The Helmet of Salvation
By Dr. Tom Walker
McDowell County
Ephesians 6:17 says “Take the helmet of salvation.” We need to remember probably why Paul had the armor of a soldier in mind because of where he is at the time of the writing of this epistle. We find him at this time in his life in prison. He is constantly guarded by soldiers, so he was compelled to look at the armor of the soldiers that guarded him from day to day.
The apostle Paul was a spiritually minded man. When he saw everyday things of life, his mind began to see a comparison of what he saw to spiritual things. He began to see in the soldier’s armor as what the born-again believer needs in his daily spiritual battle with the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Let’s not take lightly or push aside any of these enlightening comparisons Paul the Apostle makes here in Ephesians 6.
Today we deal with the helmet of salvation. We are all aware the helmet helps protect one’s brain, from which comes our thinking ability. It is a defensive piece of armor. The Christian must have a good defense in the time of spiritual battle.
Salvation is a wonderful thing. Three aspects of it are noteworthy at the very beginning of our study. They are the salvation from the penalty of sin, from the presence of sin and finally, we will have salvation from the very presence of sin.
Everyone needs to be saved. Salvation is made possible to anyone who will come to Christ for it.
Hebrews 2:9 says: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
2 Peter 3:9 states: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Romans 10:13 reminds us: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
There is nothing greater under God’s blue sky better than being saved from sin, its penalty, and its power. Salvation has to do with readying ourselves not only for life but for eternity as well.
Nothing will protect you from eternal death, demons, and the devil like personal salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:9 declares: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
The word “saved” is a good word. It is the little transliterated Greek word (sozo) which means “safe and sound.” It is translated in some other interesting ways in our KJV. It is also translated as heal, preserve, and be made whole. It is God’s salvation of grace that heals us, preserves us, and makes us whole or well spiritually.
Since the helmet is a piece of armor that protects, we are going to consider the “helmet” of salvation as something that preserves, defends, guards, keeps, shields, and shelters us.
God’s presence in the life of the believer can be so great that his presence becomes his shield and defender. Genesis 15:11 tells us: “After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
If I could legitimately be offered the entire physical world, I would not trade Jesus for what anyone could give me. I enjoy my salvation, which was real in my life as a young person, as I saw myself as a sinner, repented of my sinful condition, and turned to the Lord Jesus for my personal salvation.
Compare these next two verses from the Bible concerning what I said in the last paragraph.
Psalms 33:20— “Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.”
Psalms 84:9— “Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.”
How does the Lord preserve us through the helmet of His salvation?
We are Preserved Unto His Heavenly Kingdom
2 Timothy 4:18 declares: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Every single government on the earth comes far short of being what it ought to be. There is not a nation on the earth that has perfect leaders and a perfect government.
There is a heavenly society in which all born-again people will enjoy and participate in one eternal day. No one in his or her right mind should purposely miss Heaven. I long to see a day when all will be perfect and be far above what it ought to be.
God’s people are not pickled, we are preserved. That means “to keep or save from injury or destruction” or “to save from decay and keep in a sound state” (Webster 1828 dictionary).
The Lord will make sure that all who trust Him and have a relationship with Him will not miss the heavenly kingdom. All who professed to be saved are not so, but any genuinely born-again person has the guarantee he or she will be in Heaven one day when life is over.
It would pay to read Romans 8:35-39 regarding our preservation. In addition, saved folks are sealed with the Spirit of God until the day of the redemption of the body (Eph.4:30). Salvation is designed not only to save man from eternal death but it is also planned so God could receive glory from it. God never loses any saved people. What kind of glory would the Lord receive if He lost even one of his children?
We Are Preserved From Fear Of Our Enemies
I have been to funeral services from time to time through these many years of being a Baptist pastor, and have heard people say, “He didn’t have an enemy in the world.” If that be, then in most cases, that person was probably not living as close to the Lord as he or she should have been.
Paul the apostle wrote, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim.3:12). It is promised that if you live a godly life, you will suffer persecution or in other words, you will have enemies and people who will try to do you harm.
While being a pastor these many years, having been pastor of three different churches, there have been people who have decided they would be my enemies. I have learned from the Bible and experience that the Lord is bigger than those who would make themselves my enemies. I have learned that more battles are won when the Lord fights them, and I leave any retribution and wrath up to Him.
God reminded Israel that the battle is the Lord’s. When little David faced the nine-foot giant Goliath, David told him, “That the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.”
A young preacher or pastor may be reading this message. Don’t give up and don’t turn loose from what God has called you to do. You will face some hard times, but I can say, God will see you through it all.
Fear paralyzes while faith energizes. Fear disarms but faith arms you for the battles of life. Fear will let you down but faith will lift you up.
We Are Preserved From Condemnation
That is exactly what salvation does. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
When do we get in Christ? The very moment we are saved is when that happens. Christ bore our sins upon His own body on the tree. 1 Peter 2:24 states: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” My sin has already been answered for in the death and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. When justice called mercy answered.
A young man was watching a parade years ago. His dad was with him and they were both looking through a glass at the parade. The boy said, “Dad the bands’ uniforms are white. As his dad saw the marching band, he said, “Oh no son, the uniforms are red.”
As they investigated the difference, they found the son was looking through red tinted glass, while his father was looking through ordinary glass. The reason the son saw white uniforms was because he was looking through the red glass at red uniforms. Looking through the red at red gives the appearance of white.
Isaiah 1:18 says: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
The helmet guards the head and especially the mind. When a person has true salvation, it is then he or she begins to think as it would please God. Use the helmet of salvation as your defense against the world, the flesh (old nature), and Satan.
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Dr. Tom Walker is President of Foothills Bible College and Pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church in Marion, NC. You can read more good Christian News from Dr. Walker HERE.
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