The Helmet of Salvation
Ephesians 6:10-18
Take the helmet of salvation…
It’s a different day we live in today. I was always outside playing with the kids in the neighborhood. I was always up a tree. Anyone’s parents were in charge of discipline. And I was the only kid I knew who regularly wore a helmet when I rode my bike. You see, my dad had raced bikes for years, and he knew the value of wearing a helmet. I learned that value first-hand when I wrecked my bike and broke my helmet in half…
A helmet is an extremely important piece of armor. Last week we talked about the shield of faith and its value for extinguishing the devil’s long-range attacks. We’ve talked about wearing the right footwear and about the breastplate, which protects our hearts. We’ve talked about the belt of truth, which holds our armor together. Today we talk about protecting our heads.
The classical view of the head was that it was the origin of the person. It was seen as important as the source of speech. It was placed nearest to the heavens and thus drew from heaven its power, distributing the power to the rest of the body. This is why Paul wrote "From Him (Christ, the Head), the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
We protect our heads by wearing the helmet of salvation.
So, what do we mean when we say salvation?
That’s a good question, because in the scriptures, there were several distinct meanings of the word, and if you take into consideration the general thought of the day, we can add to that total.
In the Apostle Paul’s cultural environment, many gods, Zeus, for example, were called "savior." Roman emperors were given titles such as "lord" and "savior" and their power as savior was evidenced by their ending of war and bringing of peace. As an aside, the good news of this peace and prosperity was often called euangelion. What was salvation? It meant being delivered from hostile enemies and from war.
In the gospels, the word salvation is often attached to Jesus’ healings. Salvation, in that case, is primarily from disease or infirmity.
Then, of course we hear about Jesus also saving people from their sins. So which is it? What is salvation?
It means being delivered from enemies. Psalm 37:39-40 says The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in him. It also means being healed – not just from physical illness, but being made whole: health, wellness, and goodness. It even means deliverance from sins. But it doesn’t simply mean deliverance from. It also includes what we’re being delivered into. Colossians 1:13 says: For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
So what does it mean to put on salvation as a helmet? God’s salvation protects our head, which thus distributes protection to the rest of the body. Note that I said "God’s salvation." I said this because salvation comes from God alone through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We can refer to salvation in the past, because Jesus already died and rose again, sacrificing himself for our sin. He already did it, and there is nothing that can undo what he did. It is also a future hope, because we are saved for something: we are saved for heaven, for our future glorious life face to face with God.
But more than just saving us in the past and saving us in the future, God saves us in the present. He saves us now. In 2 Corinthians 6:2 Paul quotes from Isaiah 49:8, saying, For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." He goes on to say this: I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. Did you notice that he says "now" twice? He wants everyone to be clear of the urgency here. Salvation doesn’t have to wait!
What does it mean to be saved now? God saves us three ways: from the guilt of sin, from the penalty of sin, and from the power of sin.
God saves us from the guilt of sin. Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but verse 24 goes on to tell us that we are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. What that simply means is that we were made as if we had never sinned. Therefore we aren’t burdened by guilt and shame.
God also saves us from the penalty of sin. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. We do not have to pay the penalty that is due for our sin. Jesus already paid it for us! Sin brings death, but Christ brings life to those who are dead in sin.
And God saves us from the power of sin. Jesus’ sacrifice defeated sin and death once and for all; we are no longer slaves to sin. God already paid a high price for us. Romans 6:18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. We are each a new creation with the purpose of living holy lives for God in order to please Him.
Remember that salvation only comes through Jesus Christ. There is no salvation anywhere else. Ever. Jesus’ death and resurrection was the one great act of salvation, once and for all. And because of his action, salvation is available for everyone.
It’s not that we deserve it; we don’t, but because of God’s grace, we receive it anyway. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
Please understand this: as we put on the helmet of salvation, helmets that aren’t worn or that are worn improperly don’t help. I remember going mountain biking with my friend Roby, and long story short: we ended up camping with these two brothers. The younger brother was really crazy and rode really hard, but he had a helmet… nicely affixed to the back of his bike.
That kind of helmet doesn’t help. And neither does salvation if you haven’t accepted it. Salvation is available for everyone, but God doesn’t force it on anyone. Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13 all state that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. We’re not talking about a superficial "avoidance of the consequences of sin" but genuine calling on the LORD, coming from the conviction that I’m in desperate need and that God can and will save.
Unfortunately, even though salvation is available to everyone, right up to the last days, people will perish because they don’t love the truth. Remember how the Belt of Truth holds our armor together? 2 Thessalonians 2:10b tells us that They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. The truth is that Jesus Christ saves. Acts 4:12 tells us that Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. If you refuse to believe in him and put your faith in him, he will not defy your wishes and save you.
Salvation is a helmet that protects us. As the Psalmist wrote, in Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?
Likewise, in Psalm 62:1-2 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress. I will never be shaken.
So stand firm, with salvation protecting your head and all of your life.
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