THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10)

Devotion 8 of 15

THE HELMET OF SALVATION

The outcome of the good fight into which we have been called is not determined by our own strength or wisdom. Rather, victory is secured because of the nature of our weaponry, and the great God who has provided it. As it is written, "For the weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal, but mighty THROUGH GOD to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor 10:4-5).

All of the armor is made effective while STANDING, resisting the encroachments of the enemy. "STAND THEREFORE," with your loins girded with the truth, the breastplate of righteousness protecting the vitals of your soul, your feet fitted with the peace that comes from believing the Gospel, and the shield of faith hoisted above all to quench the poisonous darts of the wicked one. In the words of the prophet Jeremiah, "Order the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle! Harness the horses, and mount up, you horsemen! Stand forth with your helmets, polish the spears, PUT ON THE ARMOR!" (Jer 46:3-4, NKJV).

The night is far spent! It is time for the people of God to arise, put on the whole armor of God, and stand against the wiles of the devil. An evil day is upon us, and we must stand arrayed in the panoply of God!

This brings us to the next piece of armor: the helmet. " . . . And take the helmet of salvation . . . " (KJV) "Put on salvation as your helmet" (NLT) – Ephesians 7:17a " . . . and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." – 1 Thessalonians 5:8

The allusion is to Isaiah's prophesy of the coming Messiah. "For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an HELMET OF SALVATION upon His head . . . " (Isa 59:17). One might counter that Jesus had no need for salvation, and thus could not be required to wear it as a helmet. But this is a naive view, and bears no resemblance to the truth. When Jesus grappled with temptation in the garden, He was wearing this indispensable "helmet." Thus, it is written, "Who in the days of his flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to SAVE HIM from death, and was heard in that he feared" (Heb 5:7). His heavenly Father did not "save Him from death" by removing the obligation for the Son to die, or lay down His life. He did, however, save Him from death in raising Him from the dead. The point is that this helmet has already been worn by our Savior, and proved adequate for protection.

What is "the helmet of salvation," or the "helmet of the hope of salvation?" This is the personal knowledge of salvation that grows out of the remission of sins. In his great prophecy following the formal naming of his son John the Baptist, Zecharias spoke of this aspect of redemption. Going before the Lord, Christ's forerunner would "give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins" (Lk 1:77). This was an acute awareness of salvation, and a persuasion of its reality.

If men are going to stand against the artifices of the wicked one, they will have to know where they stand with God! They cannot hope to survive his attacks if they are not sure about their position with the Lord of glory. It is one thing to pass from death unto life (John 5:24; 1 John 3:14). It is another thing to have a confident knowledge of it. It is one thing to be delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col 1:13). It is quite another matter to fight with a firm persuasion of this reality. Countless believers, because of flawed teaching and novicehood, live in doubt of their acceptance by God. They are not sure about their sonship. They do not have confidence their names are written in heaven, or that God is for them. They are running and fighting "uncertainly," without confidence or assurance (1 Cor 9:26).

And what are such poor souls to do? They must "take the helmet of salvation." They must give ear again to the "glorious Gospel of the blessed God" (1 Tim 1:11). They must exert themselves to believe "the record God has given of His Son" (1 John 5:10-11). God will meet them in the effort, and will, through the Holy Spirit, fill them "with all joy and peace in believing" (Rom 5:13).

It will not be long until the "full assurance of faith" will rise in their hearts, together with the "full assurance of hope" and the "full assurance of understanding" (Col 2:2; Heb 6:11; 10:22). Er the battle waxes long they will be able to confidently shout, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Tim 1:12).

The "helmet of salvation" protects the mind. It keeps doubt, fear, and unbelief from captivating our thoughts. With this "helmet" on our heads, Satan's delusions are exposed, and become impotent. The accusations of the wicked one fall to the ground when the child of God knows who he is. He can run to the enemy like David did to Goliath, knowing the victory belongs to him. Now, child of God, "take the helmet of salvation!"

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name I thank You for the knowledge of salvation, the full assurance of faith, and the full assurance of hope. Grant me grace to put on the "helmet of salvation on, and never take it off!

– Tomorrow: THE HOPE OF SALVATION --