Zadok Discipleship Course - Armed for War · Dr. Steve Foss

Lessons 41-44

The Belt of Truth & The Breastplate of Righteousness

Concept Review Test · 30 Questions · 50 Points · Dr. Steve Foss

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About This Test

Lesson 41 - Belt of Truth, Pt. 1: Armor as revelation not ritual; the offense/defense principle; the Vietnam lesson; girding the loins of the mind (imagination); absolute vs. relative truth; the Mack truck test; the movie prophecy account; truth as a Person (John 14:6); the Word as truth (John 17:17; Hebrews 1:3; Isaiah 55:11; John 8:32).
Lesson 42 - Belt of Truth, Pt. 2: The one-world system and relative truth; silence as cowardice; truth as offensive weapon - speaking it; five things the Word does: penetrates, exposes, judges, brings to light, leads to godliness; the devil's only weapon is deception; truth removes his landing strip; why the belt is first; degree of truth acceptance = depth of relationship.
Lesson 43 - Breastplate of Righteousness, Pt. 1: Righteousness defined; the plumb line; the power line illustration; imputed vs. imparted righteousness; holiness is not legalism; the Kansas youth pastor; Hebrews 12:14; holiness protects (Isaiah 54:14,17 in context of righteousness); the 12-year-old girl; holiness empowers (Romans 1:4; Matthew 5:6; Matthew 6:33).
Lesson 44 - Breastplate of Righteousness, Pt. 2: Hunger for righteousness vs. benefits; righteousness and the city (Sodom and Gomorrah - ten righteous); the incorruptible seed (1 John 3:9); the acorn/oak illustration; the seed must die to grow (John 12:24; Galatians 2:20; daily cross); the metamorphosis (Romans 12:2; caterpillar/butterfly); grace reigns through righteousness; Matthew 7:22-23 warning; benefits of righteousness survey.

This is a concept test, not a memorization test. Every question asks you to apply what you understood. Click Submit & Grade My Test for instant feedback.

Part A

Multiple Choice - 20 Questions · 2 pts each · 40 pts

Lesson 41 - Belt of Truth, Pt. 1

Question 1

A Christian study group declares all six pieces of the armor of God aloud every morning as a routine spiritual discipline. Based on Lesson 41's foundational principle, what is the critical limitation of this practice?

A. The declarations are only effective when made in the presence of other believers for mutual accountability. B. The armor should be declared in the evening, not the morning, based on the pattern of spiritual alertness. C. Declarations of the armor are valuable as long as they are accompanied by fasting to amplify their effectiveness. D. Each piece of the armor is a revelation only worn when walking in the experience of it - not when merely declaring it. A believer who is not walking in the living reality of truth, or righteousness, does not have those pieces on regardless of how many times they have confessed them. The routine itself cannot substitute for the revelation.

Question 2

The Vietnam War illustration in Lesson 41 says the U.S. could not win because they were only there to "hold the line." How does this apply to the spiritual life of most believers?

A. Believers need better preparation before engaging the enemy - defensive posture is wise until they are ready. B. Most Christians are living in a purely defensive crouch - just hoping to survive the week without another major attack. But Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against you - gates do not march. We are supposed to march to the gates of hell and kick them down. The armor is also offensive. C. The lesson is about the importance of waiting for divine reinforcement before advancing in any spiritual initiative. D. The application is that spiritual battles require coalition - no individual can fight effectively alone just as no single nation could win Vietnam.

Question 3

A believer says: "Truth is personal and spiritual - what's true for me may not be true for you. My relationship with Jesus is my truth." The Mack truck illustration in Lesson 41 responds to this. What does it say?

A. The statement is acceptable because personal spiritual experience carries its own form of validity alongside propositional truth. B. The statement is partially correct - subjective spiritual truth and objective physical truth operate in different domains. C. Personal opinion is irrelevant to the reality of truth - just as standing in front of a Mack truck at 100mph and deciding it won't hurt you makes no difference to the impact. Truth operates the same way. Whether a generation decides sin is acceptable does not make it so. Your opinion does not alter objective reality. D. The statement is a form of intellectual humility that should be respected and engaged rather than confronted.

Question 4

Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" - not "I speak truth." Lesson 41 says this distinction "changes everything." How?

A. Truth is not a concept floating abstractly in the universe available to whoever constructs their version - truth is a Person. You either know Him or you don't. Putting on the belt of truth is not a commitment to accuracy or an intellectual exercise; it is entering into the revelation of Christ as truth itself. You filter life through Him alone, not through your opinions, culture, or feelings. B. It means Jesus is the authoritative source of doctrinal information who provides correct answers to theological questions. C. It establishes that Jesus' teaching should be treated with more authority than other religious teachers who merely claim to speak truth. D. It means that believers have direct access to truth through the indwelling Spirit without needing external doctrinal instruction.

