Once when speaking to a group of youth I had them take a piece of paper and jot down as a percentage how sure they were that if they died right now they were going to heaven. They then folded the paper and placed it in a box. When I pulled them out and looked at them I saw that I received a lot of different responses covering the whole spectrum. The only true responses are 0% and 100% but these were the least common answered in my anonymous survey. I find that many people (even Christians) stand unsure of their salvation. As Christians we should be sure of our salvation in and through Christ. Those who have not accepted a relationship with Jesus Christ can be equally sure that they are not going to heaven, unless they turn and begin a relationship with Him (John 14:6, Luke 13:3).
The next piece of the armor of God is the helmet of salvation. Taking hold of the helmet of salvation means first that we are saved; we have a relationship with Jesus. However, I believe that Paul was directing these passages of scripture more toward those who were already believers and so telling them to take hold of the helmet of salvation. As believers it is important that we are sure in our salvation. We must understand that it is an all or nothing salvation; we either have a relationship with Jesus Christ or we do not.
Satan will try and sway Christians into believing they are not saved or no longer worthy of God and His salvation. My first response to such accusations is to take him to the cross and the empty tomb. Jesus paid the price for our sins and made receiving His salvation simple (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10: 9-13, 8:38-39). Secondly we can remind satan that we were never worthy on our own and we are only worthy and righteous through Christ alone!
As Christians we must take hold of the helmet of salvation that we may walk strong and sure in Christ and His promises. How can we lead others to Christ if we are unsure of our own salvation? We must look within ourselves and prove to our selves that we are indeed in Christ (2Cor. 13:5). When satan knocks at my door accusing me of not being a Christian or not being “saved correctly”, I take him back to November 14, 1996 on the edge of my bed, sitting beside my dad with the Bible open to Romans, where I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and invited Him into my life: He did and He came!
Have you accepted Christ’s great gift of Salvation? Is satan hindering you by making you doubt that you are saved? Take him to the cross, the empty tomb and your relationship with the Jesus Christ; he cannot stand against such proofs!
Pray
Redeemer God, You have offered to us such a great and immeasurable salvation. Thank You that I know that I am saved and I do not have to wonder through this life just hoping that I will make it to Heaven. I know that satan will use many tactics to try and deceive me into believing I am not saved, but I know it is through a relationship with Christ alone. Help me not to be deceived and swayed with every wind of doctrine, but rooted and grounded in your truth. Guide me Lord to lift others up to You and strengthen them when satan tries to confuse and deceive. Thank You that You have made such a complex salvation so simple to receive. I love You Lord. In Your Son Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
