Soul Strong: Our Salvation/Identity
For the past several weeks while our community has pulled together following the tragedy in Chatham with signs all over our communities declaring Chatham Strong, we have been considering how to be Soul Strong. What has been evident in this series looking at the armor of God in Ephesians 6, is that the strength of our souls does not come from within ourselves but it finds its source in God. Today’s topic is especially appropriate for this Sunday when we honor our graduates. So, what I want to do today is speak to our graduates and their families as well as their peers who are present with them to honor them. I invite the rest of you to listen in because it is an important topic for you as well. You just might hear something that will help you, so bear with me.
Our text for today is the first part of Ephesians 6:17 where Paul writes, Take the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17). We find a similar thought in an earlier statement of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:8, But since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet of the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Notice that our protective gear is faith, love, and hope.
The purpose of Paul’s imagery is not about putting on this armor so we can be strong like a Roman soldier but rather it is about putting on the full armor of God so we can be victorious in every way like the Divine Warrior.
The real source for this image of putting on armor is not a Roman soldier standing nearby while Paul is in prison but the Divine Warrior depicted in Isaiah 59:17: He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and He wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak. (Isaiah 59:17) Jon reminded me this week that in the Old Testament, especially in Isaiah, God is often called Lord Sabaoth which means Lord of Hosts or Lord of Armies.
In Paul’s day, it was commonly taught in the Jewish Synagogue that this passage in Isaiah pointed to the Messiah, God’s Deliverer, a Divine Warrior. Paul is not only adopting the idea of the helmet of salvation or the helmet of victory, but he gives it a new application. In Ephesians believers are the ones who wear the helmet of salvation. The putting on of God’s salvation covers the head like a protective helmet which means that by trusting in our salvation we can stand firm and faithful in the struggle against the sinister powers which seek to take away our salvation and rob us of our identity and inheritance.
Paul employs this imagery in the context of the battle where believers are standing against “the devil’s schemes” (v. 11) and withstanding the onslaught of “the flaming arrows of the evil one” (v. 16). He understood that our enemy still seeks “to steal and kill and destroy” as Jesus said in John 10:10.
Here is what I want to say to the young among us, especially our graduates—one of the differences between those first century tactics and today is that the flaming arrows and fiery darts of the enemy in the first century are ballistic missiles and rocket launchers in the 21st century that are being fired at your minds and targeting your hearts seeking to destroy your souls. The enemy is the same, but the weapons of warfare are more lethal and destructive today than they have ever been. All of us are in desperate need of protection, especially the young among us. As the approximately 3.9 million graduates in the class of 2025 go off to the university or trade school or into the service or to the workplace or stay at home, they are in desperate need of the protection that only the helmet of salvation provides. All of us need that protection from the enemy’s attacks but as Jon reminded us last week the intent is not to terrorize you but remind you that God’s protective power is greater than the enemy’s destructive tactics if we have all the pieces of our armor in place.
When the enemy, the devil, seeks to destroy us with empty thoughts and enticing temptations, trying to get us to doubt our salvation or question our identity, we can trust in the protection of the helmet. Our salvation is secure for God has not only promised it, He has accomplished it. As Paul wrote in Romans 5:5, “Hope does not disappoint us” because as he said in Romans 13:11 “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
As Christian soldiers we have “the helmet of the hope of salvation,” that is, our assurance of full and final salvation in the future. But here we are told to take and wear “the helmet of salvation” not merely promising victory in the hereafter but to protect us in the here and now. Our helmet, our protective head piece is both that reality of salvation which we have already received (deliverance from Satan’s bondage, forgiveness of our sins, and adoption into God’s family) and the confident expectation of an ultimate victory on the last day which will bring eternal glory and Christ-likeness in heaven.
From this imagery as John Stott says, “there is no doubt that God’s saving power is our only defense against the enemy of our souls. He quotes Charles Hodge who said ‘that which adorns and protects the Christian, which enables him to hold up his head with confidence and joy, is the fact that he is saved’ and, we might add, that he knows his salvation will be perfected in the end.”
As Grant Osborne says, “It is now time for us to put this present salvation to work in our daily lives.” So what does that look like in everyday life? How do we do that?
There are two significant implications that I want to unpack in this message:
The first implication is “To put on” means “to clothe yourself.” This is certainly relevant in a culture that seems to be consumed with what we are to wear. Here is what Paul wrote about what we are to wear in Ephesians 4:22-24—
22 You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; 23 you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. (Ephesians 4:22–24).
In Colossian 3 Paul reminds his Christian readers that they have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. (Colossians 3:10), So Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, (Colossians 3:12).
Here is Paul’s imperative in the context of living in the tension of daylight and darkness in Romans 13:12— The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12)
All of this brings me to the ultimate attire that is not only always appropriate but absolutely essential. Wouldn’t you like to have an outfit like that—always appropriate for every occasion and considered absolutely essential to be properly dressed? You do!
In Galatians 3:27 Paul reminded his Christian readers For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. (Galatians 3:27) and in Romans 13:14 he wrote, But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires. (Romans 13:14). Like salvation, putting on Christ is something that we have already done and something that we keep on doing. As baptized believers you have put on a new self and have been clothed with Christ and every day as you put on your armor, you are clothing yourself with Christ in all His fullness and freshness.