Question 5

John 8:32 says "the truth shall make you free" - but Lesson 41 says this does not mean any truth in general. What precision does the lesson draw?

A. The promise of freedom applies only to truth received through formal biblical instruction and theological education. B. The promise requires a community of accountability to sustain the freedom truth produces. C. It is specifically the truth you know - received by revelation, embraced, yielded to, and walked in. Wearing the belt of truth on your head like osmosis does nothing. Only the truth that has become experience and manifestation in your life rises as a shield and shores up every other piece of the armor. Truth heard but not entered into does not make free. D. The freedom is primarily eternal - referring to freedom from condemnation at the final judgment rather than present experiential freedom.

Lesson 42 - Belt of Truth, Pt. 2

Question 6

A pastor softens his message about sexual immorality to avoid being called intolerant or divisive. Lesson 42 says this is not love - it is something else. What, and why?

A. It is cultural compromise - acceptable as a temporary missional strategy as long as the full truth is preserved in private pastoral settings. B. It is theological drift - a slow abandonment of conviction that will eventually produce doctrinal error. C. It is pragmatism - choosing the approach most likely to retain the congregation over the approach most likely to produce transformation. D. It is cowardice. The belt of truth is an offensive weapon released by opening the mouth and speaking it. Hollywood understands that the preaching of truth is a weapon - that is why they make God's people ashamed of it. Once silenced, lies prosper unchallenged. Silence in the face of lies is not love; it is cowardice.

Question 7

A believer studying the Bible consistently notices conviction about areas they have never before questioned. Based on Lesson 42's second function of the Word, what is happening?

A. The Word is exposing lies - consistent exposure to truth reveals every deception the devil has embedded in your thinking. In Mark 2, Jesus exposed the scribes' silent inner doubts without a word leaving their lips. You cannot fight a lie you do not know is a lie. Conviction is the Word doing its work of exposure. B. The Holy Spirit is directing the believer toward areas where greater discipline and obedience will produce spiritual growth. C. The believer has reached a new level of spiritual maturity that enables them to receive deeper correction from the Word. D. The Word is preparing the believer for future spiritual warfare by revealing areas of vulnerability that need to be strengthened.

Question 8

A church has a policy of never preaching anything uncomfortable to avoid making visitors feel judged. Lesson 42 names this church something specific. What - and what is the lesson's reasoning?

A. A seeker-sensitive church - whose model sacrifices depth for breadth but can still produce genuine disciples over time. B. A morgue, not a hospital. A hospital brings healing by exposing the problem and addressing it. A church that never preaches truth to avoid discomfort is not helping people - it is letting them die while making them feel comfortable. Hidden sin festers and destroys; only exposed sin can be repented of. C. A mission-field church - whose ministry to the unchurched requires a different approach than a church serving established believers. D. A grace-centered church - one that correctly prioritizes love and acceptance as the environment in which transformation can occur.

Question 9

The devil deceived Eve in the garden. Lesson 42 says his strategy has not changed in thousands of years. Why is this significant for understanding the belt of truth?

A. It means the same specific lies used against Eve are still in circulation today and must be identified and memorized. B. It means the church must study the Fall account more carefully to understand the full range of the enemy's tactics. C. Because the devil has only one weapon: deception. Once you yield to deception you hand your power and authority to him voluntarily - that is the only door through which he gains access. When you walk in truth, lies find no landing strip. You have removed his only weapon. The belt of truth does not merely defend against deception; it eliminates his ability to use it. D. It means the spiritual warfare today is fundamentally the same as in the Garden of Eden and requires the same response of immediate obedience.

Question 10

A believer reads the Bible primarily to find confirmation for what they already believe and feel. Lesson 42 says this approach is missing the point of the belt of truth. What is the correct posture?

A. To supplement personal Bible reading with commentaries and teaching from qualified theologians who can provide objective perspective. B. To approach Scripture with an open mind, considering multiple interpretive traditions before arriving at personal conclusions. C. To read the Bible daily with accountability partners who can challenge personal interpretations and blind spots. D. Go to the Word to discover what is true - not to find support for what you already believe. Humble yourself before it. Yield to it. Let it expose you, judge you, renew you, and lead you into godliness. To the degree you accept God as absolute truth, to that same degree you walk in the depth of relationship with Him.

Lesson 43 - Breastplate of Righteousness, Pt. 1

Question 11

A second copper wire - with no power source - is placed parallel and close to a wire carrying a powerful charge. The second wire begins to carry current. The more precisely it aligns, the more current it carries. What does Lesson 43 say this illustrates about righteousness?

