Use the Sword 101
Study 8
The Helmet of Salvation
This week we will look at the Helmet of Salvation.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
So what is this helmet and why do we have to put it on?
Notice that it says to take the helmet of salvation. The original meaning is more then just taking. It means to "receive" or "accept" .
Salvation is not something we just take, it first has to be given to or offered to us.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Eph 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
But Jesus Christ was offered as a sacrifice for our sins, the question is; have you accepted Jesus' sacrifice for your sins?
"Well of course I have, I'm a Christian"
Sure you may be, but have you accepted Jesus' death on the cross as payment for ALL your sins, or do you try and pay for some of them yourself?
What do I mean?
Maybe you try to do things to be accepted by God and think that God has not forgiven you or will forgive you unless you do something first.
Maybe you will give a little extra this Sunday as payment for your sins. Or maybe you will go to church as payment for your sins.
Some will even do things in the church or even go out in the mission field because they want to be accepted by God.
If you try and do ANYTHING other then believe that Jesus paid for all your sins on the cross, then you are saying that Jesus' sacrifice was not enough to pay for your sins.
"I know what you are saying, but has God really forgiven me? Don't I have to do something so God will accept me more?"
The answer is in God's word.
Matt 7:22-23 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Romans 3:20 (NLT) For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.
Romans 9:31-33 (NLT) 31 But the Jews, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law and being good instead of by depending on faith. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. 33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,
"I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that causes people to stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall.
But anyone who believes in him
will not be disappointed."
Romans 11:5-6 (NLT) 5 It is the same today, for not all the Jews have turned away from God. A few are being saved as a result of God's kindness in choosing them. 6 And if they are saved by God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's wonderful kindness would not be what it really is--free and undeserved.
Eph 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
God has accepted you just they way you are. I've heard it said that God loves you so much that He won't keep you that way. Which means God loves you as you are, but He wants a better life for you and not one of sin that destroys the body.
So God will put it in your heart to change and to hate sin, which in turn gives you a repentant heart that makes you no longer want to continue in your sins.
But we take that sometimes that if we don't do something that God doesn't love us or we are no longer saved or forgiven by God.
Think of your children or you as a child. When you ask your children to do something, or you didn't do what your parents asked, does that mean that your children don't love you or as a child that you don't love your parents? No, it just means that you or your children where disobedient and thought you or they knew what was best for them. But in the long run we all know it's better to obey your parents because they know by experience what is good for you and what is not.
We do the same thing with God by thinking we know what's best for us.
That's where the shield of faith comes in which we talked about last week. That is when the deceiver tells us that we are not forgiven by God and in turn we try to earn God's favor by doing things.
So how do you know if you are doing something for the right reasons and not to earn God's favor?
Actually it's not that hard to determine. You just need to ask yourself, "What do I plan or want to get out of this?"
There are only two answers; either you want something in return for what you are doing, like acceptance by God or even others, maybe you are hoping for some type of reward or recognition or even trying manipulate someone.
These are all wrong motives and as the scriptures says; "You have your reward."
Matt 6:1-4 & 16 1 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 "that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
On the other hand, maybe you have no desire to receive anything at all. Maybe you just care about others and only want them to be happy. Or maybe you do it unto the Lord just because you love Him and you know you are forgiven, but you just want to give to the Lord for that reason only. Sure there will never be enough we can do to thank Him and God knows this. But the ultimate gift you can give back to the Lord is your life and acceptance of His Son Jesus and His sacrifice for your sins.
So if there is no motive other then love and caring for God and others, with no reward or recognition sought after, then you are very likely doing things for the right reasons.
So what does all of this have to do with the helmet of salvation?
Well there are two types of helmet that you can out on. The first is of yourself, which would be like putting a paper bag on your head, serving no purpose at all with no protection at all.
Or you can put on God's helmet of salvation, which is stronger then any metal known to man and is total protection.
This helmet is not a physical one, but a spiritual one securing us spiritually to spend eternity in heaven with Jesus!
You see, when we have the helmet of salvation on and you are attack mentally with thoughts of "you're not saved" or "God won't forgive you" with the helmet of salvation you are secure in knowing that Jesus' death on the cross was sufficient to pay for all you sins and you don't believe the lies that are in your head.
So how de you put on this Helen of salvation. Actually it's easy. The hard work has already been done by Jesus on Calvary's cross.
But in order to put on the helmet of salvation, you must first accept it. Remember we talked about this at the beginning of this weeks study, how the helmet of salvation is offered to you and it's up to you to accept it.
Will you?
It's not me who is offering it to you but Jesus. So if you say no, you're not saying no to me but to Jesus.
On the other hand if you say yes, you are not saying yes to me but to Jesus.
That's the way it is whenever anyone asks you if you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It's not the person who wants to know but Jesus is the one offering you eternal life through Himself.
If you said yes all you have to do is tell Jesus, like in a prayer just like this one:
Jesus, I admit I am a sinner. I thank you for dying for all my sins on the cross and rising from the dead on the third day. I ask you to come into my heart and take over my life, changing me the only way you can. I accept your free gift of salvation and ask you to place the helmet of salvation on my head, never doubting what you did for me on the cross. Thank You Jesus. I ask this in Your name Jesus. AMEN!
If you just prayed this prayer from your heart and meant it, you are now wearing the helmet of salvation. Welcome to the family of God.
Maybe you are already a believer but have taken the helmet of salvation off through the day, by believing the lies about your not saved or forgiven. I would encourage you to put your helmet on and no longer believe those lies, because Jesus' death on the cross was enough to pay for all your sins.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It says ALL our sins, not most of or some of, not even all but that sin. No all your sins were paid for on the cross.
Who will you believe, the Father of truth, which is God.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
Or the father of lies?
John 8:44 44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Whichever one you believe, it's that one's helmet you are wearing.
Next week, the Sword of the Spirit.
May you walk in God's peace, as you know you are saved through His Son Jesus Christ!
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