What is the helmet of salvation, and why put it on?
As a Christian, you are in a spiritual battle, and the enemy is constantly throwing flaming darts of negative thoughts and lies at you. But you have been given the whole armor of God to stand firm against the powers of this dark world. You may be wondering what is the helmet of salvation and why you should put it on.
The apostle Paul describes the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18, which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and prayer. Each piece of armor is vital in protecting your spiritual life and mental health and helping you stand firm against the enemy’s attacks.
What does the Helmet of Salvation do?
The helmet of salvation protects your mind and assures you of your salvation. By keeping our thoughts fixed on Jesus and eternity, we can be assured of salvation and the sure hope of the kingdom of God.
The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is a powerful weapon that can cut through the enemy’s lies and schemes. It is a gift of God that empowers you to fight the good fight and live the Christian life.
The sword of the Spirit pairs with the helmet of salvation in that it teaches us the promises of God and how to use our armor. Jesus used it when being tested by satan. The rest of the armor is equally important, and each piece must be put on daily to protect you from the enemy’s attacks.
Understanding salvation is crucial in our walk with Christ. The Greek word for salvation is soteria (pronounced so-tay-ree’-ah), which means “deliverance, preservation, and safety.” It is a free gift from God that you receive by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Hebrew word for “sin” is חטאה (hhatah) and literally means “miss the mark.” The penalty for sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
When you put on the whole armor of God and renew your mind with the knowledge of God’s love and the truth of His word, you can stand firm against the enemy’s attacks and live in the peace of God.
Key Takeaways
- The whole armor of God is crucial in protecting your spiritual life and standing firm against the enemy’s attacks.
- The helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit are powerful weapons that assure you of salvation and empower you to fight the good fight.
- Understanding salvation is crucial in the Christian journey, and it is a free gift from God that you receive by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Armor of God protects us and empowers us
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are immediately marked as a target by the enemy. His main goal is to keep you from being saved; if he fails, his next goal is to destroy your witness.
One way he does this is by attacking our minds. When the enemy has control of our thoughts, “stinking thinking” is on the way. We begin to doubt God and His word. We are filled with negative thoughts, and then depression, anxiety, fear, and sinful thoughts follow.
In Luke 6:45, Jesus says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” This verse discusses the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
What we think about is so important. This is why Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8, “Think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.”
How do we guard our thoughts to focus on these things? We put on our helmet of salvation.
What does the Helmet of Salvation do?
Just as the Roman soldier’s helmet protected his head from injuries in battle, the helmet of salvation protects your mind from the enemy’s lies and negative thoughts. It is the assurance of your salvation, the hope of salvation that you have through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
When you put on the helmet of salvation, you renew your mind with the knowledge of God and the truth of His Word. You focus on the promises of God and His love for you instead of your circumstances or hard times.
You see, the enemy wants us to focus on our problems. He is a master magician and the father of lies. He has watched you, studied you, and knows what your weaknesses are. After all, this is war.
He wants us to think that our problem is with our husbands, our kids, our parents, our friends, our co-workers, our finances, our past, present, ourselves, and anything in the world but him telling us lies.
He knows if he can get you to take your focus off of Jesus, quit reading your Bible, and focus on your circumstances, then he can more easily defeat you. He does this by getting you to focus on negative thoughts.
When we focus on negative thoughts, we become fearful, anxious, and depressed. We question God’s love for us, we question if His promises are true and if we can trust Him.
This kind of thinking weakens our faith and affects every area of our lives. It will affect not just our faith but also our marriages, and relationships with our kids, our coworkers, and friends.
Now, I am NOT saying everyone who struggles with anxiety, fear, or depression does not trust God. I am NOT saying it is a sin for Christians to struggle with these things.
But I do know from personal experience when I keep my thoughts fixed on Jesus, read my Bible, and pray, then my thoughts are more positive, and I am in a better mood. It is easier for me to trust God is working in my situation and He will provide for my needs.
Remember that the helmet of salvation is not just a piece of armor but the name of the Son of God. You have the free gift of salvation and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding through Him.
So take up the helmet of salvation today and stand firm in the good fight of faith.
Understanding Salvation with the Helmet of Salvation
Eternal Life
Salvation is a free gift from God, given to all who believe in the name of the Son of God. The gift of salvation brings eternal life. Eternal life is not just living forever, but it is a life that is lived in the kingdom of God, where there is no more pain, no more suffering, and no more death.
Assurance of Salvation
The helmet of salvation also represents the assurance of salvation. As a child of God, you can be confident in your salvation because of God’s promise and the renewing of your mind. You can have the sure hope of salvation because of the knowledge of God and the knowledge of the truth.
