Put on the Gospel of Peace

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph 6:11

Ephesians 6:15 (KJV)15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Ephesians 6:15 (NLT)15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared.

This passage refers to a believer's stability or sure footedness from the gospel which gives him peace so he can stand in the battle.

Anyone in battle must have surefootedness or stability to avoid falling and becoming defenseless. Anyone can walk on level ground, but our life is tested in the mountains, water, fire, sharp rocks, ice, fatigue, wind, etc.., you get the picture. Unfortunately, because we have a spiritual enemy, life is not about level ground, but about keeping our faith in the midst of the battle, regardless of the terrain. The Scripture infers, that we can stand only if we have the peace that comes from the Gospel. Only the Gospel has the inherent power to bring real stability and peace to our lives.

Why does the Gospel bring peace or have the power to bring peace.

The Gospel alone brings peace for the Gospel alone, solves the dilemma of our sinfulness. The cross is God's answer for our sin and our guilt. God's answer is forgiveness through perfect blood atonement. Forgiveness is real for those who accept Christ, they are then adopted into the family of God.

The Gospel reconciles us to God.

We cannot wage an effective war against darkness if we have never obtained peace with God. Peace with God is the result of accepting God's provision for our sinfulness; His provision for our sinfulness is the Person of Jesus Christ. In order to stand against darkness, we must settle the question of our salvation.

The Gospel of peace must be fully accepted as that work of God that removes all guilt and forever settles all questions of our sinfulness. With forgiveness we are  reconciled to and at peace with God. If we are going to he healthy spiritually, we must, once and for all, come to grips with the claims of the Gospel regarding our acceptance with God!!

Fundamental Questions of Life Are Answered

The fundamental questions of life can be satisfactorily answered only in the context of peace with God. The Gospel answers our most fundamental questions:

  • How can I know the Lord?
  • How can I please Him?

These questions must be answered in order to have surefootedness and stability in life.

The Gospel is a Gift

The Gospel is God's gift to us. It is His answer to our sinfulness and our search to be free from our sinfulness. The answer is simple-we have to die. There is no other answer, no other plan. It is through atonement, death, that we are released from our guilt.

Colossians 1:21-22 (NKJV) 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

The Cross Satisfies

Death is the penalty for sin.  God set the penalty and is completely and forever satisfied with the cross as an atonement for sin. With the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, we are completely forgiven, and God is completely satisfied with the atonement made by His Son. Once we die, there is no more penalty for we are released from guilt.

Guilt for sin, applies only to a person that is alive. Once the person is dead all guilt is resolved.

It is as we are joined to Christ in His death, that we are counted as having died, and released from the guilt and penalty of sin.

Romans 6:3-4 (GNB)3 For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death. 4 By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.

We are joined to Christ in His death, and in this way, our sin is atoned for. There is no more payment, death satisfies all claims, all demands for justice are met.

It is through forgiveness, and the justification that follows, that we have peace with God.

Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV)1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God

The Devil attacks the message of the Gospel by attacking the identity of Christ, the effectiveness of His work, and the reality of forgiveness. Forgiveness alone makes us right with God, and it is this truth that results in peace with God. It is through a good understanding of the Gospel that we are able to battle the lies of darkness, and stand in the freedom and acceptance the Gospel brings.

If We are Going To Stand, Our Acceptance Must Be Real

We must know we are completely accepted by God. If we know that God is on our side, then we can fight darkness, otherwise, we have no foundation for strength. It is the Gospel that provides the foundation from which we battle the Enemy of our soul. If we have peace with God, then we know we're going to win, and therefore, can wage an effective battle.

Luke 4:18-19 (KJV)18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord .

A lack of stability is an evidence of not relating to life from the Gospel. Lack of stability comes from not being emotionally dependent or intellectually dependent on the Gospel. We must not only know we are accepted by God, but we must also feel accepted in order to be a healthy and strong Christian. If we are not emotionally and intellectually dependent on the Gospel, then we cannot effectively resist the arguments of darkness. Our enemy will argue points that only the Gospel can address. It is important that we correctly diagnose the problem so we can receive the proper treatment.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

It is God's counsel that we put on the full armor of God that we might stand against the lies of darkness. The Gospel of Peace provides the only foundation that resolves the sin question and therefore provides peace to our soul. Because we have peace with God we are able to stand against the wiles of the devil. This is God's message to us about the importance of peace in our war against the Devil.

God bless you as you faithfully run the race set before you!

Let us move on to faith, for it is by faith that we live-the just will live by faith.

ROM 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1Cor 1:17-24 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

GAL 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. GAL 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

GAL 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Phil 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; COL 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

2Tim 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

1Pet 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you

Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; COL 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

2Cor 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 2Cor 5:18 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

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