Stand Fast
A Sermon on Ephesians 6:15
Originally preached May 20, 1962
Scripture
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Sermon Description
In the Christian battle with the devil, one of the most important things to have is balance. Balance is what keeps the Christian from slipping and falling into the traps of the devil. But how does one have balance? How do they stand firm and fight against the devil? In this sermon on Ephesians 6:15 titled “Stand Fast,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains how Christians are to shod their feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace in order to obtain balance in battle. He explains how Roman soldiers would arm their feet with gripping sandals to provide firmness, mobility, and safety against traps. Similarly, when Christians arm their feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace, they are preparing and readying themselves to stand firm and plant their feet upon the solid rock of the word of God. It is what allows Christians to proceed confidently in the day of battle, knowing where they stand. Dr. Lloyd-Jones goes on to explain how it also represents watchfulness and readiness against the ever-present traps of the devil. It is through arming the feet for battle with the preparation of the gospel of peace that the Christian will be able to stand firm in the day of battle.
Sermon Breakdown
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The apostle Paul is describing the armor of God that Christians need to defend themselves against spiritual enemies. In this passage, Paul tells Christians to have their feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
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There are two main interpretations of what "preparation of the gospel of peace" means. The first is that it refers to readiness to spread the gospel. The second is that it refers to readiness to stand firm in spiritual warfare. The second view is more consistent with the context.
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The Roman soldier's sandals had studs on the bottom for firmness, protection from traps, and mobility. Likewise, Christians need firmness, watchfulness, and readiness to spread the gospel.
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Christians need firmness and resoluteness in standing for the truth. Many today lack this firmness and are compromising. Christians must stand fast in sound doctrine and in holy living.
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Christians also need watchfulness and alertness. Our enemy, the devil, is restless, ceaseless, unexpected, subtle, and constantly changing tactics. We must be aware of his devices.
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The devil will contradict himself and use opposite tactics to achieve his ends. He may tell us we are too good or not good enough, emphasize works or discount works, encourage laziness or fanaticism, spread doubt or credulity, etc. We must watch out for his subtlety and inconsistency.
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In summary, having your feet shod with the gospel of peace means having firmness, watchfulness, and readiness to stand for the truth against the devil's cunning schemes. We must stand fast in the faith and be alert.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions: The Armor of God - Feet Shod with the Gospel of Peace
What does "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace" mean in Ephesians 6:15?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, this refers to the spiritual equipment or preparedness that Christians need to stand firm against spiritual attacks. The phrase is about being defensively equipped, not primarily about evangelism. The word "preparation" is better understood as "readiness," "preparedness," or "equipment" - providing firm footing and protection like the sandals with studs worn by Roman soldiers, enabling Christians to stand their ground in spiritual warfare.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the analogy of Roman soldier's footwear?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Roman soldiers wore sandals with studs or hobnails underneath that served three important purposes: first, they provided firmness of hold to prevent sliding and slipping during battle; second, they protected against hidden traps and spikes placed in the ground by enemies; and third, they enabled mobility and quickness of movement in combat. This analogy applies to how Christians need to be equipped to stand against spiritual attacks.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones reject the interpretation that this verse is about evangelism?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects the evangelism interpretation because the entire context of Ephesians 6 deals with defensive warfare against spiritual enemies, not outreach. He emphasizes that this passage is about "our fight and conflict with the devil" and "standing against the wiles of the devil." He cautions against using concordances to interpret scripture out of context, noting that some connect this verse to Romans 10:15 about "beautiful feet" bringing the gospel, but that connection ignores the defensive context of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6.
What are the main spiritual applications Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws from this verse?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies two main spiritual applications: 1) Firmness, confidence, and assurance - being resolute in faith, knowing what you believe and standing firm on it without compromise; and 2) Watchfulness, alertness, and readiness - being constantly prepared for the enemy's attacks, which are relentless, unexpected, and extremely subtle. He stresses that Christians must be "dependable" in their stance and vigilant against the enemy's changing tactics.
How does the devil change his tactics according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the devil constantly changes his approach and contradicts himself. Sometimes he appears as a roaring lion, other times as an angel of light. He may attack Scripture one moment, then quote it the next. He might tell Christians they're not good enough to be saved, then tell them they're so good they don't need Christ's sacrifice. He promotes legalism to some and antinomianism to others. He causes both doubt and credulity, both laziness and fanatical overwork - whatever will lead to spiritual defeat.
Why is balance important in the Christian life according to this sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that balance is crucial because "nothing is more important in the Christian life than balance" and "so many troubles are due to lack of balance." The enemy exploits imbalance in our lives. The whole armor of God protects the entire person - every part matters. We cannot neglect any aspect of our spiritual defense. The Christian must be protected at every point, recognizing that while different parts have different functions, each is essential to the whole.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the need of the hour for the church?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones states that the need of the hour is for Christians who will stand firm in their faith without compromise. He compares the current situation to God's work with Gideon, where God reduced a large army to just 300 faithful men. He says, "What God wants is a man or a woman who's prepared to stand, whose feet are shod with the equipment of the gospel of peace." The sermon is a call for resolute Christians who won't slip, slide, or compromise on biblical truth.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.