The Helmet of Salvation

Take the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17).

The helmet protects us against false knowledge peddled by the devil. In particular, the helmet keeps three things about salvation firmly in our heads.

First, the devil lures us into thinking that sin and its wages have not been taken care of. He constantly undermines the central message of salvation by making us feel inadequate; that some how we need to earn God’s approval. Nothing is free in the economy of this world, so certainly nothing can be free in God’s economy either.

The truth of our salvation is told in in various ways. Paul writes, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1); and “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Ephesians 2:4-5); and “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Salvation is a gift from God, free and clear. We can do nothing to earn it. The helmet of salvation keeps this truth firmly planted between our ears.

Second, the devil entices us to believe that even though faith in Jesus’ is our ticket to heaven, until then we remain mired in our sin, that we will never do anything good. God saved us and then left us on our own till we die. We can’t win against Satan, its no use trying. Salvation does not make any difference in the here and now.

In contrast, when the Psalmist declares, "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation" (Ps. 118:14) he is affirming that God delivers people from all sorts of disasters: slavery in Egypt, wars with the Canaanites, bondage in Babylon. Salvation includes protection from enemies, a restoration of order in the here and now.

Jesus came "to preach good news to the poor...proclaim release to the captives...[restore] sight to the blind..." (Luke 4:18-19). To the woman healed of a hemorrhage, to the blind man who could now see, to the leper who had been cleansed, he said, "Your faith has saved you." Sometimes he added, “Go, sin no more.” Would he have said that if it were not possible? Paul writes, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).

The Heidelberg Catechism affirms this when it says, “Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him” (A 1). And practicing sabbath means “that every day of my life I rest from my evil ways” (A 103). In this life we will not reach perfection, but by the Spirit’s power, we make a beginning.

The helmet of salvation keeps us from giving up on the fight against sin, we can genuinely pursue spiritual excellence. We can be about our business of proclaiming God's love and care for the world...in word and deed...relishing the freedom and life we have in Christ.

Third, the devil makes us doubt the hope of final deliverance. Christ has tarried so long, why should we still expect him? At the end of the Bible, we see clearly that salvation...restoring order...goes beyond this life. In its beautiful poetic way, Revelation affirms that God will deliver, will save, will make creation good again: no more hunger, no more thirst, no more tears, no more death. Salvation. The helmet of salvation keeps this hope alive.

Satan does his most effective work in our minds! Using lies, twisting and manipulating the truth, he works to create fear, confusion, and doubt. The helmet of salvation shuts him up, silences his evil chatter with the undeniable truth of God. So, let's put it on, keep our heads filled with the good news of the Word of God. Let us stand joyfully, in the good news of our salvation. Let us stand in freedom.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:17-21).