Put on the WHOLE Armor of God!
Having Feet Shod with the Gospel of Peace Eph 6:15
Remember: Our being able to stand against the onslaught of our mortal enemy is dependent upon: 1. Our strength growing out of the Truth as it is in Jesus. He is our "Organic Truth that alone gives us strength. 2. Our being clothed in the righteousness and ministry of our Great High Priest Who has borne our judgement and wears our names in His Bosom. He alone is our Righteousness by His perfect work and sacrifice for us and made ours by faith in Him.
Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
Eph 6:15 Paul’s method here isn’t to give us separate, "stand alone" pieces of armor. He is rather laying out the whole of salvation, and how the Work of God has brought about our salvation and security in His Son, Christ Jesus. Each piece of armor must be understood in the context of the previous truths unveiled in this metaphor.
"Preparation". We are looking at what God has done to prepare the Gospel of Peace for His children.
Isa 59:8 In summing up Israel’s sin and departure from their God, we read, "The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace."
Psalm 85:10b Here we have the answer to Israel’s (and our) condition. "Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other" in our Man, our Intercessor from God’s own arm!!! Isa 59:16-17
The Apostle Paul’s explanation of this Preparation"
Rom 5:1 After explaining our Breastplate, the Righteousness by faith in chap. 1-4, he now states, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have Peace With God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1. When did this preparation become true? Vs 6 When we were without strength!
2. Why was this preparation necessary? Vs 8 Because we were sinners, but Vs 10 even worse than that, we were the enemies of God. We didn’t just do bad things against God’s Nature, we were at war with our Creator. Evolution, communism, socialism, even capitalism, all seek to replace the God Who gives to all, life, breath, and all things (Acts 17:25) as man’s focus of dependance. We hated the Light of God! (John 3:20) Therefore we stood condemned! (Jn 3:18)
3. How then did God prepare a way of peace for His adopted children?
Rom 5:10 ..."We were reconciled to God THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His Life."
II Cor 5:12-21 esp 18-19 Again, it is God "Who has reconciled us TO HIMSELF through Jesus Christ. Again, "God was in Christ reconciling the world TO HIMSELF.
Notice Vs 21 Here is the ultimate why!!! For He (God the Father) made Him (His only begotten Son) Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God IN HIM." There’s that breastplate again!
Col 1:19-23 Here again is an extended explanation of reconciliation. We have been reconciled to our Father by the sacrifice of the body of his flesh through death (Vs 22). Now notice Vs 20 "having made peace through the blood of His cross."
Eph 2:14 "For HE HIMSELF is our PEACE."
This is the "Gospel of God" that Paul was called to preach. (Rom 1:1) This is why all of his letters start "Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is the Gospel of Christ" that is the Power of God unto salvation." God is no longer our enemy, nor we His, by the Blood and Righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ!!!
Rom 5:1 again!!! Therefore, having been justified by faith, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."
II Cor 5:20 After clearly laying out the truth that God has reconciled us to Himself, Paul becomes God’s appointed evangelist and exhorts his hearers, "therefore we ae ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God."
God has reconciled us to Himself, but Paul exhorts us to be reconciled to God. How can this be? Well just like everything else in our Life in Christ–by faith! "The Just shall live by faith" Rom 1:17 All is by grace through faith. We must BELIEVE this truth, assimilate it into our innermost being. Have our minds renewed by it. Live continually upon it. "This is the Work of God, that you believe on Him Whom He Sent." John 6:29
This is our prepared footing–We have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is that we may not slip, "but stand firm in the faith." (I Cor 16:13); stand in liberty where with Christ has made us free. (Gal 5:1); stand fast in one spirit, in one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. (Phil 1:27); stand fast in the Lord. (Phil 4:1); stand fast in the traditions of the apostles. (II Thess 2:15) And this firm footing, this Peace with God, is all by the Righteousness of our Great High Priest who Loved us and Gave Himself for us. AND THAT IS THE TRUTH!!! Gird up the loins of your mind with this truth!!!
Take heart in Paul's words in Rom 16:20: "And the GOD OF PEACE shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen"
"And may the GOD OF PEACE Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His Will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His Sight, through Jesus Christ: to Whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen."
