THE HELMET OF SALVATION

SERIES: THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS.

TEXT: EPHESIANS 6:17

The name of the Lord Jesus means Savior. He came to seek and save that which was lost; the relationship between man and God-Luke 19:10. In our war with the enemy the helmet is our salvation.

Every soldier puts on a helmet. It is the helmet that has the crown of the kingdom in which he is enrolled. Born again believers are in a kingdom, the kingdom of Christ. A kingdom has a king and Jesus Christ is the king. This is also called the kingdom of God. In this kingdom we are positionally seated with Christ in heavenly places-Eph. 2:6. The king has delegated to us his authority, He has given us the power of attorney, to transact business on his behalf.

When we put on the helmet of salvation, we put on Christ Himself.

The helmet is salvation. Salvation means deliverance from some form evil to a state of freedom and security. As sin is the greatest evil that causes man to be separated from God, Biblical salvation is mainly liberation from sin and its consequences. This can be deliverance by way of preservation, by offering the means for being delivered or by rewarding the effort to be delivered.

Salvation has 3 parts: justification, sanctification and glorification.

JUSTIFICATION-Salvation in the past-Romans 5:1-2.

This is the first part of salvation and it is justification from the penalty of sin.
One’s responsibility is to receive the gift of God’s grace empty handed, repentant faith having being regenerated by the Holy Spirit alone.
Justification-happened the moment you called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. You were in the mirely clay of sin and you couldn’t rid yourself of sin whichever way you tried.
The Holy Spirit entered your dead spirit and your spirit became alive.
You were forgiven all sin and you were given a new nature and you were adopted into the son-ship of God.

SANCTIFICATION-The long journey of cleansing.

After you were quickened (made alive) by the Holy Spirit you started a journey to undergo cleansing that is done progressively through life.
God starts working in you-Phil. 2:13. God who is the potter starts on the clay-Isaiah 45:9.
With the graces provided by God to mould you to the likeness of His son, God tells you to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. You have a role to play in this sanctification.
The Lord said “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Jesus Christ carried His cross and you have your own cross to carry. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it-Matt. 7:13-14.
God gives us grace to live in holiness. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men; teaching us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope (glorification)-Titus 2:11-13.
Denying yourself-Matt. 7:13-14 means making Jesus the centre of your life; surrendering your plans, desires to the Lord for Him to lead.

GLORIFICATION; as you meet the Lord finally.

God will save you finally from the power of sin and the judgement that comes with it at the end of life.
Those whom God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the first born among many brothers and sisters and those he predestined, he also called; those He justified he glorified.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worthy comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us-Rom. 8:18.
Finally, in heaven we will sing “salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb-Rev. 7:10.

CONCLUSION

You have a role to play in your sanctification; to “put on the helmet,” to work-out your salvation, to cooperate with God as He moulds your character to be as that of Jesus Christ.