The Battle Plan (TBP) - Preparation of the Gospel of Peace, Part 2

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

What Is The Gospel of Peace?

What Does The Gospel of Peace Do?

The Gospel of Peace Leads to Faith - Gives us something to believe in.

The Gospel of Peace Leads to Love - Gives us something to live for.

The Gospel of Peace Leads to Hope - Gives us something to look forward to.

How Are We To Share The Gospel of Peace?

What Is The Gospel of Peace? (I Corinthians 15:1-8)

The Gospel

Christ died for our sins

He was buried

He was raised on the third day and appeared to many at different times

What Does The Gospel of Peace Do?

Although broken down into its components, it is an all or nothing proposition. These might be the different elements of salvation, but they are all included in salvation. In other words you cannot have one without the others.

The Gospel of Peace Leads to Faith (5:1-2) - Gives us something to believe in

Jesus Died For Our Sins - Death

Death on the cross

Death to the curse

Justification - Faith - Freedom from the penalty of sin

Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB95

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Legal Term

Declared “Not Guilty”

Declared righteous

“Just as if I’d” never sinned

Past Tense

Because of what Jesus did in the past for us

A beginning point with ongoing results.

Association with Jesus. A relationship with Jesus.

Menu - Guaranteed Eternal Life

Victory - Over sin

The Gospel of Peace Leads to Love (5:3-5) - gives us something to live for.

Jesus Was Buried

Dying to our self (selfishness) - love thinks of others as more important than ourselves.

Dying to our flesh (corrupt and inordinate desires) - love wants what’s best for others and will sacrifice temporary pleasure and comfort in order to bless others.

Romans 8:12–13 NASB95

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Colossians 3:5 NASB95

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

Sanctification - Love - Freedom from the power of sin

Romans 12:9–11 NASB95

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Moral Term

Holy

To be made clean/pure

Process of becoming like Jesus

Love as Christ Loved us.

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 5:1–2 NASB95

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Present

Because of what the Holy Spirit is doing in the present.

Beginning point and ending point.

Filled with / walk in / alive with the Holy Spirit.

Appetizer - Sampling of the Abundant Life

1 Corinthians 13:12 NASB95

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Victory - Over self and society

Rejoice in our tribulations/afflictions

to crush, press, or squeeze

evils by which this experience comes

can affect body, mind, or both

tends to be more about suffering for being a believer in Jesus than just suffering in general

But both are in play here.

Tribulations brings about perseverance

To bear up under a burden

Endurance of circumstances

Perseverance brings about proven character

a quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.

James 1:2–4 NASB95

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

flip back to previous slide

Proven character brings about hope.

The Gospel of Peace Leads to Hope (5:2, 4-5) - gives us something to look forward to.

Jesus Was Raised On The Third Day - Resurrection

death to death

Glorification - Hope - Freedom from the presence of sin.

Metaphysical Term

We will be transformed to be like Christ’s glorious body.

Philippians 3:20–21 NASB95

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

1 Corinthians 15:51–54 NASB95

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.

Mortal to immortal - cannot die

Perishable to imperishable - will not decay

Future

Because of what God will do. A future event.

The resurrection of Jesus means we will also be resurrected.

Final transformation of body and character to look like Jesus.

Looking forward to no more pain and suffering.

Meal - the realization of the Promised Life

Victory - over Satan

Hope Does Not Disappoint (5:5, 8)

The love of God poured out within our hearts.

1 Peter 1:3–5 (NASB95)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Hope = God’s CPR on our souls that brings us back to life, through Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, guaranteeing an inheritance that has been RSVP’d for us waiting for us in heaven, AND we are protected by God through faith in this life until we are ready to receive it.

God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s love for us demonstrated in our lives is the proof that we can have hope for God fulfilling everything He has promised.

God’s faithfulness to us.

How Are We To Share The Gospel of Peace?

2 methods (of many)

Wordless bracelet - Have you heard of threads of hope?

Bridge model - one verse evangelism

The Bridge Method

Interesting that Peter starts with hope.

1 Peter 3:15–16 (NASB95)

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

The point - to give an account for the hope that is in you.

According to Peter, it’s giving an account for the hope that is in me and doing it with gentleness and respect.

S.A.L.T. method of evangelism.

Start a conversation.

Ask questions.

Do you think the world is getting better or worse? Why?

Do you have any hope for the world? Mankind? Why?

Is there anything that I can pray for you about?

listen

tell the story

Our hope is that when we stand before God, and our lives are called to account, and the righteous judge says, “How does the defendant plead?”

We say, “I have put my trust in my counselor to plead my case.”

“Well, what does the counselor have to say?” says God.

Then, our defense counsel, Jesus, says, “Not guilty.”

The judge then asks, “By what evidence? The records clearly show that he has transgressed the law and is a sinner.”

Jesus roll up his sleeves, shows the scars on his wrists and says, “By my blood shed that covers his sin, your honor.”

To which the judge says, “I declare this man not guilty on the merits of his defense counselor’s actions on his behalf. You may enter into my paradise. Case dismissed. Next.”

The unbeliever comes forward and stands before the judge.

The judge asks the same question, “How do you plead?”

The unbeliever attempts to defend himself on his own merits and be his own defense attorney.

“Guilty, but...”

“Is there no one else to come to your defense?” asks the judge?

“No, your honor, just based upon my own merit and good works, I should be acquitted.”

“I’m sorry, but you have no merit in this court and your works are as filthy rags here. I have no choice but to declare you guilty as the records of your life show. Jailer, take this man to the Lake of Fire and cast him in it with the others who refused to accept my gracious gift of a defense counselor, Jesus.”

Closing Song: Lord, I Need You, Victory In Jesus, God So Loved, This is Amazing Grace

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