Bible Study – The Armor of God: The Helmet of Salvation (WORD)
For this study we are going to look at the “HELMET OF SALVATION.” Just to mention the wearing of a helmet makes one think of safety. But how do we associate salvation with the wearing of a helmet?
When the soldiers of old wore their helmets, they usually had some type of crest/design on it identifying the family they represented. The helmet of salvation is the Believer displaying the Lord’s power and wisdom. As we go into battle, we go in knowing that we have been saved, we are saved, and we will be saved when this battle is through. We have this hope through God’s word as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:
“8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.(This passage reaffirms our belief that Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ!) 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
- The helmet not only protects us from the outside influences that would enter our minds, but it also secures the wisdom that the Lord has instilled in the Believer. Again, look at what Paul says to us in 1 Cor. 2:3-5: “ 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” This wisdom and power comes through the word of God. Paul reminded Timothy to remember, trust, and keep on doing the things that he had been taught to do since he was a child: “ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:14-15)
- We can use the wisdom of the helmet in defense of the Gospel. Understand what I am saying here. I am not saying that Believers should be defensive when we are challenged by someone, but we can use wisdom when it comes to answering some of the usually foolish accusations that the people of the world have a tendency to confront us with. For example, when someone says to you, “the Bible is full of too many contradictions.” Instead of feeling all anxious and dumbfounded, why not simply say to them: “show me one!” Most of the time they won’t even know where to begin to find what they think they are talking about, and the rest of the time they simply don’t understand what they read. You do remember that the word of God is foolishness to those who don’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ don’t you?
- We can also use the power and wisdom of the helmet to break down mental and heartfelt strongholds. 2 Cor. 10:4-5 tells us this: “ 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Conclusion
We understand that our salvation is through Jesus Christ, and that we need to carry the assurance of our salvation whenever we go into battle (which is every day, 24/7).
Many Believers have been in this spiritual battle for a long time. There are even some (like Jesus, Paul, and many other Believers) who have not only borne the battle, but have gone on victoriously to their reward.
But that does not mean that they did not obtain battle scars. Some would suffer with concussions, brain damage, like Parkinson’s disease, and some even had strokes, and have been left in poor physical and mental shape. But praise be to God for the helmet of salvation; for even though their bodies, and maybe even their brains have been damaged, but no harm came to their souls. When their battles were over, they were able to say:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith . . .” 2 Timothy 4:7