The helmet of salvation
And taking the helmet of salvation Ephesians 6:17
In 1 Thessalonians 5:8 Paul, the writer of Ephesians sheds more light on the helmet of salvation.
1 Thess 5:8
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.NKJV
The next piece of armour is a helmet. Something to cover the head. The importance of the head does not need much convincing. A soldier can survive a broken arm, but a broken head, depending on the severity of the wound, can be life threatening.
By calling salvation a helmet we have a clear understanding of what salvation refers to here.
What is the helmet - the hope of salvation?
The hope of salvation is for the head. It covers our minds, intellect or reasoning. Hope has a very different meaning from what we use the word for in the normal sense of the word.
When we say 'I hope it does not rain' the very sentence itself contains doubt and an expectation we cannot do anything about. Hope from the Bible's point of view is much more powerful. Hope is one of the three essentials. Listen to the following scripture.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
Faith, hope and love are all essential. Faith is of the heart. God gives it to us. We may not entirely understand all that God does but we can still put our faith in Him.
Hope on the other hand is of the mind. It covers the head. It is our helmet. A man can survive several days without food or water but take away hope and he will commit suicide immediately.
" a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, " Titus 1:2-3 NIV" if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Col 1:22-23 NIV"
The above two scriptures help shed light on God's definition of hope. Our hope is based on the eternal life of God. Our hope is held out to us in the gospel.
An understanding of what God has promised us brings us hope. God does not lie. Our hope is based on Him. A Christian with the helmet of the hope of salvation will not get confused with the fleeing pleasures of sin. Nor will they trade their birth right (salvation) for the temporary lusts of he world.
Take time to meditate on the following scriptures
Ps 25:3-5
No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
NIV
Ps 33:20-22
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
NIV
Ps 119:81
My soul faints with longing for your salvation,
but I have put my hope in your word.
NIV
Isa 40:31
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
NIV
How to put on the helmet?
Hope is the confidence we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. We develop it the same way we develop faith. God's word touches our hearts and heads. It is essential you have a clear understanding of what God has promised you. This will give you hope; an unfailing expectation in the ability of your God to fulfil His promise.
Hope is something you think about and understand. Faith is something you believe and confess even if you cannot understand it.
Hebrews 6:19
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
NIV
Hope provides us with an anchor. Something to hold unto with our soul (intellect, emotions and faith). Faith needs hope to sustain it.
Mediate on the following scriptures for a dose of hope
Ps 25:3-5
No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
NIV
Isa 40:31
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
NIV
December 2001