THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10)

Devotion 8 of 15

THE HOPE OF SALVATION

Although we are facing a crafty adversary, and are grappling with powers that reign over the darkness of the world, we battle confidently. This confidence is largely owing to our protective helmet, which stabilizes and guards our minds. This helmet is viewed from two different perspectives. The first is declared in Ephesians 6:17, which we covered yesterday. That deals with the knowledge of salvation and knowing Whom we have believed. It is the solid persuasion of who we are in Christ Jesus. We do not know all about our own persons, but we know enough about our salvation not to be intimidated by that circumstance.

There is another view of our helmet that enlarges upon the idea of confidence. This is found in today's text that refers to our helmet as "the HOPE of salvation."

"But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on . . . for a helmet, THE HOPE OF SALVATION. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him" (KJV). "But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on . . . .THE HOPE OF SALVATION as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him" (NIV). – 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10

The "hope of salvation" differs from salvation itself, although it is an aspect of it. "The helmet of salvation" describes knowing what has already occurred in us. "The hope of salvation" deals with the future aspect of that salvation. Those who are in Christ Jesus can be confident of the present–in the heat of the battle. They can also be confident of the future, when the battle will be over. These are like twins in the womb of grace, and cannot be separated from one another. One cannot joyfully anticipate the future if he is uncertain of the present. Conversely, it is not possible to be confident of the present without anticipating the future.

Here is a view of living by faith that is sorely needed. Early in the life of the church, the Holy Spirit moved Paul to pray for enlightenment of the saints concerning the "hope of their calling"–why God called them to Himself in the first place. With great fervency he prayed "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling" (Eph 1:17-18).

It is essential that we know what God has determined for His people–WHY He has called them. This has to do with AFTER we have completed our tenure in this world, and are finished with wrestling against the powers of darkness. It is the time when armor will be needed no longer. What then? What then?

Our text exhorts us to put on the helmet of the "HOPE of salvation." This is faith in its forward posture–the expectation of being forever with the Lord, and all of the joyous involvements of that presence. We are reminded that "God did not appoint us to wrath." He has something "better" reserved for us. Some might suppose this circumstance to remove any necessity of protective armor and an aggressive stance. To the contrary, we are urged to "put on the whole armor of God" in the persuasion of what is ahead.

When we are born again, it is in order to obtain this living, or dominating, hope. As it is written, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Pet 1:4-5). In Christ Jesus, it is unnatural not to be persuaded of the future glory. We are begotten by God in order to obtain that persuasion. Still, we must "put on" the hope of salvation as a helmet.

We must seek to obtain the fulness of that hope, so that our future is more sure to us than our present. In this world, we ask the Lord to "teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psa 90:12). It is just a little while, and it will all be over: "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Heb 10:37). We can live in the joyful expectation of what will occur when our Lord comes again. We can be confident of being "found in Him not having a righteousness" of our own, but one that comes from God through faith in Him (Phil 3:9).

Salvation provides for us to live and fight expectantly. We can do battle knowing we "have in heaven a better and an enduring substance" (Heb 10:34). We do not have to live haltingly through life, unsure of whether or not our names are "written in heaven" – we can rather live rejoicing that is the case (Lk 10:20). The heart can be fully persuaded that "when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).

The thought of the Lord returning in all of His resplendent glory can spark joy in the heart. We can fight in anticipation of when we will be "absent from the body and present with the Lord" (2 Cor 5:8). Christ within us "is the hope of glory," and "the hope of salvation" is the persuasion of that reality.

Rather than appointing us to obtain wrath, God has designated us "to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." That is the fulness, or culmination, of the salvation we have received now–and the best is yet to come. If you want the eyes of the soldier to shine, tell him of his future. Tell him of the time when His Lord will come, and He will stand in his appointed inheritance.

If we are admonished, put on "for a helmet the hope of salvation," grace has provided for this to be done. Within the very fabric of our fellowship with Christ, there is provision for "the full assurance of hope" (Heb 6:11). Not only can we know who we are, but where we are going. We can be sure that when we stand before the Lord, all will be well. It is possible for the heart to be convinced of the unparalleled blessing that is ahead.

When this "hope" is given its proper place, the soldier of Christ will fight valiantly. It is written, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And EVERY MAN that hath this hope in him PURIFETH HIMSELF, even as He is pure" (1 John 3:2-3). That is putting on "the hope of salvation" as a helmet!

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank YOU for the hope of salvation, and for the joy and confidence it brings to my heart. In Jesus' name, grant me grace to eagerly take it up as my helmet.