Having Feet Shod with the Gospel of Peace Eph 6:15
Remember: Our being able to stand against the onslaught of our mortal enemy is dependent upon: 1. Our strength growing out of the Truth as it is in Jesus. He is our "Organic Truth that alone gives us strength. 2. Our being clothed in the righteousness and ministry of our Great High Priest Who has borne our judgement and wears our names in His Bosom. He alone is our Righteousness by His perfect work and sacrifice for us and made ours by faith in Him.
Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
Eph 6:15 Paul’s method here isn’t to give us separate, "stand alone" pieces of armor. He is rather laying out the whole of salvation, and how the Work of God has brought about our salvation and security in His Son, Christ Jesus. Each piece of armor must be understood in the context of the previous truths unveiled in this metaphor.
"Preparation". We are looking at what God has done to prepare the Gospel of Peace for His children.
Isa 59:8 In summing up Israel’s sin and departure from their God, we read, "The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace."
Psalm 85:10b Here we have the answer to Israel’s (and our) condition. "Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other" in our Man, our Intercessor from God’s own arm!!! Isa 59:16-17
The Apostle Paul’s explanation of this Preparation"
Rom 5:1 After explaining our Breastplate, the Righteousness by faith in chap. 1-4, he now states, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have Peace With God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1. When did this preparation become true? Vs 6 When we were without strength!
2. Why was this preparation necessary? Vs 8 Because we were sinners, but Vs 10 even worse than that, we were the enemies of God. We didn’t just do bad things against God’s Nature, we were at war with our Creator. Evolution, communism, socialism, even capitalism, all seek to replace the God Who gives to all, life, breath, and all things (Acts 17:25) as man’s focus of dependance. We hated the Light of God! (John 3:20) Therefore we stood condemned! (Jn 3:18)
3. How then did God prepare a way of peace for His adopted children?
Rom 5:10 ..."We were reconciled to God THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His Life."
II Cor 5:12-21 esp 18-19 Again, it is God "Who has reconciled us TO HIMSELF through Jesus Christ. Again, "God was in Christ reconciling the world TO HIMSELF.
Notice Vs 21 Here is the ultimate why!!! For He (God the Father) made Him (His only begotten Son) Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God IN HIM." There’s that breastplate again!
Col 1:19-23 Here again is an extended explanation of reconciliation. We have been reconciled to our Father by the sacrifice of the body of his flesh through death (Vs 22). Now notice Vs 20 "having made peace through the blood of His cross."
Eph 2:14 "For HE HIMSELF is our PEACE."
This is the "Gospel of God" that Paul was called to preach. (Rom 1:1) This is why all of his letters start "Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is the Gospel of Christ" that is the Power of God unto salvation." God is no longer our enemy, nor we His, by the Blood and Righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ!!!
Rom 5:1 again!!! Therefore, having been justified by faith, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."
II Cor 5:20 After clearly laying out the truth that God has reconciled us to Himself, Paul becomes God’s appointed evangelist and exhorts his hearers, "therefore we ae ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God."
God has reconciled us to Himself, but Paul exhorts us to be reconciled to God. How can this be? Well just like everything else in our Life in Christ–by faith! "The Just shall live by faith" Rom 1:17 All is by grace through faith. We must BELIEVE this truth, assimilate it into our innermost being. Have our minds renewed by it. Live continually upon it. "This is the Work of God, that you believe on Him Whom He Sent." John 6:29
This is our prepared footing–We have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is that we may not slip, "but stand firm in the faith." (I Cor 16:13); stand in liberty where with Christ has made us free. (Gal 5:1); stand fast in one spirit, in one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. (Phil 1:27); stand fast in the Lord. (Phil 4:1); stand fast in the traditions of the apostles. (II Thess 2:15) And this firm footing, this Peace with God, is all by the Righteousness of our Great High Priest who Loved us and Gave Himself for us. AND THAT IS THE TRUTH!!! Gird up the loins of your mind with this truth!!!
Take heart in Paul's words in Rom 16:20: "And the GOD OF PEACE shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen"
"And may the GOD OF PEACE Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His Will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His Sight, through Jesus Christ: to Whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen."