Real Hope: HopeНамуна

Hope As a Helmet

In my Bible I search for ‘hope’ references. I gravitated to 1 Thessalonians 5:8. Why? I feel like I’ve never before seen this mention of ‘the hope of salvation as a helmet’… although I’ve read this New Testament letter.

Most of us know ‘the armour of God’ as outlined in Ephesians 6. When I spied 1 Thessalonians 5, the apostle Paul’s description of armour instantly reminded me of that other catalogue of divine protection against the devil’s attacks.

There are interesting differences between them, though. One is that Ephesians 6:17 mentions the helmet of salvation; 1 Thessalonians 5 describes putting on ‘the hope of salvation as a helmet’. Small distinction but an intriguing one, right? I’ve been chewing on it for a bit and I don’t really get why hope has been added to the salvation helmet. But in this passage about fighting the good fight of sustaining faith, the nod to ‘hope of salvation’ points me beyond the act of having been saved.

While it’s wonderful to combat sin with the head gear of salvation at front of mind, the hope of salvation reminds of everything promised by Jesus’ rescue of me and you. A certain hope sure to empower us, now and forever, beyond the battleground of this fallen life.

Written by BEN MCEACHAN

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