A. Righteousness is generated through sustained moral effort and discipline, which then attracts God's power as a reward. B. As your life lines up with the character and nature of God, the power inherent in God begins to flow through you. You do not generate it - you align with it, and it flows. Righteousness is not effort-produced; it is alignment-produced. The more precisely the alignment, the greater the flow. C. Righteousness requires direct connection to a spiritual mentor or authority figure who carries anointing. D. Spiritual power is transferred through proximity to anointed ministry settings, not through individual character alignment.

Question 12

A believer says: "I was declared righteous the moment I was saved - so I don't need to focus on growing in righteousness now." Lesson 43's distinction between imputed and imparted righteousness responds to this. What does it say?

A. Imputed righteousness (credited through Christ's work at the new birth) is only one dimension. Imparted righteousness is God working holiness into you so you can actually walk in what was credited. God does not merely declare you righteous and leave you unchanged - He works in you to produce character that matches the declaration. Both dimensions are essential. B. The believer is essentially correct - the declaration at salvation is the fullness of righteousness and ongoing pursuit is optional. C. Imputed righteousness is foundational and imparted righteousness is primarily relevant for those called to ministry leadership. D. Both dimensions are received at conversion - the distinction is primarily theological and does not affect practical Christian living.

Question 13

A believer responds to calls to holiness by saying: "That's just legalism - we're under grace, not law." The Kansas youth pastor account and God's response in Lesson 43 directly address this. What did God say?

A. That grace and law are in tension and believers must carefully balance both to avoid the extremes of licentiousness and legalism. B. That the accusation of legalism is often a sign of spiritual immaturity that will correct itself as believers grow in understanding. C. That the distinction between legalism and holiness depends primarily on the motivation of the individual leader promoting it. D. "What most people today call legalism, I call holiness." True legalism is using a holy lifestyle to try to earn God's favor. But that is not what is being taught. We do not live holy to get God's favor - we already have it. Because we have it, we choose to live holy. The reaction against holiness is itself evidence of a lie the devil has sold the church.

Question 14

A believer claims Isaiah 54:17 - "No weapon formed against me shall prosper" - as a personal promise while living in consistent unrighteousness. What does Lesson 43 say about this claim?

A. The promise is available to all believers through grace, regardless of their present level of righteousness, since Christ's righteousness covers all gaps. B. The promise applies specifically to persecution from enemies, not to the natural consequences of the believer's own choices. C. The full context is "In righteousness you shall be established - no weapon formed against you shall prosper - this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me." The promise is rooted in righteousness. You cannot take the promise out of the context of the righteousness it is attached to. D. The promise requires a prophetic declaration over the person from recognized spiritual authority to activate it in their specific situation.

Question 15

Romans 1:4 says Jesus was "declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." What does Lesson 43 say this reveals about the relationship between holiness and power?

A. That holiness is the product of supernatural power - the Spirit of holiness produces the character after power has been received. B. That holiness is the channel through which power flows, not its opposite. The greatest demonstration of supernatural power in all of human history - a dead man walking from a sealed tomb - was connected directly to the Spirit of holiness. Holiness and power are not in tension; they are inseparable. C. That power and holiness are sequential - power comes first as the catalyst, and holiness develops as the fruit over time. D. That the Spirit of holiness is a distinct person from the Holy Spirit who operates specifically in the domain of personal sanctification.

Lesson 44 - Breastplate of Righteousness, Pt. 2

Question 16

Many believers attend conference after conference, revival meeting after revival meeting, but remain spiritually empty. Lesson 44 diagnoses the specific reason. What is it?

A. They are hungry for the benefits and gifts of God rather than for the character and righteousness of God. Matthew 5:6 connects the filling of the Spirit to hunger and thirst for righteousness - not hunger for power, blessings, or recognition. People pursuing the gifts of God rather than the God of the gifts will not be filled. B. They are not staying in the presence long enough at the events they attend - more sustained soaking would produce the filling they lack. C. They have unresolved unforgiveness that is blocking the Spirit's ability to fill them despite their spiritual pursuit. D. They are seeking filling through corporate settings rather than the private intimacy that is the primary channel of the Spirit's work.

Question 17

God was willing to spare all of Sodom and Gomorrah - cities estimated at over 200,000 people - for just ten righteous people. But He could not find even ten. What does Lesson 44 say this reveals about righteousness?

A. That God's mercy is extraordinarily patient but ultimately must yield to His justice when evil reaches a certain threshold. B. That the righteous are rare and should therefore not be expected to have significant influence on the surrounding culture. C. That righteousness carries immense transformative power in the world around it. Ten genuinely righteous people could have turned an entire city of 200,000 away from judgment. That is why the devil fights righteousness so relentlessly - because it has the power to transform everything around it. D. That God holds entire cities accountable for the spiritual failures of those who should have been its righteous remnant.

Question 18

A believer says: "I'm born again but I don't seem to have the nature of Christ - I still want the wrong things." How does Lesson 44's acorn/seed illustration respond?

