Legacy of a Warrior: The Helmet of Salvation

A helmet protects your head. Whether it be an athlete, a motorcyclist or a soldier, or even a kid just learning to ride her bike, people know that helmets are important cranial protection. In chapter six verse seventeen of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul used the analogy of a warrior’s helmet to describe how our salvation through Christ protects us.

First, our salvation helps us to know something vitally important. And second, our salvation helps us to think in certain ways. Knowing and thinking — two functions of our brain, things that need protection by the helmet of salvation.

Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. (Ephesians 6:17)

First, God wants you to know that you are saved. Here are three evidences of salvation:

1. You turn away from sin, and you trust in Christ.

This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” yet doesn’t keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him: The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked. (1 Jn 2:3-6)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. (2 Cor 5:17)

2. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in you.

This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given assurance to us from His Spirit. (1 Jn 4:13)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

3. You continue to walk with Jesus over time.

As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. (John 8:30)

Second, God wants you to think like a saved person. As a person who has been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, set your mind on Christ. Learn to think like a saved person. Right thinking leads to right living. Let God transform your mind so that you think in ways that honor Him. Right thoughts produce right words, right decisions and right actions. God will help you. Immerse yourself in the Bible, His Word. The Bible will teach you to think like a saved person.

For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. (Rom 8:5)

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Rom 12:1-2)

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable —if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. (Phil 4:8)