Book Summary
The Christian in Complete Armor (1655-1662) is William Gurnall's exhaustive exposition of Ephesians 6:10-20, providing a comprehensive manual for spiritual warfare that remains one of the most extensive Puritan devotional works ever written. Originally delivered as a series of sermons to his congregation in Lavenham, Suffolk, this massive treatise eventually expanded to over 1,200 pages, meticulously examining each piece of the Christian's spiritual armor in extraordinary detail.
We have updated this timeless classic into modern, updated English so anyone can read and understand.
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The work systematically explores Paul's metaphor of spiritual armor: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of gospel preparation, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit. For each piece, Gurnall provides profound theological instruction on its nature, practical guidance on its use, and warnings about neglecting its protection. His treatment of "truth" alone spans multiple chapters, examining doctrinal truth, sincerity of heart, and truthfulness in practice.
What distinguishes this work is Gurnall's masterful combination of theological depth, psychological insight, and practical wisdom. He demonstrates remarkable understanding of both Satan's strategies and human vulnerability, offering detailed counsel on recognizing and resisting various forms of spiritual attack. His analysis of temptation reveals sophisticated grasp of spiritual psychology, while his practical applications address real struggles in Christian experience.
Gurnall particularly excels in describing the shield of faith, showing how faith functions not merely as intellectual assent but as active trust that repels Satan's "fiery darts" of doubt, accusation, and despair. He emphasizes that this armor is not self-generated but divinely provided, requiring Christians to "put on" what God supplies through conscious dependence on divine grace. Throughout, he maintains that spiritual warfare demands both divine provision and human responsibility.
The work's enduring influence stems from its comprehensive treatment of Christian spirituality within the framework of warfare. Unlike simpler devotional works, Gurnall addresses the full complexity of Christian experience—doubt, fear, sin, suffering, and persecution—while consistently pointing to Christ as the source of victory. His vivid metaphors, pastoral sensitivity, and theological precision create a work that functions simultaneously as systematic theology, devotional guide, and practical manual for Christian living.
The Christian in Complete Armor has influenced countless believers, with figures like Charles Spurgeon declaring it "the best thought-breeder in all our library." Modern readers continue to find in Gurnall's work timeless wisdom for spiritual battles, appreciating his balance of doctrinal soundness with experiential religion, and his ability to address both the mind and heart in the Christian's daily warfare.
The Christian in Complete Armor
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About William Gurnall
William Gurnall (1617-1679) was an English Puritan minister who spent his entire pastoral career at Lavenham, Suffolk, where his profound preaching and spiritual counsel attracted widespread attention. Educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge—then a center of Puritan thought—Gurnall remained within the Church of England during the turbulent period of the Civil War and Restoration, maintaining his position through political changes that displaced many of his Puritan contemporaries. Despite criticism from stricter Nonconformists for his decision to conform, his reputation for godliness and the extraordinary power of his masterwork The Christian in Complete Armor transcended denominational boundaries, establishing him as one of the most respected devotional writers of the Puritan era.
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Chapter #1: Be Strong in the Lord: The Call to Courage
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." - Eph. 6:10
The apostle starts his message with words of encouragement to fight: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord." This is the best way to prepare them for the instructions that follow. A person who is overwhelmed with fear and worried about danger is not ready to listen to advice. Just like in an army, when soldiers are scared by a sudden alarm or threat, it's hard to get them back in order until the fear passes. So, the apostle first lifts their spirits by saying, "be strong in the Lord." It's like he's saying, maybe some of you feel discouraged because your enemies seem so strong and you feel weak; they are many, and you are few; they are well-equipped, and you feel unprepared; they are skilled, and you are inexperienced. Don't let these or any other thoughts scare you. Instead, move forward with courage and be strong in the Lord, because the outcome of the battle depends on Him, not on your own skill or strength. It's important for a minister to skillfully teach the Christian's duty without overwhelming their spirit by making them rely on their own strength instead of the Lord's, as the apostle teaches here. In this verse, we see four main points: First, a friendly address, "my brethren." Second, an encouragement, "be strong." Third, a caution added to the encouragement, "in the Lord." Fourth, an encouraging expansion of the direction, "and in the power of his might," or in his mighty power.
Understanding the Exhortation
The term, "my brethren”, The encouragement, "be strong."
