SOLDIERS OF CHRIST, ARISE, # 552 in 1940 Hymnal, 1 July 2025 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
1 Corinthians 16:13
In America, we are within days of our celebration of Independence – the 4th of July! It seems fitting that our hymn selection should pay homage to the courageous men and women who have preserved our freedoms in Christ over the past two centuries and a half. Be not deceived, there has never been a free people without the Christian religion as its ensign.
This hymn is composed by Charles Wesley in 1749 to the tune Diademata by George Elvey.
SOLDIERS OF CHRIST, ARISE
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.
Stand then in his great might,
with all his strength endured,
and take, to arm you for the fight,
the panoply of God.
From strength to strength go on,
wrestle and fight and pray:
tread all the powers of darkness down,
and win the well-fought day.
That, having all things done,
and all your conflicts past,
ye may obtain, through Christ alone,
a crown of joy at last.
Soldiers of Christ, arise, and put your armor on, strong in the strength which God supplies through his eternal Son; This hymn sounds reveille to the troops of the Lord to prepare for the unending battle. It is time to awaken and arise and take up the arms of the Word and Spirit. Of course, in this mortal existence, the battle is unending, but the unconditional victory lies ahead at the time of the Lord’s proclamation.
Strong in the Lord of hosts, and in his mighty power: who in the strength of Jesus trusts is more than conqueror. Indeed, the battle belongs to the Lord. We fight under the terms of His power and not our own. Whether our field command is composed of a single company, or several army brigades, the victory is just as certain. We battle under His flag and His orders. The victory is not a singular one, but total and final – with Him, we are more than conquerors.
Stand then in his great might, with all his strength endured, and take, to arm you for the fight, the panoply of God. We do not repose on past laurels of victory, but must muster our best attributes of spiritual warfare for the great battle that continues in the hotly contested line. We must not be slack in our armaments, but our battle attire is the full armor of God.
From strength to strength go on, wrestle and fight and pray: tread all the powers of darkness down,and win the well-fought day. Every engagement with the enemy is ended in strength and not a slacking frailty of arms. Not only do we carry on with courage in propagating the Gospel message across our battle lines, but we must reinforce our army with the power of fervent prayer. Our daily battle continues till the curtain of darkness falls and we are victorious; but the sun also rises again to draw us to the renewed battle which never ends until the Lord declares the total vanquishment of the enemy on the field.
That, having all things done, and all your conflicts past, ye may obtain, through Christ alone, a crown of joy at last. On the Great Day following our last battle, the Great Captain of our souls shall pin upon our breasts the medal of victory everlasting. Our part in the battle has been solely as vicegerents of Christ. It was His power that carried the lines. He alone is the victor, but He allows us to share in the joy of it and to partake of the fruits of victory in Him alone.
