The Helmet of Salvation

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: The Helmet of Salvation
Keywords: "salvation" "thinking"
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Never — neither here in Ephesians 6 nor anywhere else — does the Bible tell Christians to attack the devil. The devil attacks us — and we are not to attack back. We are to simply stand firm. AND, we can be confident that we have the capacity to stand firm or we would not be commanded to do so!

Our standing firm, though, will only be successful as we use the armor Paul lists. That armor is described in verses quoted below. For the next few days, we are going to take a look at the armor Paul recommends we use in the fight to stand strong in the day of sexual temptation.

Passage: Ephesians 6:10-20*

10. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.

11. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

14. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15. and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16. in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.

17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

19. and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

20. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Questions

In verse 17 (above) Paul tells Christians to take up the "helmet of salvation."

1. Against what would a helmet protect a soldier in ancient warfare?

 

2. Why would Paul instruct believers to put on a helmet made of salvation? What would THAT kind of a helmet protect?

 

Practical help

It isn’t too hard to see the importance of a good helmet for the warrior. A helmet protected against swords in the ancient world and protects against bullets and more in the modern battle.

Christians who face the attacks of the enemy need a good helmet, too. Since we obviously don’t put on a literal helmet, Paul is speaking metaphorically. The helmet covers the head, and he is advising us to put something on that covers and protects our head, our brain, our THINKING.

What is "on the mind" of the victorious Christian? SALVATION!

The thoughts of the Christian who is standing firm against the schemes of the devil are never too far removed from the enormity of the sacrifice of Jesus when He died on the cross; never far from thoughts about the power of the resurrection. The Christian who is standing firm and is successfully resisting hardly ever lets a day go by without thanking Jesus for the free gift of salvation.

Christians who are resisting Satan’s schemes to view smut are making it a point to meditate on the glories of their salvation, and finding in that meditation great protection and strength to stand firm.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."