Speaker: Sia Kim Pu — The Armor of God, Part 2
- Ephesians 6:13–16
What Is the Gospel?
What is the gospel, and why is it called the Good News?
The gospel means Good News. The word “gospel” comes from Old English, with roots in the idea of good news. So why do we call the salvation of Jesus Christ the Good News?
The Good News is that Jesus has paid our debt for us.
We are sinners, and we cannot save ourselves. We cannot pay for our own sins or save ourselves through our own efforts. But Jesus paid the price for us. That is why the gospel is Good News. It is the gospel of peace.
Why Is It Called the Gospel of Peace?
If you died right now, where would you go? If you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you have the promise of eternal life with Him.
The Good News is that we do not have to live in fear of our future because Jesus has paid for our sins. When we understand the gospel, we can have peace in our lives.
If you do not believe and are still worried about your future, you may constantly ask yourself, “What if I die tomorrow or next week?” But when you understand the Good News of Jesus Christ, you can have peace because your salvation is in Him.
Why Did Paul Talk About Our Feet Being Fitted?
In Ephesians 6:15, Paul talks about having our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
If you understand the gospel, it becomes a foundation for your life. Like shoes that help a soldier stand firm during battle, the gospel gives us a firm foundation and helps us stand in peace.
If someone steps on your shoes or knocks them off, it becomes harder to stand firmly. In the same way, we need to be firmly grounded in the gospel so that we can stand strong in our faith.
Paul also compares this to the footwear of Roman soldiers, which helped them stand firmly and move forward during battle.
Our purpose is not only to receive the gospel but also to share it with others. Wherever you go, you can tell people about Jesus.
You were born into this world with a purpose: to share the gospel. Whether you are at school, at work, or somewhere else, you can share the Good News with others.
- Romans 10:15
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
1. Stand in the Peace Jesus Has Made
When we talk about peace, what comes to mind? Quietness? Silence? A place without noise?
Real peace is not simply the absence of noise or problems. True peace is knowing the love of Jesus in your life, wherever you go.
Even in the middle of your mess, you can still have peace. You can have peace because you know that God is with you and that He is working in your life.
When you know that God is handling your situation, you can trust Him and have peace even when things are difficult.
The more you know God, the more you understand His love and the peace He gives you. Our peace does not depend on everything around us being perfect. It comes from knowing Jesus and trusting Him.
2. Trust the Strong Savior
- Genesis 15:1
- Ephesians 6:15–16
Genesis 15:1 reminds us that God told Abraham not to be afraid because He was his shield and his very great reward.
A shield protects a soldier during battle. In the same way, God is our protector. He covers us, guides us, and helps us stand firm.
Think about a screen protector on a phone. It helps protect the screen from damage. In a similar way, we can think about God’s protection and how we can trust Him to care for us.
God is greater than anything we face. We may not always understand what He is doing, but we can trust Him because He is strong and faithful.
Abraham is known as the father of faith, but he still had moments of doubt and uncertainty. Having questions or struggling to understand God’s timing does not automatically mean that someone has no faith. Sometimes, we believe in God but struggle to trust His timing.
When we talk about faith, it does not always make sense to us. That is why we must learn to trust God even when we cannot see the whole picture.
What Can Challenge Our Faith?
Doubt:
Sometimes, we question God or struggle to understand what He is doing. We need to remember that God is faithful even when we do not understand His timing.
Fear:
Fear can make us worry about the future and what might happen. But God reminds us that He is our shield and protector.
Temptation:
Temptation can pull us away from God and cause us to compromise our faith. We need to stand firm in what we believe.
Shame:
Sometimes, we feel so much shame because of our sins that we feel weighed down by them. But the Bible teaches us that Jesus took the punishment for our sins through His sacrifice on the cross.
We may still feel shame, but we can bring that shame to Jesus and remember that His blood was shed for our forgiveness. We do not have to let our past sins define us when we have received His grace and forgiveness.
Peer Pressure:
Peer pressure can cause us to compromise our faith just to fit in with a group. We may be afraid of being different or standing up for what we believe.
But we need to remember who we are in Christ and stand firm in our faith, even when others do not agree with us.