Spiritual Warfare Part 7 | Helmet of salvation

Spiritual warfare is not about finding demons under rocks and in rooms of houses and behind generational curses. It is in being grounded in the word of God—and having a solid Christian worldview that keeps us from being blown around. It is in being clothed with Jesus’ righteousness—thereby giving the devil no claim over us. It is in being equipped with readiness given by the gospel by which we have made peace with God—not because of our works or our obedience. Spiritual warfare comprises these ordinary means to be able to fight against the ordinary, regular schemes of the devil. Not things involving the frothing of the mouth and other extraordinary events. What is extraordinary and absolutely pressing is the need to take up the armour of God. We need to be extravagant in our seriousness and zeal. For instance, how carefully a Roman soldier would have included his shield, for instance, in his for preparation for battle!

“and take the helmet of salvation” Eph 6:17a. It is possible to overlook this piece of armour, without realising it’s centrality and significance. It is wise to think of what the helmet achieves for us that the outer pieces have not.

NATURE OF THE HELMET

‘Salvation’ in this verse refers not just to the initial step of being welcomed into the family of God, but it is to do with the entire journey. Salvation is a broad term encompassing:

– the PAST event of our justification (Eph 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”),

– the PRESENT ongoing events of our sanctification (1 Cor 15:1-2 “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel . . . by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain”), and

– the FUTURE event of our glorification at which time we will become what He intends for us to become and at that time, Christ will not come to deal with our sin (Rom 13:11-12 “. . . for salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light” & Heb 9:28 “so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him”).

Because Paul has covered the protections that come from the PAST quite amply in the Truth Belt, Righteousness Breastplate and Gospel Shoes, it is reasonable to think that he is here focusing on the PRESENT and FUTURE aspects of salvation. By taking the Salvation helmet, we apply to ourselves the hope of what God is doing in our lives now, which He will ultimately perfect in our glorification. To corroborate this idea beautifully, we have 1Thess 5:8, “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, AND FOR A HELMET THE HOPE OF SALVATION.”

NECESSITY OF THE HELMET

The danger of feeling absolutely hopeless is the worst thing that can happen to soldiers in battle. It is hope that keeps soldiers’ minds focused on the battle. Hopelessness renders them passive, weak, and vulnerable. If the enemy could undermine their morale, the battle can be lost. The helmet protects the brain and the mind. We are told to take it up, so that we can keep fighting for our King and progress in sanctification. Whenever our morale is low, we must ensure that we put on the helmet, remembering that our God is faithful, who called us, and that He who started the process of salvation will one day present us perfect.

When we are discouraged, seeing sinners prosper and the righteous suffer, we can take up our helmet by remembering that our suffering is light and momentary and that He who sits in the heavens laughs; one day Jesus will break the wicked with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

When our bodies begin to waste away and it becomes plain that death is near, we can take up our helmet and say with Paul in 2 Cor 5:1-2: “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling.” And when we put on our helmet in this way, He gives us the needed peace, as it is written in Isa 26:3: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” And in this way, everyday, we must focus our minds on the Lord and on His salvation.

It is easy for the soldier to put the helmet down, which is why the words “take up” is used for this piece of armour. This is the case with the shield (and sword too) which are so easily set down when soldiers are not engaged actively in battle, unlike other portions of the armour—namely the belt, breastplate, and shoes—which soldiers had on all the time. We so easily set down our fervency of hope, and do not spend time thinking of heaven and looking forwards to the time when we will be free of sin. Sometimes when we are deep in the study of God’s word or are in prayer, we momentarily feel a thrill of joy, and this is just a small taste of heaven. Our glorious end has already been decided. Victory is inevitable. Meditating on these matters is how we take up our helmet of salvation.

COST OF THE HELMET

This helmet comes to us at a mighty cost to Someone else. When we read the passage in Isa 59:9-15a, we see a bleak picture indeed, till we get to Isa 59:15b-19, when the divine warrior takes up the armour. When we get to Isa 59:20, the verse rings with hope with the words: “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. The Redeemer did come at great cost, giving His very life. And this is our sure hope for the future. Rom 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

Do we regularly put on this helmet, remembering the past, present, and future aspects of our salvation, building ourselves up with its encouragements. This is a weapon against Satan as it sets our situations and temptations in perspective. We must often think of the day we will die, and even more into the glorious future to the day of resurrection when we will see the fulfilment of our hope.