EVANGELISM (Part 3).

 

READY TO MOVE WITH THE GOSPEL. 

I think it means, "Let your feet be ready to move with the gospel." Feet are for moving from one place to another. If you put on shoes of readiness, then the idea would seem to be readiness to do what feet are for, namely, moving. And if the readiness is readiness of the gospel it probably means ready to move with the gospel—move with gospel power and for gospel purposes.

Let me show you two or three reasons why I think this is the right interpretation.

The Background of Isaiah 52:7

It's almost certain that Paul has in mind here the words of Isaiah 52:7 ,

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

Here we have a picture of the feet of people who are running to bring good news, and the good news is good news of peace. Surely this is where Paul got his imagery. And if so, then the "readiness of the gospel of peace" is surely a readiness to move with the gospel, a readiness to tell the good news, and publish peace and say "God reigns!"

The Structure of Colossians 3–4

Here's another reason I think this is what Paul has in mind, and this is really interesting. Notice in Ephesians 6 that the passage on spiritual warfare comes right after the passage on husbands and wives, children and parents, and masters and slaves. Well, if you turn to Colossians 3, near the end you see that the same three pairs are dealt with—wives and husbands (3:18–19), children and parents (3:20–21), and masters and slaves (3:22–4:1). But then instead of a paragraph on spiritual armor Paul calls for vigilant prayer (4:2–4), and look what he says in verses 5–6,

Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.

Here in a context much like the one in Ephesians is an exhortation to be alert to how you can be the salt of the earth, to answer unbelievers' questions, and to make the most of the time for the sake of Christ. This is what I think Paul means by the readiness of the gospel of peace. Being prepared and being alert and ready to talk about the gospel.

A Parallel in 1 Peter 3:15

One last confirmation: In 1 Peter 3:15 the very word "ready" is used in the same kind of exhortation. "Always be ready to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence."

So, coming back to Ephesians 6:15 I have lol one last observation. The armor of God is given to us believers to help us stand against the devil. It is introduced as defensive armor. Verse 13: "Take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." How to stay standing is the issue.

So what can we conclude from the fact that the shoes of verse 15 are the readiness to move with the gospel of peace? I conclude this. A ready offense is an essential part of a successful defense. And O how true this is!

Giving the gospel away is one of the best ways of experiencing its power in your own life. The best way to taste the power of God for your own soul is to venture something on it. It's the great old truth of the Lord himself when he said, "He who loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." The more ready we are to move with the gospel, the more life and power and joy and security we will know in the gospel.

In giving we will receive. In dying we will live. And in telling the gospel we will hear it again with O so much more depth and power and joy.

How lovely on the mountains

are the feet of him

who brings good news, good news,

proclaiming peace,

announcing news of happiness:

Our God reigns! Our God reigns! Beginning a Series on Evangelism

The Context of Having Our Feet Shod

Having Our Feet Shod with "Readiness"

Experiencing the Power of the Gospel

How Has Social Media Changed Bible Reading?

     

                                                        (The end).   

 

‘DecencyWrites’.