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THE HELMET OF SALVATION
EPHESIANS 6:17a
(July 21, 2019 – SUN p.m.- MBC baesa)
The Helmet of Salvation is one of several items of God’s armor for Believers listed in Ephesians 6.
The Belt of Truth: very necessary because it holds everything together.
The Breastplate of Righteousness: very reliable because it protects your testimony from body blows.
The Shoes of Preparation of the Gospel of peace: very essential because it enable you to stand on the firm ground of the gospel, to equip believers to stand against the forces of darkness.
The Shield of faith: very usable because we need to quench the ferocious attacks of the devil.
The Helmet of Salvation: very valuable because it reminds believer to be sober, watchful against the subtle strategies of Satan and constant readiness for the coming of the day of the Lord. This is our topic for today:
I- AN EQUIPMENT OF THE HELMET OF SALVATION
A. Directive of New Mandate
1. The needed Items
a. Stand having girt (v. 14)
Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”
b. Stand … having put on (v. 14)
Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”
c. Stand … having shod (v. 15)
Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”
d. Stand … taking up (v. 16)
Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
2. The New Instruction
• After laying down necessary items in battling against the evil forces in verses 14-16, Paul added a new imperative by instructing them to take the helmet of salvation in verse 17.
e. Take the helmet (v. 17)
Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
• Once we wear the helmet it is a signal the battle begins.
v “On marches it was slung on a strap. Putting on the helmet marked the beginning of battle.” –- Albrecht, in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, vol. 5, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964), 314
B. Duty of the Helmet
The Role, duty or function of the Helmet--It protects the head, skull, neck, cheeks and chin.
Ancient Helmets—were leather and later adorned with metal
Romans helmet—were iron developed by Romans but returned to bronze during New Testament time.
Greek literature have no figurative use unlike we have in the New Testament (used only two times in the NT- in Ephesians 6 and 1 Thessalonians 5)
C. Definition of the helmet
• Our passage today is somewhat ambiguous or uncertain. However it was in some way related to salvation.
• Believer’s Initial or present salvation received and also have the future deliverance.
Tom Constable says: “Since Christians are to put this salvation on, the salvation or deliverance in view seems to refer to the present and future deliverance we need when under attack by Satan (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:8). We have already received salvation from condemnation. We receive this present salvation (deliverance) as we receive all salvation, namely by calling on God and requesting it (Ephesians 1:15–23; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13).” -- Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible, Ephesians 6.17.
• This salvation has to do with the antagonistic battle we face with Satan (v. 16) and the principalities and powers (v. 12)
Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
• We notice In the NASB translation that the phase is in all capital which seemed emphasise how valuable the helmet of salvation is.
Ephesians 6:17 “And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (NASB)
II- AN ECHO OF THE HELMET OF GOD (Isaiah 59:15b-20)
A. The Lord eyed the Pitiful condition of the People (v. 15b- 16a)
Isaiah 59:15-16 “Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. 16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.”
• Here, the Lord viewed the miserable condition of His people. The Lord was displeased for there is no justice, no man to act as deliverer, and no one is able to intercede.
B. The Lord exercised His power as solution for the problem (v. 16b-18)
1. The sustaining forces comes from the Lord’s own character (v. 16b)
Isaiah 59:16b “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
• It says that God’s own arm and righteousness energised Him.
2. The supports by the Lord on His armaments (v. 17)
Isaiah 59:17 “For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.”
• Notice the enumerated equipment by God: Breastplate of righteousness, helmet of salvation, garments of vengeance, and the mantle of zeal.
3. The security of the Lord’s battle plan (v. 18)
Isaiah 59:18 “According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.”
• Based on this particular verse, the Lord planned for the battle. It says the Lord will repay his enemies according to their deeds and will judge the opposing nations of the (islands) gentiles. Notice that this is in future tense.
4. The strong reaction of those who watch (v. 19)
Isaiah 59:19 “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”
• The witnesses reaction of the Lord’s action is fear and see His glory. Notice again, this is in future tense.
5. The Sovereign name of the avenging warrior: “A Redeemer come to Zion” (v. 20)
Isaiah 59:20 “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.”
• Here introduced who He is and what is His name. Notice once again, this is in the future tense.
C. The Lesson exhortation from Isaiah must be learned with a purpose.
• The themes of Isaiah is don’t trust in men, but trust in God. We must look forward for God is coming to deliver His people.
D. The Link explained from the Passage of Isaiah to the writings of Paul.
• Look the same phrases of the word helmet and breastplate mentioned in Ephesians 6:17, 14 and Isaiah 59:17.
• The difference: In Isaiah, God wears the armor while in Ephesians, the believer wears the armor into battle.
• We need to wear the Helmet of Salvation that God wears as He is with us fighting for us as we face the battle.
• What battles Paul is thinking about? Paul wants us to see the constant affliction and anxieties of life we all face and experience caused by opposing power of Satan.
• But is that all? Paul used a very similar metaphor in the book of 1 Thessalonians 5.
III- AN ENCOURAGING HOPE IN THE DAY OF TRIBULATION (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11)
1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
A. Comparison of the Terms:
• The terminology used here in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 is somewhat different from Isaiah 59:17 and Ephesians 6:14, 17.
--1 Thessalonians 5:8 "breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”
--Isaiah 59:17 "righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation" and Ephesians 6:14 "breastplate of righteousness” and v.17 "helmet of salvation".
• We find here the terms the Breastplate of faith and love then the helmet of the hope of salvation which is the other New Testament use of the term.--v.8
B. Context of the Topic:
• As we consider the context it is about the coming of the day of the Lord as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-7)
C. Coming Trial:
• Paul wants the believers who are children of light and of the day to be prepared for the coming trial.
1. Reminder for the Believers to be girded with armor (all defensive pieces)
2. Reminder for the believers that God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining salvation (v.9)
1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”
• Paul wants the believers to be aware that we need to be prepared without compromise with this world but living faithfully to the Word of God and serving consistently whatever the cost before Jesus coming at the Rapture
3. Reminder for the believers the effect of the gospel that we will live together with him (v. 10)
1 Thessalonians 5:10 “Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."
• The Apostle said that whether awake or asleep at his coming. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. That is before tribulation comes, Jesus will come and caught up the church to be with the Lord forever.
4. Reminder for the believers therefore, to encourage one another with these words (v. 11)
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
Conclusion:
• The helmet of salvation provides us an assurance and confidence as we face the constant battle from day to day. Let us wear the helmet of God.
• And the helmet of salvation gives us much more assurance regarding the coming day of wrath but God saved us that we will not enter into that wrath.
• God has His helmet and we wear His own armor, He does the fighting for us. It says, the “a Redeemer is come to Zion.”
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