Untitled Sermon (2)

INTRO

If you have your bible turn to Deut 29:29

We are continuing in our series on unseen battles w/ the helmet of salvation

I want to start by reading one of my most favorite verses

Deut 29:29 29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

Part of being a Christian is choosing to be OK with mystery – some things God chooses not to reveal and others we simply can’t hold (John 16 sets precedent)

This was actually really freeing for me….

Today we are talking about salvation – aspects of it I believe are a mystery God has chosen not to reveal and we need to be OK with that

God’s sovereign will vs our free will - both are clearly seen throughout the entire Bible. how the two work together is a mystery.

Pharoah example

Well meaning Bible scholars don’t like questions so they have manufactured answers to questions that have no answers – and it has led to a lot of division in the body

SCRIPTURE

Eph 6:10-16 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 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, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance

put on 7 times, stand 5 times – we play an active role in this

Helmet of Salvation

Guards the head - how far will a soldier get with a critical head wound?

Everything done flows from the head - every decision - every action - every thought

If the head isn’t right the whole body will be off

John 15:13 – no greater love is there than this, that one would lay down his life for his friends

in Jesus’ work of salvation the very heart of God was revealed in its most full expression. The greatest love – Jesus laying down his life for us.

If you don’t understand salvation correctly (if you don’t understand God’s greatest expression of his love correctly) everything will be off

which is why God chose the helmet for salvation – SO IMPORTANT

So you can see why the enemy wants to deceive through controversy here

Salvation Story

God knew everything that would happen before he created

Knowing that man would sin God chose to create

The purpose God gave man was to multiply his image throughout the entire Earth – his desire is for his glory to be known throughout the entire Earth

Relationship with God was central to this purpose

Man messed this up – sin entered the world – our relationship was broken and purpose was lost

Man continued in their design but multiplied evil rather than good

God chose Abraham to start a new people – everything God spoke to them and did to them and through them pointed to his plan to restore mankind to their purpose

God gave the law – 1 purpose of the law was to establish a mechanism for the forgiveness of sins through the shedding of blood – to make it possible to forgive sins

God became man in the person of Jesus – Jesus was fully God and fully man (another mystery)

Jesus succeeded where man failed – the divinity in Jesus always beat the humanity in him (desert temptation) and Jesus perfectly fulfilled his Gen 1:28 purpose

Jesus being perfect took our penalty died (he shed his blood), rose and ascended to Heaven and used the law’s mechanism for forgiveness by placing his blood in the temple in Heaven to cleanse the world of sin – he traded places with us

2 Cor 5:19 – 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

(if all sin is forgiven why aren’t all saved – super important question)

Passover Parallel

Salvation was first introduced in Exodus 12 with the Passover lamb - CONTEXT

God provided the lamb, God provided the method and the knowledge BUT the Jews had to not only apply the blood to the doorposts they were commanded to stay inside their homes (Ex 12:22-23)

Jew no different than Egyptian – both would fall short under the judgement of God

The Jews weren’t special because of their race or class or any other reason other than who their God was AND it is the same with us today

God provided the means for all (the whole world)

Only some apply the blood of Jesus and remain until the end

Remember Eph 6:10-16 – they had to “take up” (apply blood) and “stand” (stay in)

God made the helmet we just have to put it on

John 10:29 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

 no one can take you but you can reject salvation AND leave the covering of the blood

While salvation is available for all only some are saved because only some choose to humble themselves by admitting their need for a savior and remaining in this posture their entire lives

BUT we have to remember that it doesn’t stop at salvation – it is not the goal

Restoration of Purpose

When we confess and believe in Jesus not only are we SAVED we are also RESTORED to our original purpose and identity of sons and daughters of God

Salvation is the mechanism God chose to restore us to our purpose – to fill the Earth with his glory

Its not a redemption plan. Its not a rescue mission. (the kids books are wrong) – salvation is part of God’s plan to fill the Earth with his glory through us

This is why the great commission is so important – this is the way God accomplishes his purpose with and through us

SO.. Putting on the helmet is not only a declaration of Jesus’ saving work in our lives but it is symbolic of us putting on our true identity and restoring our god given purpose

Remember the struggle with Jesus – his divinity vs humanity

1 Cor 6:19 – we are a temple in which the Spirit dwells

Col 1:26-27 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

There will always be a battle within you between two Kingdoms which is why it is so important to always keep on the helmet of salvation

Enemies’ 4 Schemes

He wants you to reject salvation

The grave is empty and millions have died for this fact

He wants you to question your salvation

Many times like Jeremy pointed out we sin when we act on the wrong desires of our flesh – the enemies’ work comes in after – questioning..

IF you are in this place or find yourself in this place remember this

There are nothing but good promises for repentant sinner in scripture

As long as you keep humbling yourself before God you are fine

He wants you to question God – is he really good? Does he really love you?

Leveraging circumstances

The goodness of God is defined by the cross not by your circumstances

Question the mechanism of salvation

John 14:6 – I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me”

I don’t think you know how badly the enemy wants you to question this statement…

All paths lead to the same God. Its false

If you budge on this one point all of Christianity unravels

Subjective morality is human idol worship

Our Role

(1) Receive his provision

The helmet of salvation and the rest of the armor is a gift (v10) – we played no part in it but are commanded to put it on 7 times in this one passage

What can you do with a gift? Accept or reject it

God is a provider – he is perfectly whole without us – he needs nothing from us but desires relationship with us – his provision is an expression of his goodness

For some you are so used to providing for yourself that just the very act of accepting a gift is foreign – it takes humility to accept it

Some of you have been trained to think you aren’t worth of it….

(2) Stand in his provision – obey him

In order to remain in God’s provision we must submit ourselves to the provider

You don’t get the protection of a King’s army if you refuse the King’s commands

There is a whole movement of Christianity today that wants the provision of God without submitting themselves to God – no good promises for unrepentance

(3) Place your hope in salvation

1 Thes 5:8 – the helmet the hope of our salvation

All we can do is place our hope in God – this is faith

(assurance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen)

The Kingdom of Heaven isn’t about reason and logic it is about issues of faith and spirituality

I can use logic and reason to try to convince you but at the end of the day it is between you and God whether you believe or not

Close by reading to you what you are choosing to put your hope in

Those who suffer and die for the Gospel how do you think they were able to withstand? They endure suffering for the hope of an eternity without suffering

Revelation 22:1-7, 12-17, 20