A. The desire for wrong things indicates the new birth was not genuine, since a genuine regeneration produces immediate desire for righteousness. B. The believer needs more consistent prayer and fasting to suppress the old desires while the new nature gradually emerges. C. The wrong desires indicate an area where the old belief system has not yet been renewed and requires targeted Scripture meditation. D. God placed the incorruptible seed of His Son inside every born-again believer at conversion - nothing is missing, the seed contains all the spiritual DNA to reproduce Christ's nature. The question is not whether the seed is there; it is whether the conditions are right for it to grow. The problem is not absence of the seed but failure to give it room by dying to self.

Question 19

The caterpillar-to-butterfly metamorphosis in Lesson 44 is not used to illustrate gradual improvement. What does the lesson say the comparison actually teaches about spiritual transformation?

A. The butterfly is not a skinny caterpillar that grew wings - everything the caterpillar was ceases to exist as it was. Heart, brain, circulatory system - all broken down and dismantled. Then the genetic code that was always inside takes over and a new creation emerges. Transformation is not an upgrade of the old; it is a total dismantling and rebuilding according to what was always encoded inside. B. Transformation is gradual but continuous - believers should expect incremental improvement over many years of faithful obedience. C. Transformation begins at conversion and completes itself automatically without further effort from the believer. D. The metamorphosis represents the journey through various stages of spiritual gifting from early converstion to mature ministry.

Question 20

Matthew 7:22-23 records Jesus saying to people who prophesied, cast out demons, and did miracles in His name: "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." What does Lesson 44 say this means for assessing genuine Christian life?

A. That miraculous gifts are the primary evidence of genuine relationship with God, and their absence should prompt urgent self-examination. B. That only those who avoid any exercise of supernatural gifts are safe from this warning, since the gifts can be counterfeited. C. Do not judge by the works performed. The gifts can flow, the ministry can appear impressive, and God can still say "I never knew you." He is looking for alignment with His character - righteousness, holiness, and lawfulness. Grace reigns through righteousness - those who use grace as permission to practice lawlessness have misunderstood what grace is for. D. That the works performed in Jesus' name were demonic counterfeits from the start, confirming that all miraculous claims require careful testing.

Part B

True or False - 10 Statements · 1 pt each · 10 pts

Lessons 41 & 42 - The Belt of Truth

1. Lesson 41 teaches that the armor of God is also an offensive weapon - believers are called to march to the gates of hell and kick them down, not merely absorb attacks from a purely defensive posture.

TRUE FALSE

2. Lesson 41 teaches that the "loins of the mind" (1 Peter 1:13) refers primarily to the memory - the storehouse of Scripture that is recalled under pressure to resist temptation.

TRUE FALSE

3. Lesson 42 teaches that the fifth function of the Word is to lead to godliness - the acknowledgment of truth accords with godliness (Titus 1:1), and the Word written on the heart re-forms nature into the nature of God.

TRUE FALSE

4. Lesson 42 teaches that speaking truth with mercy and love is a secondary consideration - the primary obligation is to speak truth boldly and let people respond however they choose.

TRUE FALSE

5. Lesson 42 teaches that the devil has only one weapon: deception. He cannot force anyone to sin, cannot override the will, and cannot compel obedience - and once deception is removed by truth, he has nothing to work with.

TRUE FALSE

Lessons 43 & 44 - The Breastplate of Righteousness

6. Lesson 43 teaches that pursuing holiness is a form of legalism for New Testament believers, because Christ's imputed righteousness removes the need for ongoing personal pursuit of holy character.

TRUE FALSE

7. Lesson 43 teaches that the promise of Isaiah 54:17 - "No weapon formed against you shall prosper" - is set within the context of righteousness and cannot be claimed apart from the righteousness in which it is rooted.

TRUE FALSE

8. Lesson 44 teaches that the incorruptible seed of God placed in a believer at new birth grows automatically without any conditions being required - the seed's growth is guaranteed by the new birth itself.

TRUE FALSE

9. Lesson 44 teaches that Romans 5:21 establishes that grace reigns through righteousness - not in opposition to it - dismantling the idea that being under grace means holiness no longer matters.

TRUE FALSE

10. Lesson 44 teaches that "dying to self" (John 12:24; Luke 9:23) is a one-time event at conversion that enables the seed of Christ to grow - a daily cross is not required once the initial death to self has occurred.

TRUE FALSE

0 / 50

Part A - Multiple Choice (20 questions × 2 pts)

Part B - True or False (10 questions × 1 pt)

Total

"Gird up the loins of your mind with truth - truth is a Person. Align with the plumb line of His righteousness - the power will flow. Die to self so the seed of Christ already inside you has room to grow. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

- Dr. Steve Foss, Lessons 41-44 · Ephesians 6:14 · John 14:6 · Matthew 5:6

Lessons 41-44

The Belt of Truth & The Breastplate of Righteousness

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