The Book of Ephesians Pt. 55 Steadied by the Gospel of Peace!

We are now digging into the various pieces of the whole armor of God. We have received instructions from the Captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:10). He commands us to "put on" the whole armor of God, so that having fought the good fight of faith, we can stand and withstand to the end. 

Going to battle in spiritual warfare means that we must run to Christ to receive His strength and take up God's provision of protection for this battle.

The Gospel of Peace guards our feet. 

Ephesians 6:13-15  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

A soldier in the army of Jesus Christ must securely fasten the preparation of the gospel of peace upon his or her feet. The idea communicated seems to be that our mind is to be steadied and kept from fear and / or vacillation. 

The Roman sandal was furnished with nails like modern cleats, that gripped the ground firmly, even when it was sloping or slippery. In like manner the good news of peace keeps us upright and firm, moving forward for Christ.

How is this accomplished?  By means of the good news of peace.  It is good news for those who used to be at war with God.  As rebels, we were against His Son and following the lust of our flesh.  Now we are at peace with God. 

The Believer's answer to Satan's accusations.

Romans 8:31-33  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 

Many of the fiery darts of the wicked one aimed at us have to do with sins we committed in the past. He will tell us "You are not a Christian because you did this evil thing." It certainly is true that we did evil things before we were born again.  It is also true that we retain memories of our sins, therefore, the Devils' tactic is very effective against us.  If we do not put on the whole armor of God, he may wound us spiritually. 

However, the believer looks to Christ, because when we have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, God pardoned us from all our sins. He fully forgive us and removed our sins from us as far as the East is removed from the West. This is the doctrine of positional justification for all who are "in Christ." (See Romans 3:28; 4:25; 5:1-21; 8:30; Philippians 3:9; Titus 3:7 for examples).

God's forgiveness is full and beautiful.

Psalm 103:2-5  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4)  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

David exclaimed in this worship psalm, blessing and praising Jehovah for all of His manifold benefits. (Remember the name "Jesus" means "Jehovah Saves" and He is Jehovah in the flesh). 

What does Jehovah do for each believer?

• He forgives all our iniquities. 

• He heals us from the disease of sin. 
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• He redeems us from death and hell.

• He lavishly pours out His lovingkindness and tender mercies on us. 

• He freely gives us many good things (all spiritual blessings in Christ).

God is merciful and gracious to us. 

Psalm 103:10-12  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11) For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 

Jehovah has other rich blessings for believers.

• He does not treat us by giving us what we really deserve for our sins.

• His mercy (withholding His wrath and extending forgiveness) is as high as heaven.

• He removed our sins as far as the East is from the West. (If you travel East, you always travel east. You never travel west. This is a picture that symbolizes how our sins have infinitely been taken away from us.)

King David goes on in the same Psalm, telling us so many rich benefits that God gives to each believer. We need to think a lot more about what God does for us through Jesus Christ. The reality is that we are fully pardoned, fully forgiven and fully justified by God because of our faith in Christ. 

This is the gospel of peace at work in human hearts. We who were once His enemies, are now His adopted children. We are treated like His sons and daughters. He has an inheritance for each of us. We have peace with God through repentant faith in Christ. 

Peace with God was long promised. 

Psalm 29:11  The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Psalm 37:11  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Peace with God comes through Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:13-14  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

This text is part of Luke's long narrative containing the lovely details of the birth of Jesus Christ. As you recall, the angel of the Lord appeared to a group of shepherds while they kept watch during the night. After telling them about the birth of Messiah in Bethlehem, a host of angels joined him and sang out jubilantly, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men."

Why? Because the Son of God was born and He  came to fulfill all prophecies, accomplishing the redemption of all mankind on His cross. He died in our place as the Lamb of God taking away the sins of the world (John 1:29-34). 

Paul starts each epistle by announcing peace. 

1 Corinthians 1:3  Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Everyone one of Paul's thirteen New Testament books begins with an announcement of peace and grace, because of Jesus Christ. The gospel of Christ is a gospel of peace for all who will repent of their sins and place their trust in Christ. This is the gospel of peace that we prepare for. The word "preparation" simply means going forward in a state of preparedness and readiness. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Romans 10:13-15  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 

Paul reminds us that whosoever hears the gospel of Christ can be saved, they can call upon the Lord. Then he raises questions of how shall people call on Christ for salvation? How can they believe if they do not hear the good news? How can they hear the good news without a preacher or missionary bringing the gospel to them? 

Every single person should share the gospel of Jesus Christ by preaching it, teaching it, talking to neighbors, family, friends, or sharing it using traditional and digital media. Each person who shares the gospel has beautiful feet. This is God's perspective and we should not take this lightly.  

Therefore, no one, not even Satan can charge us with violating God's holy standard because we are saved, in Christ and robed with His righteousness. We have our feet shod with the gospel of peace. 

Are you sharing the gospel of peace? Are you living out a life manifesting peace with God? Are you thanking God for His overflowing grace, mercy and lovingkindness that brings peace to us who were once His enemies?

May our hearts be full of joy, thanksgiving and peace because of knowing Jesus Christ as lord and Savior.

Bob