Gospel of Symbolism; “A symbol of the importance of controlling and limiting what enters our body, heart, mind, and being. Figuratively, the helmet suggests that salvation will be had only if we protect our eyes, mind, ears, and mouth from things forbidden by God.”
Ephesians 6:17; “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
The Hebrew word for helmet is perikephalaia. It means an encirclement of the head.
Your thought life is a battleground and determines what road you choose in every aspect of life. The Apostle Paul told the Roman Christians those whose mind was set on the flesh were destined for death, but for those who set their minds on Christ it meant salvation – Romans 8:5.
If we don’t protect our minds we allow all sorts of evil to come in. We need to protect our minds from the media outlets all around us (t.v., radio, music, movies, books…) and we need to protect our minds against false teachings.
The LDS teaching above almost sounds right doesn’t it? However, upon further investigation we learn from the Apostle Paul that salvation is already ours. It’s the object of our faith and hope and we place that on our head. When we’re fitted with a secure helmet of salvation based on truths we’ve learned, we’re kept from the defilement of Satan and have comfort for our soul.
The helmet was a defensive tool in the soldier’s arsenal to protect him from the onslaught of darts, arrows, pummeling of human feet and hands and also any rocks being flung in battle. Soldiers wore them knowing their heads were protected and safe.
Likewise, Christians wear the helmet of salvation knowing we are saved; we’re safe from the fiery darts of false teachings, insults that will be hurled at us because of our beliefs or lurid enticements when we see the quick flashes of nudity on television commercials. The salvation is already there just as a soldier’s helmet is already there before he goes out to the battlefield.
The Church would have you believe salvation is only there if you behave, but Christians know salvation is already there because of what Jesus did and therein lies the difference!
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