• Section #1: A familiar term, "my brethren." We will skip this and start with:
• Section #2: the encouragement "Be strong;" that is, have courage, as is commonly said in scripture: "Be strong and courageous" (2 Chron. 32:7); "Say to those with a fearful heart, 'Be strong'" (Isa. 35:4). Or, bring together all your inner strength and gather all your energy, because you will need everything you can muster. From this, the point is clear.
Why Christian Courage and Determination Are Necessary
Doctrine: The Christian, more than anyone, needs courage and determination. In fact, everything a Christian does is an act of bravery. A cowardly attitude is below even the simplest duty of a Christian. "Be strong and very courageous, that you may"—do what? Stand in battle against those warlike nations? No, but so that you may "observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you" (Josh. 1:7). It takes more courage and greatness of spirit to obey God faithfully than to lead an army; being a Christian is harder than being a captain. What seems simpler than a Christian praying? Yet, this cannot be done properly without a noble spirit. Jacob is said to have acted like a prince when he prayed, and for that, he came out as God's champion. If you consider the kind of prayer a worldly person performs, nothing is more weak and cowardly. Such a person is as unfamiliar with this task as a cowardly soldier is with the exploits of a brave leader. In prayer, the Christian approaches God with humble boldness and faith, grabs hold of Him, wrestles with Him, and won't let go without a blessing, even in the face of their own sins and divine justice, which confronts them from the fiery mouth of the law. Meanwhile, the boldness of the other person in prayer comes from either ignorance or a hardened heart. Not feeling their sins or knowing their danger, they rush into duty with blind confidence, which quickly fades when their conscience awakens and warns them that their sins are upon them, like the Philistines on Samson. In fear, the weak-spirited person drops their weapon, flees from God's presence like guilty Adam, and dares not look Him in the face. Indeed, there is no duty in the Christian's entire journey with God, or acting for God, that isn't filled with many challenges, which attack like enemies as they journey towards heaven. They must fight for every step they take. Only a few noble-spirited souls, who dare to take heaven by force, are fit for this calling. To further prove this point, let's look at some tasks that every Christian takes on.
First, the Christian must declare and carry out an unending war against their own personal sins; those sins that have been closest to their heart must now be crushed underfoot. Like David said, "I have kept myself from my iniquity." Now, what courage and determination does this require? You might think Abraham was truly tested when he was called to take his "son, his son Isaac, his only son whom he loved" (Gen. 22:2), and offer him up with his own hands, and no one else's. Yet, what was that compared to this? Soul, take your desire, your only desire, which is the child of your deepest love, your Isaac, the sin that has brought you the most joy and laughter, from which you have promised yourself the greatest return of pleasure or profit; if you ever hope to see my face with comfort, lay hands on it and offer it up: pour out its blood before me; drive the sacrificial knife of self-denial into its very heart; and do this freely, joyfully, for it is no pleasing sacrifice if it is offered with a downcast face—and do all this now, before you have one more embrace from it. Truly, this is a difficult task; human nature cannot bear this command; our desires will not lie so quietly on the altar, like Isaac, or like a "lamb that is brought to the slaughter which was dumb," but will roar and scream; yes, even shake and tear the heart with its terrible cries.
Who can truly describe the struggles, the battles, and the inner turmoil a Christian experiences before they can commit their heart to this task? Or who can fully explain the clever arguments and persuasive tactics that a sinful desire will use to defend itself? Sometimes, Satan will downplay the issue: "It's just a small thing, spare it, and your soul will still be fine." Other times, he will reassure the soul with the promise of secrecy: "You can keep me and your reputation intact; I won't embarrass you in front of others. Just keep me hidden in the most private part of your heart, away from others, if you'll only let me occasionally enjoy your secret thoughts and feelings." If even that can't be allowed, then Satan will pretend to only ask for a delay, like Jephthah's daughter asked her father: "Let me alone for two months, that I may go up and down on the mountains and weep for my virginity, I and my companions" (Judges 11:37), knowing that most desires given a temporary reprieve eventually get full forgiveness and regain favor with the soul. Now, what determination is needed to break through such pressure and insistence, and despite all this, to take immediate action? Here, the brave warriors of the world have shown themselves to be mere cowards, who have returned from the battlefield with victorious banners, only to live and die as slaves to a lowly desire at home. As someone once said about a great Roman captain who, while riding in his triumphant chariot through Rome, couldn't take his eyes off a courtesan walking along the street: "Look at how this impressive captain, who conquered such powerful armies, is himself conquered by one simple woman."
