The Gospel of Peace

If you are just joining us, we are studying the Armor of God in our Sunday Adult Bible Fellowships and in the Youth Group. Previously, we took more of an overview of the armor, the belt of truth, and the breastplate of righteousness. This month we are going to be looking at having “your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.”

Ephesians 6:10–18 CSB

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. 18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

Eph 6:1-

We are going to focus on verse 15 briefly this morning.

The word hypodeō, translated in the CSB as “sandaled”, in the Greek language means preparation.

hypodeō

hypodeō (hypodeo) - sandaled, preparation

Be ready for action

It indicates that the believer is to be ready for action. What action are we to be at a state of readiness for?

We are to be ready at any moment to take the good news of peace to others.

Isaiah 52:7 CSB

7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the herald, who proclaims peace, who brings news of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

We are to be ready at any moment to take the good news of peace to others.

It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings peace to the hearts of people. The peace of Christ through the acceptance of the gospel is starkly contrasted to the chaos in the world. If we look at the world around us, it seems very chaotic. Everything feels like it is on the brink. Yet, if we have and hold to the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have a hope that transcends the chaos of this world. There was the old hymn writer who said, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” I completly trust in Jesus who had promised me that this world is not all there is.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is what gives us a firm foothold.

The Roman soldier’s sandals were more like cleats. They would have nails through the soles of the sandals to give them a firm foothold. They would prevent the soldiers feet from sliding. The gospel is what gives us a firm foothold to fight against evil. It keeps us grounded. It teaches us what is truth and what is fiction. It is our firm foundation.

What is the gospel?

Gospel means “good news.”

What is the good news?

One of the earliest Christians confessions of the gospel of Jesus Christ is found in .

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 CSB

3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.

1 Corinthians 15:4–8 CSB

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.

1 Cor 15:

1. Jesus died for our sins.

1.

Jesus didn’t just die as a natural process of life. His death had a purpose. His death and the shedding of his blood was the payment for our sins. Everyone has sinned. Sin is in our very nature. If God didn’t do something, we all would die in our sins and be eternally condemned. Jesus came to earth, the Son of God, he lived a perfect life, and gave his life to ransom us. Through his death our sins were paid.

2. Jesus was buried.

The second element of the gospel is that Jesus was buried. Why is this important? So no one could say that Jesus faked his death. No one can say Jesus just fainted on the cross and was revived. Jesus died and he was buried. It looked as if sin and death had won.

3. Jesus was raised from the dead.

Praise the Lord that death has no victory. Sin and death were conquered by Jesus. Jesus was raised from the dead to prove that everything he said is true. He is the Son of God and God accepted his sacrifice as the payment for our sins.

4. Many people witnessed the risen Jesus.

Paul is saying that you don’t have to take his word that Jesus rose from the dead. At the time of Paul’s writing, there were many people still alive who were first hand witnesses of the risen Savior.

This is the gospel. This is the good news. You sin debt has been paid by Jesus. Jesus has made the way for everything to be as it was intended to be at the beginning. You don’t have to die for your sins. You can live. The good news is that Jesus died so that you don’t have to. The good news is that Jesus rose from the dead to give you life.

Finally, as we talk about being ready to share the gospel and stand firm in the gospel, I want to review with you our 4x4 strategy for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

The reality is that most churches have a field of dreams strategy for outreach – “if we build it, they will come.” If we have a nice building, a great website, and a good location; people will come to the church. We need to realize most unchurched people will not step foot in this building. 40% of Laredoians do not identify with any religion; that means at least 40% of the people of Laredo are simply lost. Most likely the number is higher than that because only 11% of Laredoians identify as evangelical Christian. We need to realize that most of the people of Laredo will not step foot in this building, so if all we do is have worship and Bible study, we are doing nothing to reach the lost – which is the main mission of the church. If we are expecting people to come to Christ based on Sunday and Wednesday programing, then we have made a bad plan. Effective evangelism must begin in relationships between Christians and unbelievers -– beyond church buildings.

We need to have a shift in approach. Each one of us needs to be equipped to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ – that is the point of the 4x4 strategy – to equip you with the tools you need to reach people for Jesus Christ.

4x4 Strategy

1. Identify

Identify 4 people who are unchurched. Identify 4 people who you think do not know Jesus as their Savior.

2. Intercede

Pray for their salvation.

3. Invest

Invest your life in theirs. Invest your time and money in their lives – not your tithe – above and beyond the 10% of your income you are to be giving to the church.

4. Invite

Invite them to Sunday School, to worship, and to experience forgiveness of their sins available to them through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:15 CSB

15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.

Introduce Pastor Felipe