Ephesians 6:15 - Christian Armor Putting On Peace (Gospel Preparation and Proclamation).
Ephesians 6:15: Christian Armor " Putting On Peace (Gospel
Preparation and Proclamation).
Ephesians 6:15 (VOICE) and feet protected in preparation to
proclaim the good news of peace.
Ephesians 6:15 (NRSV) As shoes for your feet put on whatever
will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.
Ephesians 6:15 (GW) Put on your shoes so that you are ready to
spread the Good News that gives peace.
This verse is not altogether easy to understand. Literally it
reads: and having shod yourselves as to the feet in readiness of the
gospel of peace. But what is this readiness or preparation? It can
mean preparedness, for the term is applied to a ships tackling.
Part of the Christian soldiers equipment is his readiness to go
out at any moment to announce the Good News to others. As in
Ephesians 2:17, the apostle may be recalling Isaiah 52:7 with its
reference to the feet of the herald. It can also signify a prepared
foundation or base, [Expositors Bible Commentary]
A Roman soldiers feet were shod with hard, studded shoes.
Paul used this image to represent the preparation of the gospel of
peace. This may mean either that the gospel is the firm foundation on
which Christians are to stand or that the Christian soldier should be
ready to go out to defend and spread the gospel. [Nelson SB]
That the apostle has obedience to the Gospel in general in view,
there can be no doubt; but he appears to have more than this, a
readiness to publish the Gospel: for, How beautiful upon the mountains are
the feet of him that bringeth good things, that publisheth PEACE;
that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that
saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Adam
Clarke Commentary)
The sandals were a sign of readiness"readiness to march and
to do battle. The Roman sandals were made with nails that gripped
the ground firmly even when it was sloping or slippery. The sign of
the Christian soldier is readiness"a readiness to march and to
bear witness to the gospel. Wherever the Christian soldiers feet
take him, he shares the gospel that can firmly ground a world reeling
under the weight of desperate need and conflict.
Lehman Strauss makes a statement about this point that
startles the mind of modern man: The soldiers shoes are not the
dancing slippers of this world or the lounging slippers of the slothful,
but the shoes of the Christian warrior who knows Christ and makes
Him known. [Preachers Outline & Sermon Bible]
Believers also need special "shoes" -- the readiness that comes
from the gospel of peace. The Word of God is the gospel, or Good
News, that brings peace. In other words, believers are ready for
battle because "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard [their] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:7
NKJV). They can stand firm, with peace, even in hand-to-hand combat,
because they know that they are doing right and that they are on the
winning side. Christians are in the battle both with the inner peace
Christ has already given and the desire to produce that peace in the
hearts of others. This can only happen as they share this "gospel of
peace" with those who have not yet heard and accepted it. (Life
Application Commentary)
Sandals were the sign of one equipped and ready to move. The
sign of the Christian is that he is eager to be on the way to share
the gospel with others who have not heard it. [Barclay Commentary]
The shoes - enables us to share the Good News of God's
delivering power with others. By sharing our story, we give hope to others
while also strengthening our own recovery. [Life Recovery SB]
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES AND SEMINARS
Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq
Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/
ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com