You can rest in the peace of God, knowing that you are saved and that nothing can separate you from the love of God.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. John 10:27-29
Gift of God
Salvation is a gift of God, not something you can earn or achieve through your good works. The gift of salvation is not just for you, but it is for the entire world. God desires that all people be saved and come to know the truth.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
The helmet of salvation is a piece of the Armor of God that protects your mind and thoughts. Just like a Roman soldier’s helmet protects the soldier’s head from injuries during battle.
The helmet of salvation today protects you from the spiritual battle against the devil’s schemes and the spiritual forces of evil. So put on the whole armor of God, and stand firm in the faith, for the day of evil comes.
Spiritual Warfare and the Helmet of Salvation
This spiritual battle is not for the faint of heart. It’s not something we do once and that’s it. This is a fight that requires the whole armor of God to be put on so that you can stand firm against the enemy’s attacks.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:10-12
The armor of God includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Spiritual Forces of Evil
The enemy, Satan, is constantly scheming and attacking, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy. He uses negative thoughts, lofty opinions, and worldly desires to distract and deceive you.
Sinful thoughts happen. We are not sinning by having the thought. But when we focus on that sinful thought and let it take over, that is when we are sinning.
The Bible is clear about what we are to focus our thoughts on and the helmet of salvation helps us to do that. We do that by “taking our thoughts captive.”
“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
You have the power of the Holy Spirit within you and the knowledge of God’s truth to stand against his schemes.
Devil’s Schemes
The devil’s schemes can come in many forms, from doubts and fears to temptations and trials.
But you can resist him by putting on the whole armor of God and standing firm in the faith. You can also pray and ask God for wisdom and discernment so that you can recognize the enemy’s tactics and avoid falling into his traps.
Good Fight
Remember, you are not fighting alone. Christ Jesus is with you and has already won the victory over sin and death. You are fighting the good fight of faith, and you can be assured of your salvation through faith in Him.
So when the day of evil comes, you can stand firm, knowing that you are a child of God and that nothing can separate you from His love.
- Spiritual warfare is a reality for every believer
- You have been given the tools and the power to stand against the enemy’s attacks
- Put on the whole armor of God F
- Fight the good fight of faith
- You are not alone
- God’s promises are true.
Children of God
As children of God, we have been given the Holy Spirit to guide and help us in our spiritual battles.
The shield of faith protects us from the enemy’s flaming darts, and the shoes of peace help us stand firm in God’s way.
The helmet of salvation today reminds us of the renewing of our minds and the spiritual helmet that protects our minds and thoughts.
In hard times, we can take comfort in the fact that we are not alone in our struggles. The Lord Jesus Christ is with us, and His promise of the second coming gives us hope for the future.
By putting on the whole armor of God and using the weapons of our warfare, we can stand firm against Satan’s lies and the powers of this dark world.
Empowerment Through the Spirit
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit empowers you to use the Sword of the Spirit effectively. He guides you to the passages of Scripture that you need to overcome the negative thoughts and the spiritual forces of evil that try to attack you. He reminds you of God’s promises and assures you of your salvation. He helps you to pray in the Spirit and to stay alert in your prayers for all the saints.
Renewing of Your Mind with the Helmet of Salvation
The renewing of your mind is a vital part of your spiritual growth. As you read and study the Word of God, the Holy Spirit transforms your mind and helps you have Christ’s mind. You begin to see things from God’s perspective and develop a deeper understanding of His love and ways. You become more confident in your faith and more effective in your witness.
Knowledge of God
The knowledge of God is the foundation of your faith. The more you know about God, the more you love Him and trust Him. As you study the Word of God, you learn about His character, attributes, works, and will. You develop a deeper appreciation for His grace and mercy and become more committed to living a life that pleases Him.
In conclusion, the Helmet of Salvation along with the Sword of the Spirit is a powerful weapon God has given you to fight the good fight of faith.
With the Holy Spirit’s help, you can use it effectively to overcome the devil’s lies and the negative thoughts that try to discourage you.
As you renew your mind and grow in your knowledge of God, you become more empowered to live the Christian life and to be a witness for Christ in a world that desperately needs to hear the gospel.
Peace of God
The peace of God is a gift that surpasses all understanding. It is a peace that comes from knowing that God loves you and you have eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. When the day of evil comes, you can stand firm in the peace of God and trust that He will protect you from the devil’s schemes.
Remember, your journey as a Christian is not always easy, but you have the whole armor of God to protect you and the peace of God to guide you. Wear your helmet of salvation keeping your focus on Jesus, and trust in His promise of salvation.