Second, the Christian is to walk uniquely, not following the world's ways (Rom. 12:2). We are told not to adapt ourselves to the corrupt customs of the world. A Christian shouldn't be so agreeable that they change their beliefs to fit the trends of the times or the mood of the people they are with. Like that courtier who, when asked how he managed to keep his position during changing times—sometimes under a prince who supported Popery and other times against it—replied that he was "e salice, non ex quercu ortus," meaning he was not a stubborn oak but a flexible willow that could bend with the wind. No, the Christian must stay true to their principles and not change their beliefs, openly showing their true identity through their steadfastness in the truth. Now, what ridicule, what traps, what dangers does this uniqueness expose the Christian to? Some will mock and laugh at them, just like someone wearing a Spanish outfit might be laughed at in your streets. This is how Michal mocked David. Indeed, the world sees the Christian's unique way of life as foolishness, which might be why people often call a silly person or a fool "a mere Abraham." But why Abraham? Because Abraham did what worldly logic, the world's idol, laughs at as pure folly; he left his current life in his father's house to go to an unknown place to receive an inheritance he didn't know when he would get. Truly, all saints are labeled as fools by the so-called wise world. "You know the man and his communication," said Jehu to his companions when asked about the mad fellow, who was actually a prophet (2 Kings 9:11). Now, it takes courage to ignore the shame that a Christian must expect to face for their uniqueness. Shame is something that proud human nature despises the most, and to avoid it, many didn't dare "confess Christ openly" (John 7:13). Many miss out on heaven because they are ashamed to wear a fool's coat to get there. Furthermore, while some will mock, others will persecute to death simply because the Christian's beliefs and actions don't conform to theirs. This was the trap set for the three young men; they had to dance to Nebuchadnezzar's tune or face the fire. This was the scheme to trap Daniel, who lived so blamelessly that even his enemies admitted his only fault was his unique religious beliefs (Dan. 6:5). It is a great honor to a Christian, and to religion itself, when all their enemies can say is, "They are precise and will not do as we do." In such situations, when a Christian must choose between conforming or facing persecution, stopping their prayers or becoming prey to cruel and violent people, how many clever excuses and self-preserving distinctions would a cowardly, indecisive heart come up with? The Christian, facing such great opposition, needs to be firmly committed to their faith, or else they will soon be knocked off course.
The third point is that a Christian must continue on their path to heaven despite all the negative examples and scandals caused by those who claim to follow God but fall away or act wrongly. There have always been people in the church who, through their poor judgment and actions, create obstacles for others. These incidents can cause weaker Christians to hesitate, much like when people stopped at the sight of Asahel's bloody body (2 Sam. 2:22), unsure if they should continue in their faith when they see those they admired falling away. These individuals may go from being enthusiastic believers to fierce persecutors, or from devout practitioners of religious duties to irreligious atheists. They are no more like the people they once were than the valley of Sodom, now a swamp, is like it was when it was compared to the garden of the Lord for its fruitfulness. We need a strong, holy determination to stand firm against such discouragements and not lose heart, just like Joshua. He witnessed almost the entire camp of Israel, except for a few, turning back in their hearts to Egypt, yet he maintained his integrity with courage and resolved to serve the Lord, even if no one else would join him.
Fourth, the Christian must trust in a God who seems distant, as stated in Isaiah 50:10: "Let him that walks in darkness, and sees no light, trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." This requires a strong and courageous faith, to approach God like Esther did with Ahasuerus, even when there is no smile on His face or promise visible to encourage coming closer. It's like saying, "If I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16). Even more challenging is trusting not just in a withdrawing God, but in a "killing God," as mentioned in Job 13:15. This isn't just when His love is hidden, but when His anger seems to be directed at you. For a soul to approach God with faith when it feels like God is against it, shooting His frowns like poisoned arrows, is tough and truly tests a Christian's strength. Yet, we see such a strong spirit in the Canaanite woman, who takes Christ's challenges and, with humble boldness, turns them into her prayer.
