Anyone But MeSample

Truthful—Know What the Gospel Is Not

Three times in Ephesians 6:13–14, we are told to stand: “. . . Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. . .” We are to stand with our waists girded with truth and our breastplates of righteousness secured so that when the evil day comes we stand for the truth of the gospel. The gospel and the truth cannot be separated.

The language of Scripture shows that gospel means “truth,” even though our culture denies it. The enemy has made certain of that. The reason we are to make a stand for truth is that the enemy stands for the opposite. He is the father of lies—the supreme and subtle serpent of deception that has deceived many by poisoning the message. 

If we are going to speak the truth in love, we must make sure that we’re speaking the truth. The good news we are to herald is that Christ died for our sins and rose again on the third day. If we preach that His suffering wasn’t sufficient (and that we, therefore, have to add our works to it), we poison the message. It kills rather than makes alive. And the gospel we preach becomes another gospel—a false news.

There is no true hope outside of the gospel. Every other hope is dashed by the reality of death. If our house is built on rock, we will stand. If it’s not, we will crumble. And millions crumble. Many turn to drugs, alcohol, or suicide, and some lose their minds. But there is hope, even for those who seem to have already crumbled. There is a rock foundation that can save them from devastation.

Our intent is to point sinners to the Savior and His words—it is a pleading with the unsaved. Truth—only the one gospel truth—will lead sinners to Jesus. We are to stand in the truth and preach it. The rest is up to God.

How are you tempted to compromise the potency of the Gospel message because of fear? 

Prayer: God, help me to consistently study Your Word so that I boldly declare the hope of Jesus to all people.