“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“
and as a helmet the hope of salvation
The protective armor for the head is the “helmet.” This helmet is the hope of salvation. The lost have no such covering. Our hope is in the coming of the Lord Jesus at the Rapture for the church.
Those without Christ have no hope, but believers look forward with anticipation to the blessed hope, the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). This is the hope directed to ultimate salvation.
“Hope” does not mean that Christians simply yearn for eternal life. The Greek word “hope” does not carry the same meaning as the English. In English, the word has the idea of a wish as in, “I hope it does not rain tomorrow for our picnic.” The Greek word incorporates the idea of confidence in God’s promise.
“…in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began…” (Titus 1:2).
“…looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13).
“…that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7).
“Salvation” here is that future deliverance for which believers hope at the coming of the Lord Jesus in the Rapture. Negatively, it means they will be rescued from the wrath of the Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9). Positively, it means the perfect redemption of their physical body (Romans 8:23) and their sanctification and glorification (1 John 3:2).
The hope of salvation in the future is the best safeguard for the here and now. No team ever gave up, no matter how bad the reverses, if they were confident of victory in the end. The hope of salvation is an indication of our eternal security in Christ.
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” (Ephesians 6:17).
God links these three pre-eminent graces of faith, hope, and love in several places in the New Testament. They are a blessed trilogy (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 13:13).
Principle:
Christians must give strict attention to donning themselves with the armor of faith, hope, and love if they’re going to have spiritual stability.
Application:
Both the breastplate and the helmet are defensive equipment. A Christian needs defensive equipment as well as offensive. To go to spiritual war without defense is to incur deep spiritual trouble. God designed a specific armor for spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:11). This is God’s equipment, but it is our responsibility to put on the gear.
The breastplate and helmet protect against harm to vital areas of the human body. Both the head and heart need protection against the assault of the enemy. That is why Christians must give strict attention to faith, love, and hope.
Believers are not ignorant of prophetic issues. They understand their hope in Christ. They are confident about their marvelous future with the Lord. Nothing or no one can destroy that. If believers arm themselves in anticipation of spiritual war, they will prepare themselves for any eventuality.