The fifth point is that a believer must continue in their Christian journey until the end of their life. Their work and life should end together. This makes every other challenge in a Christian's life even harder. We've seen many who have started strong, enjoying the work of a soldier for a battle or two, but soon get tired and run back home. Few can handle it as a lifelong commitment. Many quickly get involved in holy duties, easily convinced to start a religious life, and just as easily convinced to give it up, like the new moon that shines a little at the start of the night but disappears before the night is half over—people who are enthusiastic in their youth but whose old age is filled with sin and wickedness. Oh, persevering is a tough challenge! This means taking up the cross daily, praying always, watching day and night, and never taking off our clothes and armor—in other words, not allowing ourselves to relax and let go in our devotion to God and our walk with Him. This is what makes many turn away from Christ with sorrow, yet it is a saint's duty to make religion their everyday work, without any break from one end of the year to the other. These few examples are enough to show why a Christian needs determination. The application follows.
Application
Application #1: This explains why there are so many people who claim to be Christians but so few who truly are; so many who start the journey but so few who reach the goal; so many who go into battle against Satan, but so few who come out victorious. Everyone wants to be happy, but few have the courage and determination to face the challenges on the path to their happiness. All of Israel joyfully left Egypt under Moses' leadership, and even a mixed group went with them. But when they got a little hungry and their hopes of reaching the promised land were delayed, instead of finding peace and plenty, they found war and scarcity. Like cowardly soldiers, they were ready to abandon their mission and make a dishonorable retreat back to Egypt. In the same way, many who claim to follow the gospel, when faced with real challenges, refuse to endure for Christ and lose interest in their mission. Their hearts fail them, like the waters of Bethlehem. If they have to fight through so many obstacles, they would rather settle for what they have and leave heaven to others who are willing to risk more for it. Oh, how many people turn away from Christ at this crossroads! Like Orpah, they walk a short distance with Christ, but when he asks them to let go of their worldly hopes and prepare for hardship, they politely say goodbye. They are reluctant to lose heaven, but even more reluctant to pay such a high price for it. It's like young people who choose a sweet trade, like a confectioner's, because they love the treats it offers. But when they encounter the hard work that comes with it, they give up and grow tired of the job. Similarly, the appealing side of religion draws many in, but when they face the tough demands it requires, they become disillusioned. It takes a different spirit than what the world can offer to truly follow Christ.
Application #2: Let this encourage you, Christians, to work hard for this holy determination and bravery, which is so essential for your Christian life that without it, you can't truly be what you claim to be. The fearful are at the front of those heading to hell (Rev. 21:8); the bold and brave are the ones who take heaven by force. Cowards never won heaven. Don't say you have royal blood running in your veins and are born of God unless you can prove your lineage with this heroic spirit, daring to be holy despite men and devils. The eagle tests her young by the sun; Christ tests his children by their courage, daring to face death and danger for his sake (Mark 8:34-35). Oh, how unbecoming it is to see a bold sinner and a fearful saint, one determined to be wicked, and a Christian wavering in their holy path; to see guilt making innocence flee, and hell standing strong, shamelessly flaunting open wickedness; to see saints hiding their colors out of shame or running from them out of fear, who should instead wrap themselves in them and die on the spot, rather than betray the glorious name of God, which is called upon by them to the scorn of the unbelievers. Take heart, therefore, O saints, and be strong; your cause is just, God himself supports your fight, appointing his own Son as the General of the field, called "the Captain of our salvation" (Heb. 2:10). He will lead you with courage and bring you off with honor. He lived and died for you; he will live and die with you; for mercy and tenderness to his soldiers, none like him. It is said that Trajan tore his clothes to bind up his soldiers' wounds: Christ poured out his blood as balm to heal his saints' wounds; tore off his flesh to bind them up. For bravery, none compare with him: he never turned away from danger, not even when hell's malice and heaven's justice stood against him; knowing all that would happen to him, he went forth and said, "Whom seek ye?" (John 18:4). For unbeatable success: he never lost a battle, even when he lost his life; he won the field, carrying the spoils in the triumphant chariot of his ascension to heaven with him, where he displays them to the unspeakable joy of saints and angels. You march among noble spirits, your fellow soldiers, each one a prince's son. Behold, some enduring with you here below a great fight of afflictions and temptation, take heaven by storm and force. Others you may see, after many assaults, setbacks, and rallies of their faith and patience, have reached the walls of heaven as conquerors, from where they look down, calling you, their fellow brothers on earth, to march up the hill after them, crying aloud: "Fall on, and the city is yours, as it is now ours, who for a few days' conflict are now crowned with heaven's glory, one moment's enjoyment of which has dried up all our tears, healed all our wounds, and made us forget the sharpness of the fight, with the joy of our present victory." In short, Christians, God and angels are watching, observing how you conduct yourselves as children of the Most High; every act of faith against sin and Satan causes a shout in heaven; while you bravely overcome this temptation, scale that difficulty, and regain the ground you just lost from your enemies' hands. Your dear Savior, who stands by with a reserve for your relief in a crisis, his very heart leaps with joy to see the proof of your love for him and zeal for him in all your battles; and he will not forget all the faithful service you have done in his wars on earth; but when you come out of the field, he will welcome you with the same joy as he was welcomed himself at his return to heaven by his Father.
