satan is called the father of lies (John 8:44) and will attack with distortions and half-truths. By countering with truth, we can be victorious over the lies.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
A breastplate was a large leather, bronze, or chain-mail piece that protected the body from the neck to the thighs.[2] Today, we would call this body armor because it protects the vital organs. Paul compared this critical piece of armor to righteousness. I believe this encompasses both the righteousness Christ won for us and our own righteous living.
Satan loves to attack us by accusing us of our guilt and lack of worthiness. But as believers, we have a promise. Romans 3: 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.[3]
We also, as much as possible, want to live a godly life. The way we live our lives can either fortify us against satan’s attack or open a door to his attack. Satan is more than happy to trip us up because of our own failing. We want to be quick to confess and repent of our sins to receive forgiveness from Jesus. Satan opposes right living because it runs counter to his wickedness. Thus, by living an upright life of integrity, we battle against evil. Truth and righteousness are the foundation of the armor of God. May you remember these vital pieces daily on your journey of faith. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/following-jesus-into-battle
[1,3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Barton, B. B., & Comfort, P. W. (1996). Ephesians (p. 132). Tyndale House Publishers.