The Helmet of Salvation

Introduction:

What is the Helmet of Salvation?

What Was the Roman Helmet?

Was made of leather, and then covered in mettle.

It’s purpose was to protect the head of the soldier from large swords that were carried by horse-riding enemies, that were seeking to lop off the head of soldiers that were on foot.

This head protection was an essential aspect of the soldier's armor, because without it he was vulnerable to one of the most common attacks of his day.

What is the Helmet of Salvation?

The Scripture Teaches That There are three phases by which God saves the Christian.

Justification: You have been delivered from the penalty of sin.

Sanctification: You are being saved from the power of sin

Glorification: You will be saved from the presence and the pain of sin.

It’s this third phase of salvation that the Apostle is talking about here.

1 Thessalonians 5:8–11 NASB95

But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Why Do You Need the Helmet of Salvation?

The function of the Helmet of Salvation is to Bring Encouragement to the Christians in the Heat of the Battle.

Remember this is part of the armor that you take up in the heat of the battle.

This Christian life is a battle and sometimes you just needed to be reminded dear friends, it’s not always going to be like this.

Encouragement 2: One day you will be free from the Presence of Sin

1 Corinthians 15:51–58 NASB95

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

A day is coming when there will be no more sin. At the time of the return of Christ, we will be resurrected just as He has been resurrected, and sin will be defeated. Our bodies will be glorified. And we will be able to worship Jesus unhindered by sin.

Every Christian who truly loves the Lord is in a bloody war with sin. Their flesh compels them go back to the old sinful patterns that God has rescued them from. And the Spirit of God is at war with these sinful inclinations in the heart of the Christian. And there is a bloody war, because we hate our sin, and we want to hate our sin more, and we want to have victory over sin, and there can be victory over sin in Christ, but it’s a fight. It’s a war.

The helmet of salvation reminds us that Christ has secured for us a place in eternal glory, where there will no longer be a war with sin.

As you fight your sin, remember the hope of our salvation. Dear friends, there will be victory over sin, because Christ concurs all of His enemies.

And this is a tremendous encouragement as we war with our sin.

Encouragement 2: On Day you will be free from the PAIN of sin.

Revelation 21:1–8 NASB95

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

First, look at verse 3. What this verse says right here, this is the most awesome thing we have to look forward to in eternity. He with come and be among us, and dwell among us. What’s so awesome about the New Heaven and the New earth? JESUS IS GOING TO BE THERE! And we are going to get to spend eternity with Him!

But look at verse 4. No more:

Death

Mourning

Crying

Pain

Do you know why there won’t be any of these things in glory? Because they are all the result of the curse of sin. And sin and all of its curses have been defeated by Christ on the cross, and at the final judgment, they will be no more. Those that are in Christ will never experience them ever again, because of what Christ has done on the cross.

Now, I want you to listen to me right now dear friends. Because I know some of you have been going through it right here recently. It’s not always going to be like this.

The helmet of salvation reminds you of the hope of glory. That day is coming when you mamma’s that of lost babies, you are going to get to hold those babies. A day is coming with those of you who have lost loved ones who are in Christ, you will be reunited with those loved ones in glory, to worship Christ together for eternity. Those of you who are facing sickness, pain, and suffering, those of you who are loving and serving a loved one who is sick or in pain, a day is coming when Jesus is going to wipe away the tears from your eyes. Your loved ones who are in Christ their bodies will be restored, and you will worship Jesus with them side by side for eternity.

How to Put On the Helmet of Salvation? (In closing)

I want to close here by drawing special attention to two of the verses I mentioned above.

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

Revelation 21:7 ““He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”

The helmet of salvation is a protection to us because when we are in the thick of the battle it reminds us that a day is coming, sooner than you realize, when there will be no more fighting.

Are you struggling right now Christian?

Are you fighting sin? Are you wearing with doubt, fear, or worry? Do not despair dear friend. You can’t see it right now because you are in te thick of the battle, but the victory is yours in Christ. So you must keep pressing on in faith. Though you cannot see it with your eyes right now, the victory is up ahead. It is yours in Christ. Jesus, on the cross, has purchased for you an eternal place in glory! Press on dear Christian. Press on toward that calling and that hope.

Let’s pray.