How to Obtain Christian Courage and Determination
Now, Christian, if you intend to bravely stand against all opposition on your journey to heaven, as you should, it's important to lift your spirit with noble and uplifting thoughts. However, you must also ensure that your principles are firmly established. Otherwise, your heart will be unstable, and an unstable heart is as weak as water; it cannot excel in courage. Two things are needed to establish our principles.
First, you need a solid understanding of God's truth. If you don't clearly know what or whom you're fighting for, you might easily be convinced to switch sides or at least remain neutral. There are people who claim to be believers but can barely explain what they hope for or whom they trust in. Yet, they insist on being seen as Christians, even though they rush ahead without knowing their purpose. Even if they have some beliefs, they're so unstable that any little challenge knocks them down, like loose tiles falling off a roof. Blind enthusiasm quickly retreats in shame, while strong determination, based on firm beliefs, stands tall like a rock amidst the waves. "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Dan. 11:32). The angel told Daniel who would remain steadfast and stand up for God during the time of temptation and persecution brought by Antiochus. Not all Jews, but some, would be corrupted by flattery, and others scared away from their faith by threats. Only a few with firm beliefs, who truly knew the God they served and were grounded in their faith, would be strong and do great things. They would be incorruptible to flattery and unconquerable by power and force.
Second, a sincere aim at the right goal of our faith. No matter how much a person knows about Christ, if their intentions aren't right in their faith, their beliefs will be shaky; they won't risk much or go far for Christ, only as far as they can protect their own interests. A hypocrite might show some bravery for a short time, overcoming some challenges, but eventually, they'll give up. Someone with false intentions in their faith will quickly abandon it when they are pressured to give up what their selfish heart has been focused on all along. At that point, their heart fails them, and they can't continue. Be careful of focusing on profit, pleasure, honor, or anything less than Christ and heaven; these things will steal your heart, as the prophet says about wine and women—they take away our love, and without love, there is little courage left for Christ. Jehu was very brave at first, claiming it was zeal for God! But why did his heart fail before he finished his work? His heart was never truly set right; the same ambition that fueled his initial zeal eventually extinguished it. His desire for a kingdom made him eager to destroy Ahab's house, eliminating those who might threaten his throne. Once he was secure, he didn't dare complete God's work, fearing he would lose what he gained by upsetting the people with a full reformation. Like some soldiers who, after finding a rich treasure during the sacking of a town, are ruined for fighting ever again.
The Source of Strength
"Be strong in the Lord." (Eph. 6:10)
In this, we have a cautionary direction. After encouraging the saints at Ephesus, and through them all believers, to have a holy determination and courage in their spiritual battle, the apostle warns them not to misunderstand this and think they have their own strength for the fight. Instead, he directs them to find this strength in the Lord: "Be strong in the Lord." From this, we can understand.
