Soldiers of Christ

The Biblical basis for Salvation Army Soldiership


     The picture of a Christian as a soldier is one of the most vivid metaphors in the New Testament. It is easy to understand how the image of soldiery readily came to the mind of Paul and the other apostles when we consider that they were daily summoned to engage in spiritual and, at times, physical conflict with satan and his forces.

     Imprisoned in Rome for the second and final time, facing imminent death at the hand of the insane Emperor Nero, the battle-weary apostle Paul wrote a final letter to his young friend, Timothy. Knowing the struggles Timothy was encountering in pastoring the Ephesian Church, the verteran warrior encouraged him with these words: "Endure hardship...like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer" (2 Timothy 2:3,4).

     Modern-day Christians still are enlisted by "the Captain of our salvation" (Hebrews 2:10,KJV) to fight the forces of darkness. As soldiers we are called to:

  • Enlistment: Enlistment is the initial step to becoming a soldier. The person who is seeking soldiership in God's army must first of all make a decision to join. There is no conscription; no one is drafted. A Christian is one who has made a conscious decision to accept Christ as Saviour and follow Him as a disciple. Joshua's words of challenge to the Children of Israel must be affirmed by every Christian recruit: "...Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).


  • Obedience: Jesus said, "If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love...You are MY friends if you do what I command" (John 15:10, 14).


  • Loyalty: The Apostle John tells us in Revelation 2:10, "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer...Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." The Lord's soldier is called to a life of faithfulness and loyalty. His loyalty is to Jesus Christ alone.


  • Discipline: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).


  • Battle: "Fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). "...I urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3). "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).


  • Victory: "...Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). Jesus promised, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

     It is important for the Christian soldier to understand that the Captain of our salvation not only gained the victory for us, but He also provides the spiritual armor needed for the daily battles of life. Paul admonishes the Christian to "put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:11). Divine armor is essential because the Christian faces a formidable, supernatural foe (Ephesians 6:12).

The Christian's armor (Ephesians 6:10-20) includes:

  • The belt of truth (v.14): It is from the soldier's belt that his sword hangs, allowing him a freedom of movement while keeping his weapon close at hand.


  • The breastsplate of righteousness (v.14): A righteous life is the Christian soldier's primary defense.


  • The sandals (v.15): A soldier with his sandals on is ready to move. The Christian is always ready and eager to share the gospel with all whom he meets.


  • The shield of faith (v.16): The word Paul uses here describes an oblong shield which only heavily armored soldiers carried - not the small, round conventional shield. This large shield was made of sectioned wood. It was pitch-soaked, and when fiery darts were thrown, the defender would duck behind his shield, and the darts would sink into the wood, extinguishing the flame. Only faith can protect the Christian from the darts of temptation.


  • The helmet of salvation (v.17): Salvation protects both the front and the rear - the past, present, and future. Christ's salvation forgives past sins and gives strength to conquer sin in the future.


  • The sword of the Spirit (v.17): The Word of God is both a defensive and an offensive weapon. It is a defense against sin and a weapon of attack against the sins of this world.


  • Prayer (v.18): Here is the greatest weapon of them all! Paul notes that the Christian soldier's prayer life must be constant; it must be intense; and it must be unselfish.



     Salvationists are soldiers of Jesus Christ. We are engaged in a continual battle against satan for the souls of men. The Christian Mission Magazine of September 1878 stated that the Mission "has organzied a Salvation Army to carry the blood of Christ and the first of the Holy Ghost to every corner of the world." For more then 100 years Salvationists around the world have followed the biblical command to "endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:3). They have gladly put on the armor of God and are actively fighting the battle for souls. With Christ as their Captain, Salvationists join their conquering Christian brothers and sisters in singing and believing these great words:
Soldiers of Christ, arise,
And put your armor on,
Strong in the strength which God supplies
Through His eternal Son.
Strong in the Lord of hosts,
And in His mighty power,
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
Is more than conqueror.
~ Charles Wesley


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