Highlight:

(17)  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Ephesians 6:17

Explanation:

The reference here is to the helmet of salvation.  In what way is the helmet like salvation?

It is important in Biblical interpretation to think about the audience that is being spoken to in the verse.  In these verses the person who is “in Christ” is being addressed.  The Christian is told to “put on the whole armor of God”, which means that it is possible to live life without the armor being worn.

If someone is “in Christ” can they stop being “in Christ”?  Everything in Ephesians points to the fact that you cannot lose your salvation.  We are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.  We are told not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God whereby we are sealed until the day of redemption.  He is grieved when we do wrong because He cannot leave the believer.

What is being expressed here as the Helmet of Salvation is the assurance of our salvation.

(8)  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.

1 Thessalonians 5:8

To further prove this interpretation as proper, Paul may have had in mind Isaiah 59:17 as he used the term “helmet of salvation” here.

(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 cloke.

Isaiah 59:17

In this verse it is the LORD that is wearing the helmet of salvation.  He is not the one in need of salvation, but the one bringing salvation.  In bringing salvation He is victorious.  He wins.  It’s this confident assurance that he saves.

In the same way, a believer that fights can where the helmet of salvation, knowing that he will not suffer the ultimate blow.  There is nothing that can happen in spiritual battle that will make it so that He will not spend eternity with Christ. 

Application:

There is a confidence that we can have in the fight that we are victorious.  Satan wants us to doubt whether or not we are in Christ, unless we are not.  He wants us to be assured of our salvation if we are not truly saved.  If we are saved, he wants us to live in doubt, without confidence in the Lord as we battle.

Here is the truth: Our confidence is not in ourselves. Our confidence is in the Lord. We are not conquerors through us. We are not saved on our own. Our confidence is in Christ because we are in Christ.

(31)  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  (32)  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  (33)  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

(34)  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

(35)  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  (36)  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  (37)  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

(38)  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  (39)  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-39

You did not earn your salvation.

You couldn’t keep your salvation.

God gave you salvation when you put your faith and trust in him.

We are sealed until the day of redemption and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Response:

Lord God, help my confidence to be in you alone today. Thank you for saving me! Amen.