As we continue studying the Helmet of Salvation this week, we have been discussing how Salvation has a Saved From direction and a Saved For direction. As I mentioned in the previous posts here and here, while we have great comfort and hope because of the promises of the Saved From direction, we actually live in the Saved For. So I thought it would be helpful for us to read some passages of Scripture about the Saved For life. These are just passages from Ephesians, the same letter in the New Testament in which Paul writes about the Armor of God, which is what our current blog series is all about. Hear how these passages describe the kind of life we are called to life now.
Turn to Ephesians 1:17-20 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.”
Do you hear that? God wants us to experience now, in our lives now, the same power that rose Jesus from the dead. God wants us have his Spirit of wisdom and revelation so we may know him better. Now. That’s how much he wants to be in relationship with us now. That means he wants us to experience salvation now. But there’s more.
In Ephesians 3:14-19, Paul writes, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
That’s deep. God wants us to know now how much he loves us, that we might experience his power in our inner being now, by his Spirit, as Christ lives in us, and as the Father fills us fully. That’s now. He wants all of that for us now. But there’s still more.
Paul continues in Ephesians 4:29-32 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Notice that Paul writes that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption. In light of that future day of redemption, Paul describes the kind of life we are to live now. We are to get rid of all kinds of sinful behaviors now. We are to be kind, compassionate, forgiving now. That is what we are saved for. But there is more.
We’re moving ahead to chapter 5 of Ephesians. Ephesians 5:8-20 (selections) “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, … Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. … Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Yes, we are Saved From. No doubt about it. We are saved from our sin, forgiving because of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection. We are saved from the fear of separation from God, now and in eternity. But the vast weight of New Testament teaching is about how to live now, focusing on what we are Saved For.
You are saved for a mission! I’m not saying that everyone needs to be a professional minister, like a pastor, foreign missionary, counselor or teacher. But all of us, these passages remind us, are saved for mission now. We are saved so that we can pursue the mission of Jesus where we live, work and play. We are saved for the purpose of the flourishing of others, ourselves and the whole world now.
Engaging Scripture 
2 thoughts on “The kind of life we are saved for now – Helmet of Salvation, Part 3”