The Armor of God - Day 10 (The Helmet of Salvation - Session 7 - Part 2E-1)

[Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

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II. The Whole Armor of God – Sessions 3-8 – Parts 2A-1 to 2F

E.  The Helmet of Salvation – Sessions 7 – Parts 2E-1 to 2E-3:

*Session 7 – Part 2E-1 – The belt is truth, the breastplate is righteousness, the shoes are peace, the shield is faith, and the helmet is the assurance of salvation. It is the confidence that comes from knowing our salvation is sure. The helmet symbolizes our position in Jesus Christ, showing that we are a member of His family and joint heirs with Him. Putting on the helmet demonstrates that we know and embrace our position in Christ. We have been selected, saved and sealed by and in Christ; we are seated with Christ at the right hand of God; we are secure in Him; in Him we have a position of strength. We are assured of salvation, if our faith is not alone (James 2:17). Are there works of Righteousness in your life? Are you being changed (sanctified) in your experience? In your daily life? If so, rest assured that you are His.

By putting on the Helmet of Salvation, we show the enemy that he cannot crush us, touch us, nor do anything to us. Yet sometimes we still feel defeated. Why? It requires us to search our hearts and minds to see if we have given the devil an opening, and then defeat him, sending him fleeing. Our salvation assures the ultimate victory through Christ.

The Helmet of Salvation demonstrates three aspects of salvation: I have been saved (justification), I am being saved (sanctification), and I will be saved (glorification).

1. The first is justification. This is our legal position in Christ. We were saved from the penalty of sin at the moment we accepted Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  This aspect of salvation is past tense.  Because we accepted His free gift, we are justified.

2. The second is sanctification. This is in the present tense. We are being from the power of sin. Sanctification is an ongoing process as we learn to walk with God and put aside sin and Satan's ways. It is a process of sharpening our ability to discern between good and evil, and then choosing the good (Hebrews 5:14). It is this process that we become "vessels fit for His service" (II Timothy 2:20-21). We can be overcomers or non- overcomers. If we choose to be overcomers great rewards are promised (Revelation 2-3). Sanctification comes as a result of submitting to His authority, and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us. We can choose to walk by the spirit in God's Kingdom, or walk in the flesh in Satan's kingdom. We can choose to quench the Holy Spirit by not allowing Him to work through us to carry out His will. We can grieve the Holy Spirit by continuing to sin. Or we can walk as sanctified believers, in the power and light of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is the process of being trained to be His kings and priests for all eternity. We must learn to conquer the iniquity in us. In doing this we learn how to be His servants in all eternity.

3. The third is glorification. This is in the future. At the end of our earthly life, we will walk with our Heavenly Father and we'll be given a new body. The level of relationship and the level of authority that we have in heaven are determined by our obedience in this life. I believe our new body will be just like Jesus' body was after the resurrection. He was recognizable, He still had the scars from His crucifixion, and yet He walked, talked ate. He appeared in rooms without going through a door, and traveled instantly from one place to another.

Our spirit and soul are eternal, and will live with Him forever. This is fascinating. Even walking on earth, we are really in eternity. Only our body dies, and it is replaced with a new and better model.

Whatever the spiritual battle in which we are involved, we can stand secure with our helmet on, confident in our identity in Christ. We are on the winning side. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. II Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Scripture labels it "the spirit of fear." Notice, Scripture doesn't say a spirit of fear, but the spirit of fear. The spirit of fear refers to Ephesians 6:12, where we're told, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

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May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds ALWAYS!!!

 

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

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