Lesson 22: The Helmet of Salvation, part 1

Ephesians 6:17 - …and take the helmet of salvation,

The fifth piece of armor we need to put on for God’s victory that He has already given us is the Helmet of Salvation. This is the fifth piece that gives us the ability to stand our ground and not buckle or break under pressure when the dust clears from the battle that we are in.

The first thing we are going to see about the Helmet of Salvation is that It protects your head from serious injury. Once again, we look at what this piece of armor was like for the Roman Soldier and find out what it literally means for us today.

The Roman soldier’s helmets varied in form. For example, a gladiator’s helmet was bronze with a face mask and decorated with a fish on its crest. A legionnaire’s helmet had a crest of horse hair to make them look taller to their enemy. The normal helmet was made of either leather or metal, with a band to protect the forehead and plates to protect the cheeks. They also had extension down the back to protect the neck. They also usually had a visor that could be flipped into place to protect the face.


These helmets were typically hot and uncomfortable and would only be put on by a soldier when he faced impending danger. A Roman soldier who lost his helmet was in danger of receiving severe head wounds which would at the very least, disorient him and render him ineffective and in danger of further injury. He would be foolish to enter a battle without his helmet on. He knew that the helmet would protect his head from arrows as well as ward off blows from the enemy's broadsword that was three to four-feet long with a massive handle that was held with both hands like a baseball bat. They would lift it over their heads to bring down upon an opponent's head dealing a crushing blow to the skull. The helmet on one's head was the only way to deflect this crushing death blow. In fact, an archaeological dig discovered a skeleton with a cleavage right through the skull, indicating that this fatal wound was quite likely made by someone who attacked the person with a broadsword and who did not have their helmet on.

Just like a Roman soldier would be foolish to enter battle without his helmet, so it is with the Christian. Please do not leave home today without your helmet on. In fact, do not ever take it off. Not even when you go to sleep (even spiritually) because the helmet of salvation is part of the full armor, not an accessory to be added on later. You need it now! Why? Because imagine going into a battle where the enemy is so numerous you cannot even count them. You cannot even SEE them.

More about this helmet in our next lesson.