The Helmet of Salvation

The Shield, Helmet and Sword are to be “taken up”. We’ve seen how faith in action protects us from harm and ensures that we do the work of God, now we see how trusting in God’s ultimate salvation must be lived out to effectively protect our minds in the heat of spiritual conflict. The protection of our minds doesn’t only save us though, it has a powerful effect on those around us.

Scripture

Ephesians 6:16-17 ESV In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Bible Study Questions

The God who saves, the Salvation that protects our minds

Trusting that God will come through and save us in the troubles we face if good, it’s taught and demonstrated in Scripture, but is this what the Helmet of Salvation is? How is the trust in God’s Saving power demonstrated in the following verses in Daniel, and do you think it’s more the Shield of Faith or the Helmet of Salvation?

Daniel 3:16-18 ESV Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Daniel 3:28-29 ESV Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

The Ultimate Salvation is the Helmet

In contrast to the example of Daniel’s friends faith, we see that Stephen’s trust in God directed in a different way. He was able to endure a tortuous execution without despairing and without losing faith in His Saviour. How are the two examples (Daniel and Acts) different, and how are they similar?

Acts 7:58-60 ESV Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

The problem, the attack of doubt and despair, and the Truth of God’s Salvation

Why do we need a Helmet? Whether we’re trusting in God to rescue us from some immediate and temporal trial, or clinging to the hope of His ultimate Salvation, we’re going to be tempted and attacked in the mind. What does this attack usually look like according to Peter, and what is the Truth about God’s wonderful saving power?

2 Peter 3:4-7 ESV They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

2 Peter 3:9-11 ESV The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

Jesus is coming back, to fulfil every promise

At the beginning of Acts, we read that Jesus’ disciples were ecstatic that He had completed His mission, died and been raised to life, and asked if He was now going to restore the Kingdom to Israel as promised through the prophets. What does Jesus answer tell us about their expectation, and about His return?

Acts 1:6-11 ESV So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Actualising God’s Ultimate Rescue, it’s getting closer

God promises to gather His people Israel back to their land, back to Jerusalem. He promises to gather all the nations against His people at Jeruslame so that He can enter into Judgement against them. He promises to rescue them from the most horrific suffering. Look at the predictions of Joel, Ezekiel and Zechariah. Their messages date from roughly 2800, 2600 and 2500 years ago respectively. Have their messages been fulfilled yet, and do they look closer or further from being fulfilled in light of the current war in Israel?

Joel 3:1-4 ESV “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. 4 “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily.

Ezekiel 39:26-29 ESV They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations. 28 Then they shall know that I am the LORD their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. 29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.”

Zechariah 14:1-4 ESV Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.

How it ends, the Ultimate Salvation, the Ultimate Victory

We know that the Salvation of God is coming, we know it’s getting closer everyday. Preparing for His return and planning for it, protects our minds. How does having and itinerary change the way we think about coming events, and what does the itinerary of Jesus’ rescue plan look like?

Revelation 19:19-20 ESV And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

Revelation 20:7-10 ESV And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 21:1-4 ESV Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

The Helmet doesn’t just bless the wearer

The Helmet of Salvation, being aware of and prepared for the immanent return of Jesus is a powerful defence for our minds, protecting our faith and keeping us from giving up or falling away. We must use this piece of armour but regularly thinking of Jesus’ return and actively planning and preparing for it, knowing that doing so keeps our minds safe, but what else can wearing the Helmet do? Who else could have been prfoundly effected by Stephen wearing the Helmet of Salvation?

Acts 17:24-25 ESV The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Acts 7:47-49 ESV But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, 49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?