By: Chris Ottenstroer
Stand Firm – Ephesians 6:15 – 7/16 Sermon Summary
Ephesians 6:15, “15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.” (ESV) OR “15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” (KJV)
In this verse Paul encourages us to ‘put on’ or to ‘shod’ our feet with the preparation or the readiness of the gospel of peace.
Another way to say that would be to say:
The gospel GIVES US or the gospel of peace IS that which prepares and enables us to STAND and WITHSTAND in this evil day.
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
There is no doubt that the Apostle is talking about a roman soldier. He would have been chained to a soldier, usually one on each side of him. These soldiers would have been wearing all of their armor or equipment. All of what would have been required to be a good soldier and to be ready for battle.
And specifically on his feet he would have worn a certain type of sandal.
The sole of these sandals would have been covered with stubs or small metal nubs that stuck out of the bottom of the sandal. This provided the solider with traction or firmness of footing.
It prevented the solider from slipping or sliding or falling when performing his duties or when in battle. (See image)
The spiritual application for us is that the Gospel of peace is our equipment. It’s what we are to ‘put on’… It’s what we are to KNOW and UNDERSTAND and CHERISH and RECALL to our mind, it’s the gospel of peace that gives us our firm footing, our stability, our steadfastness, and enables us to STAND and to Withstand the schemes of the devil.
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL OF PEACE?
Paul labors in the early parts of this letter to open for us the glories of the gospel of peace. Take some time and read through the first few chapters SLOWLY. Write down everything that Paul reveals as true about the Christian. This is what is true about YOU!
Here are some to get you started:
Every spiritual blessing is ours in Christ. He chose us before he made the world. He predetermined to adopt you into his family. He redeemed you. He has forgiven you. He has lavished us with the riches of his grace. He’s given you an inheritance in Christ. He sealed your union with Christ by sending the Holy Spirit into your hearts. The Holy Spirit is your guarantee of the inheritance! GLORIOUS!!
And all of this while, ‘You were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
This friends, IS THE GOSPEL OF PEACE! This is the Gospel of God.
Because of Christ… “you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace…”
HOW DO WE PUT THIS ON OR SHOD OUR FEET WITH THIS?
Paul prays in the first chapter, “that the 18 eyes of your hearts be enlightened… that you may KNOW what is the hope to which he has called you, (that you may know) what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and (that you may know) what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might…
This is a knowledge that goes beyond simple intellectual ascent… He wants the roots of what you know to grow down deep in your heart… deep roots keep the tree standing in the storm!
He wants you to “18 have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
It must first enter the mind before it takes root in the heart and enables us to Stand and Withstand when the attack of the enemy is upon us.
