The Helmet of Salvation

The armor of God, found in Ephesians 6:14-18, is broken down into six distinct pieces of equipment. As a part of this protection, the Helmet of Salvation is given by God to His Christians. How do we put it on, and keep it on? In order to answer these questions, we must first ask why a helmet?

The Roman military pragmatically designed their helmets to be easily identifiable, especially in the heat of battle. Also, a Roman soldier was meant to advance toward the enemy, which their helmets reflected, providing maximum protection with deliberate front-facing focus. Applying this spiritually, God designed Christians to be distinct from the world, modeled after Christ and desires for us to be focused, especially on and off the battlefield, as victorious conquerors.

Consider how a helmet would focus a person. By restricting their vision with the borders of the helmet, the soldier would have an easier time marching toward the enemy, without the risk of being distracted. These potential distractions could cost the soldier his life, but also the lives of the soldiers around him. This spiritual imagery of the salvation of God as the borders (filter) for our eyes, how might this impact the way we think and see the world? This is why a helmet originating from/belonging to (the word “of” referring to the origin) salvation would be used to represent our salvation. Because it protects the mind of the inner man, not only from danger but also needless distraction, allowing us to see the world with true spiritual focus, helping us interact circumspectly, even in the most difficult situations (Eph. 5:15-21).

Now how does one put on their helmet, and keep it on?
First consider how salvation is gained and from whence
it comes: From the Father, through the Son, guaranteed
by the Spirit (Eph. 1:3-14). Choosing now to walk by
the life He has given in Christ, not as we once walked
as dead, but made alive by blood and faith in baptism
(Eph. 2:1-13). Therefore Paul gives his prayer in Ephesians
3:14-21, wherein he states, “that He would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with
might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may
dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted
and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with
all the saints what is the width and length and depth and
height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge;
that you may be filled with all the fulness of God;”
(Eph. 3:16-19).

Seeing the helmet, which guards the mind and filters the
thoughts, is paired with the “Sword of the Spirit, which is
the Word of God;” (Eph. 6:17), is placed on by Christ to
strengthen the inner man with might by the riches of His
glory. It is maintained through the continual knowledge of
the Word that one may comprehend the complete and full
love of Christ with the brethren, your fellow soldiers. It is
about the mindset we must use to be pleasing to God.

It is incumbent upon us to choose to continue to keep
the helmet on, just like all the other pieces of equipment,
allowing the salvation that we have been blessed with, paired
with the Word, to guide our thoughts and actions towards
the goal. Fighting the battles we must, knowing God has
already made us victorious, just as Christ, our conquering
King and savior.

-Michael Wesolowski