Assurance of Salvation

Assurance of Salvation

Ephesians 6:17

 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Paul wrote about this same idea in another passage:

1 Thessalonians 5:8

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.

   The Bible uses metaphors to teach us lessons by comparing a spiritual truth with a common, everyday thing to help us understand it better.  In this passage, Paul is comparing the spiritual protection we receive through Christ to the armor of a Roman soldier. 

   In this verse, Paul tells us to "take the helmet of salvation."  In ancient Rome, the helmet was usually a leather cap studded with metal for extra protection.  Higher ranks would attach a plume or some type of decoration to identify the solider to his regiment.  The helmet was used, quite simply, to protect the head.  A blow to the head could cause death, but even a glancing blow could cause dizziness, temporary blindness, confusion, and other damages.  A soldier would be foolish to go into battle without his helmet.  Even in our modern army, they still wear a helmet designed to give maximum protection. 

   In our lives, we often are attacked by powerful forces that would like to hinder our Christian lives.  Christians who walk away from the faith and quit church and drop out of fellowship are no longer a threat to the enemy.  No ‘Gates of Hell” will be overcome and no lives will be drawn to God. 

   Salvation is pictured as a helmet protecting your head from damage, and by head I mean your thoughts and your mind.  Having a sure knowledge of salvation protects us against discouragement, and against the desire to give up.  It gives us hope not only in knowing that we are saved, but that we will be saved.  It is the assurance of eternal life with God and the final victory over death. 

   One of Satan's most effective weapons against Christians is discouragement.  When we are properly equipped with the helmet of salvation, it's hard to stay discouraged. Our hope isn't in our self or in our ability to keep our self close to Jesus. Our hope is in Jesus Himself, and in the rescue He brings to us.  To put our hope, our confidence in anything else would be as foolish as a soldier going into battle without a helmet.  Don’t let discouragement defeat you, remember that Christ has forgiven you and you will spend eternity with Him. 

   A companion to discouragement is doubt, and doubt can lead to confusion.  This hits new Christians especially hard, but no Christian is immune from an attack of doubt.  A respected man in our church shared his doubts with a new Christian, me, and taught me to question God’s Word.  This led me to doubts and confusion and robbed me of the joy of being saved and soured my fellowship with others.  It was more than a year before I determined in my heart to believe His Word above all.  Only then did the confusion and despair lift off me and I was able to recover the joy of being saved.  I regret the lost time and pray no one else has to struggle with those doubts.  Being focused on the surety of your salvation will clear away doubts and allow the Holy Spirit speak to your heart through God’s Word. 

Stephen Cram                       April 15, 2012                            Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8