The Saint's Strength Lies in the Lord
Doctrine: The Christian's strength comes from the Lord, not from themselves. In other armies, a general's strength depends on their troops. As a great commander once told his soldiers, he relies on their support; if they are weakened, he is defeated. But in the army of saints, the strength of each saint, and indeed the whole group, comes from the Lord of hosts. God can defeat his enemies without their help, but they cannot even defend themselves without his support. One of God's names is "the Strength of Israel" (1 Sam. 15:29). He was the strength of David's heart; without God, even this brave warrior, who could challenge someone who defied an entire army, would act strangely out of fear at a few words from the Philistine. God was the strength of his hands, "He taught his fingers to fight," and he is the strength of all his saints in their battle against sin and Satan. Some ask whether there is any sin committed in the world without Satan's involvement. But if the question is whether any holy action is performed without God's special assistance, the answer is clear: "Without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Our ability to think comes from God: "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" (2 Cor. 3:5). Even apostles and saints with habitual grace need God's grace to activate it, like water at the bottom of a well that won't rise without God's help. To will is more than to think, and to act on our will is more than both. These abilities come from God: "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). He renews the heart and, having prepared it for heavenly action, sets everything in place, then activates it with his grace, prompting thoughts and will towards holy actions. Yet, the chariot cannot ascend the hill of action until God gives it a push: "to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not" (Rom. 7:18). God is at the bottom and top of the ladder, the Author and Finisher, helping and lifting the soul at every step towards any holy action. Once the Christian is set to work, how long will they stay committed? Unfortunately, only as long as they are supported by the same hand that empowered them initially. They quickly exhaust the strength they received, so to maintain a holy course, they need renewed strength from heaven every moment. David understood this, and even when his heart was in a holy state and his people showed their willingness through offerings, he prayed that God would "keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of his people, and prepare their heart unto him" (1 Chron. 29:18). He praised the mercy that made them willing and then asked for further grace to strengthen them and secure their commitment. The Christian, even when full of divine blessings, is like a glass without a base; they cannot stand or hold onto what they have received any longer than God supports them. Therefore, when Christ was preparing to leave for heaven, he asked his Father to care for his followers in his absence: "Father, keep them" (John 17:11). As if to say, they must not be left alone; they are helpless children who cannot stand or walk without help. They will lose the grace I have given them and fall into temptations I protected them from while I was with them if they are out of your sight or arms even for a moment. Therefore, "Father, keep them."
The Christian, when preparing to engage in any act of worship to God, still relies on strength from the Lord.
1. Prayer: Would he pray? Where will he find the right words for his prayer? Sadly, he "does not know what he should pray for as we ought" (Rom. 8:26). If left on his own, he might end up praying for something that would actually be harmful for God to give; that's why God provides the words: "Take with you words and say" (Hos. 14:2). Now that he has the words, they will still remain cold on his lips unless he has some heartfelt emotions to warm them up. And where can he find this warmth? There's not a spark to be found within himself, except for some natural desires that won't do the job. So, where does the fire come from to melt the coldness of the heart? It comes from heaven. The Spirit must come upon the soul, like the prophet did with the child, and then the soul will feel a genuine warmth and heavenly passion. The Spirit must groan, and then the soul will groan. He helps us with these sighs and groans that propel our prayers. He softens the heart, and then prayer bursts out from the heart through groans and tears, like a floodgate opening. Even further, now that the person is able to wrestle with God in prayer, what will he gain from it? If he is weak in grace, can he pray himself into strength, or make his weaknesses disappear? No, this isn't something that comes from prayer as an action of the person; it comes from heaven: "In the day when I cried, you answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul" (Ps. 138:3). David received strength while praying, but it didn't come from the act of praying itself; it came from God. He didn't pray himself into strength; God strengthened him during his prayer.
2. Hearing the Word: Look once more at the Christian, as they engage in another practice: hearing the Word preached. The strength to hear the Word comes from God. He opens the heart to listen (Acts 16:14), and He opens the understanding of the believer to receive the Word, so they can grasp its meaning. It's like Samson's riddle, which we can't solve without His help. He opens the soul to understand it, so that a barren soul becomes a 'joyful mother of children.' David listened to the public teachings of the law for half a year, but his heart remained closed until Nathan came, and God with him, and then it was time for life. He immediately understood and felt deep sorrow for his sins, which he expressed in the 51st Psalm. Why did this one word affect him more than all the others? Because God was now working with His Word, which He hadn't done before. God is said to 'teach his people to profit' (Isa. 48:17). He is in heaven, teaching hearts. When God's Spirit, the main teacher, calls a soul to Himself and says, "Soul, you haven't been receiving by hearing the Word. Understand this truth, use this promise," the eyes of understanding open, and the heart burns with passion as He speaks. This shows the truth of the point: 'That the Christian's strength is in the Lord.' Now, let's give some reasons for this.
