The Gospel of Peace
Eph. 6:15
Introduction
Our website suffered some technical problems which your servant cannot solve. By God’s grace I have a brother in Christ who is always ready to serve and help. Thank you very much Bro. Jay Mabazza for all your help. God bless you and your family. Hopefully, throughout the year, there will be no more problems like what happened just after Christmas till yesterday.
We continue our study regarding our Spiritual Weapon or sometimes we call it the “whole armour of God”. We have taken “truth” (the girdle of truth), and the breastplate of righteousness. Today we will talk about our feet shod with the preparation of the “gospel of peace “which is crucial to our ability to “stand”.
I. Boots with nails
A. Roman soldier wore a heavy soled boot which had metal studs on the bottom for good footing on uneven or slippery ground. This shoe was known in Latin as Caligula. The Roman foot soldier is called Caligatus.
1. This boot was never designed for running.
2. It is never designed for retreat.
3. In application, Christians are never to turn back. We are to move forward always. All the time. No retreat, no surrender. Remember our Hymn “Onward Christian Soldier”.
B. Preparation
1. This means full preparedness, being able to march great distances in order, with others, and over a long period of time, to use weapons effectively.
2. As Christians we must always be prepared. Prepared for what? Prepared for every opportunity where we can serve the Lord, by sharing the Gospel of peace.
3. Preparation implies the ability to fight. Preparation means flexibility and the ability to use God’s Word in witnessing. Knowledge of the basic doctrines of salvation is necessary for witnessing.
4. The most basic thing for a witness is to know how to tell about Salvation to the unsaved.
5. The easiest and the quickest for me is to know the Roman Road. I have used this effectively while witnessing, so I’m sharing it to you here even I know that most of you are already familiar with it.
6. The Romans Road
a. Every human is a sinner. – Romans 3:23
b. God’s penalty for sin is death. – Romans 6:23
c. In His great love, God has made provision for the salvation of sinners. –
Romans 5:8
d. Each person must put his trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. – Romans 10:9-10,13.
7. In addition, a witness must have knowledge of the fundamentals of faith like, the infallibility of the Bible, the deity of and virgin birth of Christ, His substitutionary death on the cross, and His second coming.
Illustration: The Marks of a Witness
1. A witness must have a first-hand experience of Christ. Hearsay is not acceptable in a court of law, nor in the court of this world’s opinion. People will listen only to what we have personally seen and
heard.
2. A witness must be able to express himself verbally. We may witness effectively through our lives, our work, our relationships, our attitudes, our suffering and even our death, yet we must still “be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you.” We must do so “with gentleness and respect,” and with the integrity of our lives demonstrating the truth of our words.
3. A witness will have confidence in the power of God. He relies on the power of the message of Christ and him crucified, and the power of the Holy Spirit. He knows that God can break through any defences, and change any heart. This confidence will not be brash, but humble and sensitive, marked
by much prayer. He knows that without God he can do nothing, but that with God all things are possible.
4. A witness will have compassion for the spiritually lost. He will care for them as individuals who matter deeply to God: made in his image, redeemed by his Son, and to be indwelt by his Spirit.
David Watson, Called & Committed: World-Changing Discipleship, (Harold Shaw Publishers, Wheaton, IL; 1982), pp. 142-143
II. The Gospel of peace
A. We are all commanded to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mk. 16:15”
B. No one is exempted. Every Christian is in full time Christian service, always on the front line.
C. Gospel means glad tidings. The gospel is God’s power unto salvation. (Rom. 1:16-17).
D. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the glad tidings that Jesus Christ died for man’s sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again from the dead to be the Saviour of those who receive Him (1 Cor. 15:1-11).
E. It is the message of free righteousness for those who trust Christ (Ro 1:15-17). It is also called:
1. “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24),
2. “the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:7),
3. “the gospel of God” (2 Cor. 11:7),
4. “the gospel of peace” (Rom. 10:15),
5. “the glorious gospel” (2 Cor. 4:4),
6. “the gospel of salvation” (Eph. 1:13).
F. Each of these names emphasizes different aspects of the same gospel.
1. “gospel of the grace of God” emphasizes that true salvation is a free gift of God’s grace (Eph. 2:8-9).
2. The gospel is grace alone through faith alone without admixture of works (Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; 4:5-16; 11:6; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7).
3. Any addition to the gospel of the grace of Christ is cursed of God (Gal. 1:6-11).
G. Armed with the gospel, we can have “beautiful feet” than enables us to take the glad tidings to others. (Rom. 10:15).
Illustration: The Infidel
The strongest argument for the Gospel of Christ is the personal testimony of someone whose life has been changed by it. Charles Bradlaugh, an avowed infidel, once challenged the Rev. H. P. Hughes to adebate. The preacher, who was head of a rescue mission in London, England, accepted the challenge
with the condition that he could bring with him 100 men and women who would tell what had happened in their lives since trusting Christ as their Saviour. They would be people who once lived in deep sin, some having come from poverty-stricken homes caused by the vices of their parents. Hughes
said they would not only tell of their conversion, but would submit to cross-examination by any who doubted their stories. Furthermore, the minister invited his opponent to bring a group of nonbelievers who could tell how they were helped by their lack of faith. When the appointed day arrived,
the preacher came, accompanied by 100 transformed persons. But Bradlaugh never showed up. The result? The meeting turned into a testimony time and many sinners who had gathered to hear the scheduled debate were converted.
III. Conclusion:
We must bring the gospel of peace to the unsaved people. But before we can do that, we must be prepared for there will always be heavy oppositions from our enemies. Are you willing to bring the gospel of peace out there? It’s our mission as long as we live
