The Helmet of Salvation

So far, we have figured out to wear the belt of truth, by being honest in everything we do. We have donned the breastplate of righteousness by living a life that God would be proud of. We also know that God gives us the shoes we need to help fight evil, by preparing us to be quick-witted in his word.

Now we get the pleasure of discussing the helmet of salvation.

When a soldier suited up for battle, the helmet was the last piece of the armament to be put in place. In fact, without the helmet, a soldier would be so vulnerable that the rest of the armor would be of little use.

Paul’s statement take the helmet of salvation is the shortest description given to any of the pieces of armor required almost no explanation in terms of its value.

Salvation means being saved receiving deliverance. For Christians, salvation means receiving deliverance from the penalty of sin.

Notice what Paul said about what we are saved from and what we are saved by: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:8-10).

What is the wrath we are saved from? It is the wrath of God against sin. Since we have all sinned, the penalty we would all face without the sacrifice of Christ is eternal death. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

Salvation and eternal life are gifts God greatly desires to give to mankind: For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

That salvation, or deliverance from sin, opens the door for us to join the family of God to live forever with Him as His children.

And so the helmet of salvation is not exclusively about deliverance from sin or living forever, but about living forever as a child of God. It is about being free from sin and belonging to an eternal family where evil has been banished forever.

How do we receive salvation?

Salvation, as Paul points out in Romans 6:23, is the gift of God. It is not something we earn.

However, is salvation simply given to us, regardless of what we do in this life? The Bible tells us to repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). In order to receive forgiveness of sins, we must repent and be baptized.

We also need to walk in God’s ways: Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21).

What does a helmet have to do with salvation?

A helmet protects a soldier against damaging and deadly blows to the head. Spiritually speaking, the helmet of salvation provides hope and protects the mind against anything that would disorient or destroy the Christian, such as discouragement or deceit.

The helmet of salvation gives us hope

The author of the book of Hebrews compares hope to an anchor, giving us stability and the ability to weather the worst of storms: Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil (Hebrews 6:17-19).

God’s promise to do His part in bringing salvation to us cannot be broken!

The apostle Peter refers to this hope as a living thing” something that cannot decay, nor can it be defiled. It is something to spiritually motivate and sustain us throughout our lives.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away (1 Peter 1:3-4, emphasis added).

In a world where nothing is permanent, the promise of salvation made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ never fades away. It represents stability in an unstable world. It gives hope in the worst of circumstances, enabling us to fight against despair and discouragement!