And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15 NIV)
Previously, I discussed the first two pieces of armor listed in Ephesians 6, the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. This time I want to examine the third piece of armor, which is having your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Once again here is some information from MercyDrops.org about the importance of the proper footware for the Roman soldier.
"Covering the feet in battle was absolutely essential. A soldier would not go into battle without his shoes. In the case of the Roman soldier, the shoes were more like sandals with spikes in the bottom, akin to football cleats. These 'cleats' were to help the soldier maintain his balance and his footing.
"We are told in Scripture to have our feet covered with the 'readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace.' (NIV) or 'Shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.' (KJV)
"This peace helps you to maintain your balance and your footing in war against the enemy, Satan, who wants you to stumble."
The peace of God comes only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We were separated from God because of our sin, but Jesus paid the price for our sin and opened the door for us to find peace with God. I think it is important to see these Scripture references related to the peace of God.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5 NIV)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:11-18 NIV)
What do these verses tell us?
No longer is there hostility between God and man for those who accept the finished work of the cross. Through faith in the blood of Jesus we are at peace with God.
- We were separated from God by sin.
- We were without hope and without God.
- Jesus bore the punishment for our peace with God.
- Jesus is our peace.
- His work on the cross made provision for peace with God.
- Jesus preached the good news of peace with God.
It is always advantageous to fully understand our legal position before God. God is love, and he is merciful and gracious, but he is also holy. Because he is holy, he could not forgive us and redeem us from sin without the proper legal sacrifice. Otherwise his holiness would have been compromised. The only acceptable sacrifice in the universe was the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. According to God's system of justice, the penalty for sin had to be paid. Sin brings judgement. According to the legal system of heaven, God could not simply wink at our sin and allow us to experience his eternal life. Someone had to pay the penalty. Since God loves us so dearly he sent Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sin. Jesus lived a sinless human life and was the perfect sacrifice for our sins on the cross of Calvary. Without the cross, we would be doomed for eternity.
Before the the cross and our acceptance of Jesus, our legal position was that of an enemy of God. (See James 4:4) Truly, we were without hope and without God in this world. But, now our legal position is that of a forgiven, redeemed, born again child of God. We are now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We stand before the throne of God, and we stand in battle against Satan clothed with the righteousness of Jesus, our feeted fitted with the gospel of his peace. We lack nothing in God.
At times it may be necessary to remind Satan of your legal position in Christ. Satan will remind you of your past. Satan will remind you of your current struggles with sin. Our pastor recently said that when Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his past. Through the work of the cross, Paul said, And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:15 NIV) Remind Satan that Jesus defeated him at Calvary. Jesus disarmed the enemy of our souls and made a public spectacle of Satan and his forces.
Also, our pastor said to remind Satan of his future. The apostle, John, said, And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10 NIV)
Remember your legal position before God. You are redeemed. You are forgiven. You have victory in Jesus. You are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. The full resources of heaven support you as you stand in warfare against the enemy, while his legal position is that of a defeated foe.
I conclude with two verses of Scripture. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:19-20 NIV)
Rejoice in your legal position. If you know Jesus, then you enjoy the position of peace with God.
Next time I will examine some of schemes the enemy attempts to use to rob the believer of the peace of God.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org
Wisdom From the Word
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