a different word. In the preceding verse, to “take” the shield of faith means that we are to pick it up, put it on, and use it. In verse 17, it is definitely that we are to receive the helmet of salvation as a gift from the hands of another. Do you see how careful the Spirit of God is in the use of each small word? If you have any doubts whatsoever about your salvation, you can’t possibly face the foe. It is impossible to un der-estimate the power of the mind. This is why if you don’t possess the assurance of salvation, you will surely feel defeated in every avenue of your daily existence. Again, going back to the original language, the phrase means, “Take the helmet of the hope of salvation.” The word hope injected here might cause us to ask, “Why would Paul, writing to a group of Christians, tell them that they should have the ‘hope’ of salvation, especially since they were already believers? Isn’t salvation a settled matter for the born-again child of God?” Too often do we forget that salvation is ba sically in three tenses. When we come to know and love Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, and He has cleansed us from all our sins, we have been saved. This is in the past tense. Once and for all are we jus tified before God. Then there is the future tense to our redemption. The reminder is given to us in the Bible that this body groans because of the pains, afflictions, and other problems of life due to the fall of Adam. We look forward to that hour when we shall be fully redeemed, when this mortal shall put on immortality, and we shall be like our blessed Saviour, for we shall see Him as He is. What Paul Is talking about here, how ever, if the hope of our present sal vation. We desperately need to be saved from the many problems which surround us day by day. There is also a piece of offensive weaponry which God intends for us to use effectively for the daily war
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. What kind of shield do you carry for protection? If it is flimsy, you can see why the fiery darts so qiiickly penetrate it. You need not fear what man or de mons may do unto you if the shield of faith is wielded properly. Faith may be needed to protect almost any area of your life. There may be some insidious attack on your mind. The devil always seeks to instill doubts regarding God's faithfulness. Those Roman shields were as much as four feet high and usually about two feet wide, and made of light wood due to their size and for ease in maneuverability. The wood was covered over with skin, some times as much as two or three lay ers, all of which were surrounded by a ring of brass. The skins were kept well oiled so that if a fiery dart or some other implement hit its mark it would be deflected readily. Consid ering these fiery darts, we as believ ers must realize that Satan is con stantly firing them at us. They may be tipped in the poison tar of pride, envy, jealousy, covetousness, worry, unbelief, impurity, immoral thoughts, or any number of other things. If the devil sees that you don’t have on all of God’s armour, he is sure to find your most vulnerable spot. Coming to verse 17 of Ephesians 6, we find two other extremely impor tant implements of the Christian’s armour as he prepares for the spir itual onslaught. The first piece is for the defensive while the other is for the offensive. We are told to take the helmet of salvation. If we should paraphrase this, it would be the knowledge that we have been born again. How sad it is to see so many destitute Christians who go through life devoid of the assurance of their eternal redemption! We underscore the word in Scrip ture: take the helmet of salvation.” In the preceding verse take is also used. However, in the Greek each is
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