The Helmet of Salvation

Bible Passage: Ephesians 6:17a

As Paul describes the armour of God, he wants the Ephesian Christians to understand how God has equipped them for spiritual battle. The enemy will attack in all sorts of ways, and Paul lists six of the things that God has given us to stand firm in the face of those attacks. Each of these is compared to a piece of armour worn by a Roman soldier. The fifth piece of the armour listed is the helmet of salvation. In this sermon we consider how salvation past, present and future can guard our minds from attack.

Salvation – We have been saved: The salvation of Christians is an objective reality based on the death and resurrection of Jesus around two thousand years ago. As Jesus hung on the cross, he declared ‘it is finished’, and there is nothing that needs to be added to secure the salvation of those who believe. Because of this, whenever Christians face attack in the form of accusation, we have what is needed to rebut the attack. It is true that we have sinned in the past, continue to struggle with sin in the present, and will doubtless sin again in the future. Nevertheless, those sins have been taken by Jesus on the cross and the price has been paid. As we feel condemned by our own thoughts or by other people, we can bring to mind what Jesus has done and guard our minds with the truth that we have been saved from the penalty of sin.

Salvation – We are being saved: The salvation that we have received is both an objective truth and a present reality, and that salvation is being worked out in our lives in increasing measure as we grow in maturity as disciples of Jesus. Indeed, as Paul writes to the church in Philippi, he instructs them to ‘work out your salvation with fear and trembling’ (Phil 2:12) and assures them that they can do this because God is already at work in them. When Christians face attack in the form of temptation, we can bing to mind the truths that God is at work in our lives to transform us into the likeness of his son, that we are no longer slaves to sin and that we do have the power to resist ungodliness. We can protect our minds from this kind of attack with the truth that are being saved from the power of sin.

Salvation – We will be saved: Sometimes when the Bible speaks about salvation, it does so with a future focus (e.g. Romans 13:11) and has in mind the day when Jesus returns. It will be on the day of final judgement that those who have put faith in Jesus will be spared, and will dwell with him on a perfect renewed earth where sin, death and suffering are no more (Revelation 21:3-4). Because of this, when Christians face attack in the form of suffering and persecution, we have the certain hope that this will not last forever and there is an eternal promise of glory. Suffering for Jesus is not in vain, and knowing the hope we have transforms the way we suffer. It can guard our minds in the difficult times to remember the promise that we will be saved from the presence of sin.

Potential Applications:

• Offer people the opportunity to respond to the message of salvation and put their trust in Jesus.
• Some will struggle with assurance of salvation. Offer to pray for any who have responded to Jesus but still doubt their salvation.
• Some will be facing suffering or temptation. Perhaps you can invite the Spirit to meet with these people and bring them faith and hope for their situation.