Helmet of Salvation
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
One of the defensive armaments issued to a Roman soldier was a helmet.
A soldier’s helmet protected from head injuries—wounds that could be debilitating and deadly.
Helmet of Salvation
In Ephesians 6:17, the Scripture uses the image of a soldier to describe a believer effectively facing spiritual warfare.
The believer is instructed to “take the helmet of salvation...”
Since a believer in Christ already is saved—what does it mean to “take the helmet of salvation? In other words, what offers protection to the mind—to attitudes and thoughts?
The helmet of salvation speaks of hope—a hope that will protect from sin, a hope that will encourage the soul, and a hope keep one’s focus on the promises of God.
We need hope!
Illustration from Peter, the Disciple
When Jesus was arrested, and was questioned and condemned by religious leaders, it was a low point for His followers.
Peter, considered a leader among Jesus’ first disciples, became so afraid and discouraged over Jesus’ pending execution, he denied even know Jesus—and ran away.
When he was with Jesus, he was filled with courage and confidence—but when it looked like Jesus lost the battle—Peter lost hope.
With hope, one can face almost anything. Without it, defeat is a certainty.
Hope is an essential quality necessary to face spiritual warfare (anything in life).
Main Idea
The power of Salvation in Christ is hope—hope that gives understanding to the past, assurance in the present, and confidence in the future.
Point 1
Hope reflects on the past.
Hope reflects on the past.
When thinking about salvation, it may include the time—the moment—you placed saving faith in Christ.
A church service.
A neighborhood children’s program.
A conversation with a friend or family member.
In a room by yourself.
In is important to remember that moment—and even your live before you believed in Jesus.
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
I think we can lose hope when we forget about what Christ did for us when he saved us and transformed us.
Also, we can lose hope when we forget the joy of salvation and the joy of the first steps of being a follower of Jesus Christ.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Reflecting on the past can be a rewarding exercise, reminding us of what Christ did for us and what he will do in us today.
Point 2
Hope lives in the present.
Hope lives in the present.
Hope powerfully enables the believer to live a confident life—even when facing the hardship of spiritual warfare.
God knows that hope is your secret weapon. Hope sustains you. Hope fuels your passion to serve God and reach people.
Through hope you are empowered to engage in God’s will.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Knowing that God saved you—assured of his abiding presence and power—our confidence is not shaken by this world.
Too often, we allow this world to define us. If we are not careful, we will live in discouragement and despair.
However, when we recognize who we are in Christ—no matter what we face or experience, our sufficiency and value is firmly established of Jesus.
That is living in hope—a hope that is confident in salvation and confident in the authority and supremacy of God.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Our hope is not just in what God did in the past—but what He will do in the present—even in difficult days.
In the present, the believer in Christ is growing in Christ. Spiritual growth and health should be the hallmarks of a Christian. (sanctification)
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Point 3
Hope looks toward the future.
Hope looks toward the future.
It is good that we have something significant to look forward to.
One day, our faith will become sight—and we will be forever with the Lord.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Hope of eternal life and experiencing the fulness of the New Creation is what moves us toward fulfilling the will of God.
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Conclusion
The helmet of salvation guards us against losing hope.
We need hope to face the present and press on toward the future.