Armor of God- Gospel of Peace

Roman Shoes

Caligea: Thick hob-nailed leather sandal/boot used by roman soldiers. Many scholars credit the caligea of the Roman Soldiers as one of their most important advances in military technology

designed of sandal: durability, breathability and blister prevention

Ensured sure-footing even in challenging terraing (slopes, mud, etc)

Bottom of the sole had metal spikes to ensure sure-footing even in challenging terrain (slopes, mud, etc)

Ensured sure-footing even in challenging terrain (slopes, mud, etc)

in formation a soldier loosing his footing would be potentially fatal, not just to himself but to the men beside him

allow him to remain firm behind his shield during an enemy charge

allow him to slowly and methodically push his enemy back

spikes also helped provide protection to his feet in rocky/rough terrain

“Readiness”

to prepare, to make ready

image of roots, planted, firm, ready for whatever comes

3 times paul urges them to stand. the battle is to remain firm, to remain standing, to advance and not give ground

Dictionary of Bible Themes 8329 readiness

readiness

A state of preparedness for future needs or happenings, whether predictable or uncertain. God through Jesus Christ prepared all that was necessary for the salvation of sinners. God’s people are exhorted to be ready for warfare (physical and spiritual), death and the second coming of Jesus Christ. All humanity should be ready for future judgment.

The word readiness implies constant vigilance. A victorious soldier had to be prepared for battle. He had to have studied his enemy’s strategy, be confident in his own strategy, and have his feet firmly planted so that he could hold his ground when the attacks came. A soldier’s battle shoes were studded with nails or spikes, like cleats, to help him keep his balance in combat. He knew that, if he lost his footing and went down, it wouldn’t matter how great the rest of his armor was; the enemy had him. When we are ready with the gospel of peace, we live with the understanding that we are continually under attack from Satan. says to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.”

Gospel of Peace

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister” ().

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so bwalk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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.

One in Christ

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Gospel of Peace is rooted in God’s word

The good news of peace is that when Christ died and shed his blood for sin, two kinds of enmity were overcome. The enmity between God and repentant sinners was brought to an end. And the enmity between races and factions in Christ was brought to an end. So Christ became our peace. That is the gospel of peace.

Life is war, from cradle to the grave. But the battle is not against flesh and blood, its against the dominion of darkness.