Putting on Jesus Christ or being in Jesus Christ is at the heart of how Paul views Christianity. One of my fellow former Seminary professors recently sent me a study of all the prepositions relating to Christ in the Christian’s life in the New Testament. It is amazing how focused the Christian life in the New Testament is on Jesus Christ! There are about 20 different prepositions used in such prepositional phrases as without Christ, against Christ, concerning Christ, by Christ, into Christ, upon Christ, with Christ, through Christ, of Christ, for Christ, from Christ, out of Christ, under Christ, before Christ, according to Christ, as Christ, and until Christ. But the most common prepositional phrase found 154 times in the New Testament is the phrase “in Christ.”
The second implication is being “in Christ” is our identity that is to be protected.
It is Paul’s favorite description of who we are as Christians. Some reference to being “in Christ” or “in Him” or “in the Lord” appear 135 times in twelve of Paul’s thirteen letters. The most prolific use is found in this book of Ephesians where Paul uses some form of this phrase ‘in Christ” or “in Him” or “in the Lord” no less than 28 times. Here is a sampling:
In Ephesians 1:3-14 we have received all of God’s spiritual blessings “in Christ.” In Ephesians 2:6–7 we are seated with God in the heavenly realms “in Christ Jesus.” In Ephesians 2:10 we are created “in Christ Jesus” for good works. In Ephesians 2:14-22 we are a new humanity and part of Christ’s new creation being built into a new dwelling place for God “in Him.” In Ephesians 3:6 through the gospel Gentiles are joint-heirs, joint-members, and joint-sharers of the promise “in Christ Jesus.” In Ephesians 4:21 we were taught about him and “in him” because the truth is “in Jesus.” In Ephesians 5:20 we are giving thanks always for everything to God the Father “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In Ephesians 6:10 we are commanded to be strong “in the Lord.”
The point I am making in all of this is unmistakable—Your salvation which is found “in Christ” is your identity and that is worth preserving because it is a source of protection. These two key ideas—being “in Christ” and “putting on Christ” are brought together in Galatians 3:26–28 with a very practical application—26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26–28)
It is the same point he was making to the Colossians when he wrote: In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3:11).
Don’t let anyone or anything confuse you about your identity—you are all that you need to be “in Christ.” As you put on God’s armor you are putting on Christ Jesus and as you take the helmet of salvation you are protecting your mind with the truth that you are “in Christ Who is all in all.” You are not defined by your ethnicity or gender or how much education you have or what you do for a living or how successful you are or how much money you make. You are defined by your relationship with Jesus Christ.
I want to share with you two true stories that demonstrate in real life the two key ideas of this message. The first demonstrates what it means to have our identity “in Christ.” That was the powerful message that permeated the celebration of life service about 25 years ago for the flamboyant, popular, professional golfer Payne Stewart following his tragic death in a plane crash at the age of 42. The service was filled with funny stories and testimonies by family members and friends and fellow golfers. There were messages from ministers who knew him well and inspiring music performed by Michael W. Smith. But the most touching part of the service came at the end. It was a video montage of glimpses into Payne Sewart’s personal life and his many accomplishments as a professional golfer interspersed with words of tribute that appeared on the screen—Awesome Friend, Wonderful Son & Brother, Terrific Dad, Beloved Husband, and the most important of all Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. That was his identity and his greatest achievement in life.
The second true story is of another man who accomplished great things for God but with a lot more struggles as he put on the helmet of salvation. He faced such overwhelming spiritual oppression that he believed that Satan himself had come to torment him. He was a man under spiritual siege believing the devil was trying to hinder God's work through fear, distraction, doubt, despair, and every imaginable temptation. He believed that the enemy seeks to derail our faith and draw us back into the seductive power of sin. His experience illustrates how the devil seeks to paralyze us especially when we're on the verge of doing something good for God. His life teaches us that the darkest attacks often come before the brightest breakthroughs so don't give up.
The story is told that in a dream, he found himself being attacked by Satan as the accuser unrolled a long scroll containing a list of his sins and held it before him. On reaching the end of the scroll he asked the devil, “Is that all?” “No,” came the reply, and a second scroll was thrust in front of him. Then, a third. When the devil had no more accusations, this man triumphantly exclaimed, “You have forgotten something—quickly write on each of them, ‘The blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sins.’”
His secret to success in facing the enemy of his soul is summed up in his words, “The only way to drive away the Devil is through faith in Christ, by saying: 'Christ lives. I have been baptized. I am a Christian.’” Paul calls that putting on the helmet of salvation.
You may not be familiar with the account of this man’s spiritual battles, but you may recognize this familiar hymn which he wrote about spiritual warfare:
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same; and he must win the battle.
The man who wrote that hymn and overcame the enemy in his spiritual battles is Martin Luther, the leader of what we know as the Protestant Reformation—a man whose life literally changed the course of Christianity. He knew the source of his salvation and who he was as a baptized believer in Jesus Christ. May we be as resolute in our faith as we engage the enemy in the battle for our souls and the souls of others!