Ephesians 6:14-15 - conclusion

To understand what Paul meant by readiness that comes from the gospel of peace we must go back to the source in the Torah. The Jews were told to eat the Passover with their sandals on. (Exodus 12:11[notes1] ) They were experiencing redemption and were about to escape from the hands of their enemy. The gospel of peace makes us able to escape the clutches of the enemy of our soul. We are ready to meet the Lord in the air or be called to our heavenly home.

Here is that readiness to give an account of the hope that we have. The life of the believer that stands his or her ground, with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and their feet shod with the readiness given by the gospel of peace is quite different from that of the world. They shine with the light of the Lord. (Ecclesiastes 8:1[notes2] ) They are ready to not only to withstand the enemy’s attacks, but to rescue others as well by sharing what the Lord has done for them. And they are ready to meet the LORD.

When we stand His ground with truth, and righteousness, and readiness, we are proclaiming that there is abundant life for those who seek truth. The truth we proclaim matches the reality we see in the world. Our righteousness from Jesus gives us an abiding joy. The Gospel of Peace makes us ready for anything the enemy throws at us.

We’ll see next Sunday that all this armor is really something of Jesus. He is truth. He is our righteousness. He is the good news of peace with God. Live in Jesus. Suit up in Jesus and stand His ground! (Romans 13:14[notes3] )

Ephesians 6:14-15 - continued

If you have on Jesus’ righteousness, and the enemy of your soul comes and accuses you for some sin that you gave in to, then you can remind him that he is a liar, because your sins were nailed to the cross, and you have vicariously received the righteousness of Christ. (2Corinthians 5:21[notes1] ) He wants you down in the dumps and defeated emotionally because then you are ineffective at influencing others for Jesus. Put on the breastplate of righteousness!

I’m not saying you are free to go on sinning. I am saying that if this breastplate is of your own righteousness, then there will be times when the enemy can deal you with some serious blows. Make sure you are relying on the Lord’s righteousness. At the same time, we should be living a righteous life by the power of the Spirit so as not to give the enemy an opportunity, as well as to be a witness of the power of God to transform our life. (4:27[notes2] )

¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. My grandfather grew up in Oak Creek Canyon and seldom had shoes. His feet developed tough callouses. In World War 1, the podiatrist that was assigned to his company examined his feet. Everyone had their feet examined regularly because the army traveled on their feet. If their feet were bad they became slow and even ineffective. The podiatrist told him he wished the whole army had feet like these because they’d be undefeatable. (no pun intended) Feet and footwear are vital to an army.

The Roman army was ready for action when they put on their sandals. They were then ready to march into battle. A wounded foot would put the soldier off balance. He would be slow and unable to attack or retreat to fight again.

Paul says that our footwear is the readiness given by the gospel of peace. The good news of peace with God comes through the cross of Christ. (Romans 5:1[notes3] ) It is because He bore our sins in our place and the wrath of God upon them. Why does that make us ready? – check in tomorrow to find the Old Testament background for this readiness.