Ephesians 6:17
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation …”
The fifth piece of armor that Paul instructs us to put on is the helmet of salvation. Since Paul is addressing believers, it is not likely the helmet of salvation refers exclusively to receiving Christ as Savior. It also (maybe primarily) refers to how salvation shapes the way we think and live.
The helmet protects the head, and in your battle against the evil one it is imperative that you think rightly about your relationship with God. If the evil one can disrupt the way you think about your salvation, then he will disrupt the way you live out your salvation. Here are truths about salvation that the enemy does not want you to know:
- Salvation is not earned by works; it is a gift from God that we accept by faith. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2.8-9)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6.23)
- It follows that the righteousness required to be saved isn’t achieved, it is received. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” (Romans 3.23-25)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5.21)
- As a result of salvation, good works should follow. We don’t do good works in order to be saved; we do good works because we are saved. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2.10).
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2.24)
- We are saved for God’s purposes, not ours. God saved us so that we can serve as agents of his kingdom in our time and place in history. Jesus didn’t bring the kingdom so that we can be saved; He saved us so that we serve in the kingdom. “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6.20)
If the evil one can disrupt the way you think about your salvation, then he will disrupt the way you live out your salvation. Do not let that happen. Write these eternal truths on your heart. Wear the helmet of salvation and stand firm against the enemy.
More tomorrow.
Coram Deo
