Ephesians 6:14

Ephesians 6:14

Christian Truthfulness.

I. It is obvious that the word "truth" as here used does not mean truth in the object, i.e.,the truth of the Gospel, the verities of redemption, but truth in the subject, i.e.,that which we so commonly call truthfulness, a quality within the man himself. And this truthfulness, or being true, is predicated of him, not in ordinary things only, but, as he is a Christian, in those things which constitute him a Christian warrior. The girdle of the warrior's panoply would naturally be a girdle fitted for warfare, of the strength, and material, and pattern of the rest of his armour. And when we come to apply this similitude to practice, it is plain that we must think of this truthfulness, not only as regards words, the outward expression of thoughts, but also as regards acts, which are no less important results of a man's inward state; and indeed as regards those thoughts themselves from which both speech and action spring.

II. What is it to have the loins girt about with truth? (1) It is to have a man's own convictions in accordance with the revealed truths of the Gospel which he professes. Without this no Christian soldier can be girt for the battle. (2) All double purposes, all by-ends, all courses of action adopted for effect, are emphatically untrue; our object must not be only truth in detail, but truth in the due and real proportion of the whole. It is characteristic of a diseased conscience in this matter ever to be brooding over minute details, striving to be punctiliously, formally true, without inquiring whether the whole impression given is that which the whole facts really do give. And let us remember the great motive for truth which should be ever before us as Christians. We serve Him who is the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning. When our Saviour left us, He bequeathed to us His best gift, the promise of the Father, the Spirit of truth, to dwell in us and possess us, and sanctify us wholly by that word which He Himself spoke of when He said, "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth."

H. Alford, Quebec Chapel Sermons,vol. v., p. 151.

References: Ephesians 6:14. A. C. Price, Christian World Pulpit,vol. i., p. 113; Preacher's Monthly,vol. viii., p. 212; J. H. Evans, Thursday Penny Pulpit,vol. xi., pp. 257, 305.Ephesians 6:14. E. Garbett, The Soul's Life,p. 223.Ephesians 6:15. H. W. Beecher, Christian World Pulpit,vol. iv., p. 368; Ibid.,vol. v., p. 27; G. Brooks, Five Hundred Outlines,p. 4; Preacher's Monthly,vol. ii., p. 230; J. Vaughan, Sermons,7th series, p. 136; J. H. Evans, Thursday Penny Pulpit,vol. xi., p. 350. Ephesians 6:16. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. vii., No. 416; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. i., p. 149; H. W. Beecher, Sermons,4th series, p. 379. Ephesians 6:17. G. Brooks, Five Hundred Outlines,p. 205; J. H. Evans, Thursday Penny Pulpit,vol. xi., pp. 365, 377; Outline Sermons to Children,p. 248.