The Helmet of Salvation

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The helmet of salvation and the shield of faith are intimately connected, though perfectly distinct. The latter is confidence in what God is; the former in what He has done. The shield conveys the idea of a more general confidence in God Himself, the helmet of a more special personal assurance in the deliverance He has wrought for us in Christ Jesus. Thus, as we have seen, the one is over all, the other crowns all. Our defensive armor is complete. We can hold up our heads with holy boldness in the day of battle; we can meet the strongest enemy, or all the hosts of hell, with invincible courage. We have put on “the whole armor of God”; we are covered with the strength and the salvation of God. Bless the Lord! We are complete in Him, who is the “head of all principality and power.” What enemy can harm us, what enemy can reach us there? In the light as God is in the light, the rulers of this world’s darkness will never venture there. We are raised in Him even above the angels that never sinned. Wonderful, blessed, glorious truth! May we use it for His glory, the blessing of our souls, and the defeat of our enemies!
A Known Salvation
But have we well considered that our “helmet” is a known salvation? It is more, much more, than merely hoping to be saved at last. The enemy would soon cast down such a helmet from our head. But some might ask, Is it not scriptural to hope for salvation? What does the apostle mean when he says, “For an helmet the hope of salvation?” Surely nothing can be plainer than that. True, but the apostle is speaking in 1 Thessalonians 5 of the hope of the Lord’s coming, not of our forgiveness and acceptance. In this connection, it includes glory, for which, of course, we hope or wait. Some think that whenever and wherever the word “salvation” is used, it must mean the salvation of the soul from sin and hell. This is a great mistake, and it has been the means of perplexing many and leading many into false doctrine. The passage referred to is extremely beautiful. “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.” Those here addressed are the children of light and of the day — children that are walking in communion with God in “faith and love,” and with the bright, far-seeing eye of “hope,” fixed more especially on Christ, who is coming to take us up to be with Himself in glory. This is the true and proper hope of the Christian — the hope of the Lord’s coming. We have now everything but glory. We are still in the natural body, therefore we hope, we wait for the glorious body, but not uncertainly, thank the Lord; no, we “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:22By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2); Phil. 3:2121Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)). But there is another passage which seems to teach, as many say, that a known salvation is impossible in this world—that we must wait till we come to the judgment seat before we can know for certain how it will go with us. It is this: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:1212Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)). Now, it is alleged, we may work well for a while, but sadly fail in the end and come short at last.
Our Final Deliverance From Conflict
As in the other passage, the mistake arises from not seeing the meaning of the word “salvation.” To see its application, the connection must be considered. Both in this verse and throughout the epistle, “salvation” is regarded as a future thing. Paul himself says, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect”(Phil. 3:1212Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12)). This, of course, he could not be until he was with Christ in glory. Clearly then our final deliverance from conflict of every kind is implied in the word “salvation” as here used. Hence Christ is spoken of as a “Savior” in the same chapter, when He comes to transform our bodies of humiliation. “Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)). Here it is not merely a question of the salvation of the soul from sin, but of the body from humiliation. The mistake arises from supposing that “salvation” has only one meaning in the New Testament. Those who think so must often feel in a difficulty. For example, in Romans 13 we read, “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” How is this to be explained? Simply by the context. There is the difficulty. We find it spoken of in connection with “the day,” but the day had not arrived — the day of glory. But it was coming nearer and nearer every day. Hence the heart is cheered and encouraged in conflict by the Spirit’s word which follows: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Rom. 13:1212The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12)).
Working Out Our Salvation
What then, we may ask, is the real meaning of these words, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”? Carefully look for a moment at what goes before and what follows after these words. Then we will find the key to the passage. Paul has left the saints at Philippi; God is with them. Not that God was absent when Paul was present; that is not the question. God never leaves nor forsakes His people. But when a father is present and doing everything for his children, they are disposed to lean on him; when he is away from them, they must think and work for themselves. Thus it was, so far, with the Philippians. “Wherefore,” he says, “my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” The apostle who had labored among them was now far away, a prisoner at Rome. He was no longer present to help them with his counsel and spiritual energy. They were now cast more immediately on God Himself. Hence he says, “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Therefore, they ought to work all the more earnestly, even with “fear and trembling,” seeing God was working in them. He exhorts them to “fear and tremble,” not lest they should fall and be lost, but lest they should dishonor God by any want of zeal, diligence, earnestness or faithfulness, in the day of trial.
They had now to meet the wiles of the enemy without the aid of Paul’s presence, but God was acting in them; therefore their loss was turned into great gain. They were thrown entirely upon God for all needed help, counsel and guidance. In place of weakening the believer, it nerves him for service and warfare. At the same time, we must not forget that there is a deep and solemn warning in the apostle’s words. It is as if he had said, You have many difficulties and dangers to meet and overcome in your path through the wilderness. The conflict is a serious one: You have the efforts of a mighty, subtle and active foe to war against, and I am no longer with you to help with my counsel, to exhort and stir you up by my example. You must be more prayerful, more watchful, more circumspect, more personally dependent on the resources of God Himself. “It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Thus were they crowned, and so should every warrior be crowned, in the day of battle, with a known and an enjoyed salvation.
Salvation Known and Enjoyed
The apostle is our noble example in all this, as well as our wise counselor. It was this helmet of salvation that gave him, when a prisoner and in chains, such boldness and energy in the midst of his enemies. Undaunted by the power of the world that was arrayed before him, he lifted up his head in the conscious enjoyment of his relationship to God and earnestly wished his judges and his audience were as happy as himself. “I would to God,” said Paul to Agrippa, “that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds” (Acts 26:2929And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. (Acts 26:29)). He was not thinking about himself, for he had nothing to fear for himself; no blow from the enemy could deprive him of his helmet. It was secured by the cross and the glory of Jesus, and brightly it shone before all. This present, known salvation set him free to think about others, care for the good of others, and appeal to the hearts of others, in words of burning eloquence. Thus may we war and fight, with salvation as our helmet, through the power of an ungrieved Holy Spirit.
Things New and Old, Vol. 14 (adapted)