Prepare for Spiritual Battle with the Helmet of Salvation
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There are a lot of types of padding that a young child can wear when learning how to ride a bike. However, if someone told me that my son could only have one piece of protective gear, I would not hesitate to say, give me the helmet. The head is vital for a person to function and if my son fell or got in a bike accident, I want his brain to be covered.
The brain is our place of function, thoughts, dreams, reasoning, and it helps us to communicate. The brain sends nerves throughout our bodies to react in protective and helpful ways. As we discuss the value of the helmet of salvation today, may we remember that although this is not the first piece of armor, it is one of the most significant in the spiritual battle.
“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit — which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Our focus verse for this week is Ephesians 6:17, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit — which is the word of God.”
What Is the Helmet of Salvation?
Maybe you are like me and wonder why the helmet of salvation would not be put on first before the rest of the armor of God? There are various reasons that the Lord has laid out his armor this way. One is just the pure logic that a helmet is not put on before the other pieces of protective gear; it would make putting on other pieces of armor more challenging. But I have also been considering how this is our final piece of defensive armor that we put on. This is the last piece that we put on before going to battle. Jesus wants us to remember our salvation in Him.
As the brain is the center for how the rest of our body functions, the helmet protects the mind. I think about fight-or-flight and how my mind can tell my body “danger” and it goes into that mode. I think about my brain telling my fingers to type the words that I am writing you now. The brain is amazing. The Lord gave us minds that encourage us to seek Him and understand His will, and to turn to Him with our questions in life.
My cousin is a Marine, and he had to go through intense training to achieve this goal. The physical training was one thing, but there is also a specific goal to push the soldiers to their emotional breakpoint as well. Likewise, in a spiritual battle we have to be aware that our minds are huge targets for the enemy. If our minds are set on Christ and the security in our salvation in Him, then we will not lose heart in the battle.
Before entering a battle with the enemy, Scripture tells us to take the helmet of salvation. I believe that salvation given by Jesus through the Holy Spirit and received by a person cannot be taken away (Ephesians 1:13-14, John 10:28-29, Romans 8:38-39, 1 John 5:13, Ephesians 2:8-9). With this view, putting on the helmet of salvation each day does not mean praying to receive Jesus every day, but rather remembering who we are in Christ each day.
We are new creations, children of God, co-heirs with Christ, the bride, and in His army. We go into the battle knowing that Jesus has already won and we are eternally secure in Him. We have the guarantee of heaven. Whatever the enemy throws at us is nothing in comparison to the victory that we have in Jesus.
This means we go into battle not with fear and trembling, but with confidence and peace. We have a salvation that is secure. We put on the salvation helmet to remind us and lead us. Just like the brain guides our thoughts and actions, our identities of salvation in Christ will be the focal point of our moves and decisions in spiritual warfare.
The Power of Salvation
Have you ever looked someone in the eyes and just knew that the person was a believer in Jesus? Sometimes you can evidently see someone shine the light of Christ. In the spiritual war around us, there is no question to the angels and the demons who is team Jesus or team Satan. Those who are Christ’s have the sealing of the Holy Spirit.
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).
This means the enemy knows that he cannot take our salvation, but he will attack us anyway. However, it is like us being told by God that our sports team already won the game that we are about to play. Jesus (our coach) tells us that we need to go out there and give it our all, but He already won the game for us. We have a guaranteed victory. We have the joy of being on the winning team.
When the enemy sees us, he sees Jesus, he sees ultimate defeat. He loves to let us believe that we have sinned too much, are disqualified from the game for our past decisions, or he tries to make us too fearful or insecure to get in the game. However, God has a purpose for us in the battle and He invites us into the warfare, promising eternal victory. The crown we will all receive is a laurel wreath (one like an athlete would have received for winning the competition).
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).
Our salvation helmet gives us confidence to run the race set out for us in joyous victory.
Jesus Models the Helmet of Salvation
How does Jesus model the helmet of salvation to us? Jesus never wavered on His mission here on earth. He had full confidence that He was here to provide salvation to the world. He lived each day from a place of security in His identity as God incarnate. Jesus was clear that He was the Messiah and said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He lived before the resurrection and after in full assurance that the plan of salvation was fulfilled through Him.
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
Am I a Spiritual Warrior with the Helmet of Salvation?
What ways do you need to remember your identity in your salvation through Jesus?
How does knowing that you already have victory over the enemy give you confidence in the daily battles?
How is the church living out the helmet of salvation? In what ways can we pray for the body of Christ to live out victorious security in Jesus?
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