The Helmet of Salvation
Spiritual Warfare • Sermon • Submitted
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Ephesians 6:13-
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Recurring Theme of the Sermon Series on Spiritual Warfare:
“Satan is terrified of Jesus Christ. We can only have complete Spiritual Victory when Jesus has complete presence and rule in our hearts.”
I will talk about the helmet of salvation..
Why are helmets important?
Why are helmets important?
HELMETS are used for PROTECTION by people riding down the road on MOTOR CYCLES. CHILDREN riding BYCYCLES wear HELMETS. CONSTRUCTION WORKERS wear HELMETS at work. FIREFIGHTERS wear HELMETS. SOLDIERS in combat wear HELMETS. Even football players wear helmets
I think the answer is obvious right?
& the PURPOSE for the HELMET is UNDERSTANDABLE --- it is there to PROTECT a very IMPORTANT PART of the BODY --- the HEAD.
The soldier may be injured in every part of the body and survive to live or even fight another day, except when he is injured in the head.
An injury to the head can be a fatal blow that disarms the warrior.
Now, the head is to the body as the mind is to the soul.
Why Helmet of salvation?
To secure our understanding of salvation.
We need salvation.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Salvation has been provided.
Salvation has been provided.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The only way to receive salvation is by faith in Christ.
16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Salvation’s purpose:
We are not only saved so we’ll get to heaven - that is a wonderful truth.
We are not only waiting for our transport into the heavens.
I journaled my personal meditations, the old fashioned way by writing them on a notebook.
I journaled my personal meditations, the old fashioned way by writing them on a notebook.
I remember an acronym that I coined .
Death.
D - Departure from
E - Earth
A - Arrival in
T - The
H - Heavens
This is a fundamental truth, we have been freed from the penalty of sin, and since Jesus’ work of saving us is perfect and complete hell is not the Christian’s eternal destiny.
This is a western Christian view. There is more to our salvation than just the promise of going to heaven someday.
You see waiting for the day we die is a little passive. Doing nothing until the day I die won’t stop me from going to heaven.
But Jesus said in ..
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
I am getting this place ready for the coming of my master, leaving no stone unturned in my heart I am anticipating His coming and I look forward to His coming and you know what He said?
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
I am excited about the reward, but I am more excited about the fact that Jesus is coming soon! I love to see the coming of Jesus in my lifetime and although I do not know the exact time, I want to hasten His coming by participating in His Great Commission.
You see, the helmet of salvation is not only about you,
The Helmet of Salvation is being mindful that our ultimate salvation (the return of Jesus) is dependent on the salvation of all mankind.
You are saved for a purpose.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Vision of Crosswind:
Our Vision
To advance the Kingdom of God by fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission Through all Generations.
Now Satan knows that if we do not have this understanding of salvation, we become disabled soldiers and we are rendered useless, and how does this happen?
When we go back to salvation by works or performance based Christianity.
That is why the Apostle Paul became frustrated with the Galatian church.
O foolish galatians! How foolish can you be? who has bewitched you? It may be a rhetorical question, but he knows the answer, Satan is behind all this.. because you have removed the helmet of salvation
it was before your eyes..publicly portrayed.. let me ask you this..
2 Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? 3 Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?
The Bible didn’t say that you will complete what God has begun in your life. He is faithful to complete what He started in you.
In our context, Paul would have said Crosswind, why are you foolish to depend on programs or activities just to maintain the status quo? You do not do these things to add to your salvation but rather you do these because you are already saved!
As saved people get the message out that Jesus saves!
I would like to take this opportunity to recast the Vision of Crosswind Church:
Vision of Crosswind:
To advance the Kingdom of God by fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission Through all Generations.
The helmet of salvation secures our understanding of our salvation. It also..
Provides the assurance of our salvation.
The helmet of salvation is a solid basis of salvation based on our faith in God and the fact that Jesus died for you on the cross and that is enough, it is not based on how you feel.
The helmet is the last piece of the battle gear that the soldier wears before going out for battle. Can you imagine a soldier, having worn every piece of modern equipment before going out and saying, should I wear my helmet? nah I don’t feel like wearing it!
It is not about how you feel!
SOme Christians don’t have the assurance simply because they misunderstand your standing before God.
That misunderstanding produces insecurity.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some Christians doubt their salvation because of their failure to walk daily before God.
Sanctification vs. Justification.
God is not done with you yet!
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
I just preached to you Christianity 101 - Lessons 1 and 2.
Philippians 1:6
I just preached to you Christianity 101 - Lessons 1 and 2.
Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The peace of God which surpasses all understanding.
Ronald Reagan coined his vision of America’s National Defense.
Peace Through Strength! - Ronald Reagan.
The whole armor of God is a deterrent!
God doesn’t want our minds to always be focused on Satan. If our minds are focused on God and the things of God.
God doesn’t want our minds to always be focused on Satan. If our minds are focused on God and the things of God.
Our calling is not to spend most of our energy fighting the Devil. Our main calling is to advance the Kingdom of God while being focused on Jesus.
We are prepared by wearing the full armor but if we look at each virtue of the armor.
We are prepared by wearing the full armor but if we look at each virtue of the armor.
The Belt of Truth - Jesus is the way, the TRUTH..
The breastplate of righteousness -
30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
The shoes of the Gospel of peace - Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
The shield of Faith - Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith
The helmet of salvation - The very name Jesus itself means God saves! There is no name under heaven by which we are saved!
The sword of the Spirit - Jesus is the Living Word
You see the full armor is a picture of being conformed to the image of Christ , if we have His mind and heart it flows to how we walk in our relationships and how we work on how we seek the lost and once Satan sees Jesus in us he flees. Actually he scampers away in fear because He sees Christ in You! The Hope of Glory!
Christ in You, the Hope of Glory! (Colossians 1:27)
Satan is a defeated foe!
Final Picture of Our authority in Christ.
Again, the recurring theme of our sermon series:
“Satan is terrified of Jesus Christ. We can only have complete Spiritual Victory when Jesus has complete presence and rule in our hearts.”