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Part of the series: THE ARMOR OF GOD
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THE ARMOR OF GOD

 

The Helmet of Salvation

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Salvation is spoken of in two ways in the New Testament.

1.      As a present reality (II Cor. 6:2)

 

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee:  behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

 

2.      As a future blessing (Rom. 13:11)

 

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep:  for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

 

B.     That future salvation is that for which we long and yearn in this life.

1.      We have been saved by the blood of Christ.

2.      We anticipate our ultimate salvation in that place called heaven (Col. 1:5).

3.      That salvation is our hope.

a.      Titus 3:7

 

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

b.      I Peter 1:13

 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

C.     The apostle Paul tells us that this salvation is our helmet that is to be worn as soldiers in the Lord’s army.

1.      Ephesians 6:18a

 

And take the helmet of salvation…

 

2.      I Thessalonians 5:8

 

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast plate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

 

I.                BACKGROUND OF THE ROMAN SOLDIER’S HELMET

 

A.    The Roman helmet was called a “cassis” or “galea.”

 

B.     The word in the Latin means “to circle the head.”

 

C.     This helmet consisted of five parts.

1.      A bronze helmet with an iron inner plate and a leather skull cap

2.      A short beak around the neck

3.      A metal frontal band to help protect the eyes

4.      Two hinged cheek pieces

5.      Decorative feathers attached to the top when not in battle.

D.    The purpose of the helmet was to protect the head from blows when in battle.

1.      A blow to the head could cause one to be dazed and confused.

2.      A strike to the head could knock the soldier out.

3.      The right hit could bring death to the soldier.

 

II.              CHRISTIANITY IS A RELIGION OF THE MIND

 

A.    Several passages emphasize this.

1.      Philippians 2:5

 

Let this mind be in your which was also in Christ Jesus.

 

2.      Romans 8:5-6

 

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

 

3.      Romans 12:2

 

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what this that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

 

4.      II Corinthians 10:4-5

 

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

 

B.     Our initial salvation involved our minds.

1.      We loved God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matt. 22:37).

2.      We believed in our heart that Jesus was raised from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10).

3.      Our obedience was also from the heart (Rom. 6:17-18).

 

C.     Satan knows how valuable the mind is.  Therefore, he attacks it (II Cor. 11:3).

 

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

1.      Satan’s attacks in the Garden of Eden were upon Eve’s mind.

2.      See Genesis 6:5

 

D.    For this reason, all of us must take the helmet of salvation.

 

III.            WHAT THE HELET OF SALVATION DOES

 

A.    Hope keeps us focused in the right direction.

1.      Hope involves things that are invisible and that are in the future (Rom. 8:24-25).  These things are located in the heavenly realm.

2.      When we take our helmets off, we begin to look backwards.  This is a dangerous look.

a.      Lot’s wife (Gen. 19:26)

 

But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

 

b.      Luke 9:62

 

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

 

 

c.      See Colossians 3:1-3; Hebrews 12:1-2; Proverbs 4:25

 

B.     Hope provides the willingness to live godly lives (I John 3:2-3)

 

Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

 

C.     Hope gives courage.

1.      Moses (Heb. 11:27)

 

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:  for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

 

2.      Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:2)

3.      Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan. 3:16-18)

4.      The apostles (Act s5:27-29)

 

D.    Hope causes us to persevere, that is, not give up.

1.      Hope proclaims that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (I Cor. 15:58).

2.      Hope tells us not to be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not (Gal. 6:9).

3.      Hope exhorts us to be zealous of good works while we look for God’s Son from heaven (Tit. 2:13-14).

4.      Example:  Anne Frank

a.      A Jewish diarist

b.      Put into a German concentration camp in 1944

c.      She thought her mother and father were dead.

d.      Her sister died in the camp.

e.      Anne died shortly thereafter.

f.       Why?  No hope.  What would have happened if Anne had known that the father was not dead but alive?

 

E.     Our helmet of the hop of salvation also protects us.

1.      From temptations (James 1:12)

2.      From trials (John 16:33; II Cor. 6:14)

3.      From worldliness (Rom. 12:1-2; II Pet. 3:11)

4.      From enemies who mock and persecute us (Matt. 5:10-12; I Pet. 4:13)

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Our salvation and the wonderful hope attached to it should consume our minds.

 

B.     Watch those who cease to think about salvation and spiritual things.  The world, the flesh, and the here and now consume their thoughts and behaviors.

 

C.     Psalm 140:7

 

O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.