Why the Saint's Strength Lies in the Lord
Reason #1: The first reason comes from the nature of the saints and their grace. Both are creations, they and their grace as well. Now, "it is in the very nature of the creature to depend on God its Maker," both for existence and action. Can you imagine an attribute existing without its subject, like whiteness without a wall or something else to be white? It's impossible for the creature to exist or act without strength from God. The ability to exist and act independently is such a unique quality of God that he cannot share it with his creation. God exists, and there is no one else like him. When God made the world, it is said he finished his work, meaning the work of creation: he made no new types of creatures after that. But to this day, he has not finished his work of providence: "My Father worketh hitherto," says Christ (John 5:17), meaning he continues to preserve and empower what he has made with the strength to exist and act. Therefore, he is said to hold our souls in life. Works of art, which humans create, can sometimes stand without the creator's help, like a house that remains after the carpenter who built it has died. But God's works, both in nature and grace, are never out of his care. Just as the Father is said to continue working to preserve the works of nature, the Son, who is responsible for redemption, also continues to work. He did not finish his work when he rose again, any more than his Father did with creation. God finished creating, and similarly, Christ finished purchasing mercy, grace, and glory for believers by dying once. Just as God rested after creation, Christ, after achieving eternal redemption and "by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:3). But he continues to work through his intercession with God for us and by his Spirit in us for God, sustaining his saints, their graces, and comforts, without which they would fall apart. Thus, as grace is a creation, the Christian depends on God for strength. But further,
Reason #2: The Christian's grace is not only a created thing, but also a weak one, fighting against enemies stronger than itself. It cannot survive without extra strength from heaven. The weakest will fall if no help arrives. Grace in this life is weak, like a king in a cradle, which gives Satan an advantage to disrupt this young king's rule in the soul. He would quickly end the war by destroying the believer's grace if Heaven didn't protect the Christian. It's true that grace, wherever it is, has a natural desire to preserve itself as much as it can, but it would fail if not supported by God. It's like fire in green wood, which will eventually go out unless it's blown on or more fire is added. The same goes for grace in the heart. God brings grace into the heart by conquest. Just like in a conquered city, where some people accept the new rule and others plot to overthrow it, it takes the same power to keep it as it did to win it in the first place. The Christian has an unregenerate part that resents this new change in the heart and refuses to come under Christ's rule, just like the Sodomites who rejected Lot's judgment (Gen. 19:9). "What, this stranger will control us?" Satan leads this rebellious group against the Christian, so if God didn't continually support this newly established colony in the heart, the remaining corruptions would come out of hiding and consume the little grace the holiest person on earth has. It would be like bread to these devourers.
Reason #3: A third reason can be taken from the main purpose God has in the salvation of believers, and in how it is carried out from beginning to end. This purpose is twofold: 1. God wants to bring His believers to heaven in a way that best shows His deep love and mercy for them. 2. He wants to express His mercy and love in a way that brings the greatest glory back to Himself. Now, it will soon become clear how fitting it is for both of these purposes that believers should have all the strength they need for every step they take on the path to heaven.
Purpose #1: God wants to bring His saints to heaven in a way that clearly shows His deep love and mercy for them. This method of giving strength to the saints highlights God's love and mercy even more.
(1.) It adds a sweetness to everything the believer has or does when they find comfort within themselves, feel their heart open up during a task, or find support during temptations. They consider where all these blessings come from and who sends them. They don't come from their own resources or any other person. Oh, it is my God who has been here and left His sweet comfort in my heart! My God who, without me realizing, has filled my sails with the wind of His Spirit and lifted me from the shallows of my own lifelessness, where I was stuck. Oh, it is His sweet Spirit that supported me and steadied my heart during such affliction and temptation, or else I would have fainted in disbelief. How can this not make God dear to a gracious soul? His help comes directly from heaven, which would be lost if the Christian had any strength to help themselves (even if this strength originally came from God). Which do you think shows more love and kindness: for a prince to give a pension to a favorite, allowing them to live by their own efforts, or for the prince to take the main responsibility upon himself, visiting this person's house daily to check their supplies and expenses, and constantly providing for them? Perhaps some proud person who likes to be independent or loves their wealth more than their prince would prefer the former, but someone who desires the heart and love of their prince would be thrilled with the latter. This is what God does with His saints. The great God comes and checks their supplies, sees what they need, and provides accordingly. "Your heavenly Father knows you have need of these things," and you shall have them. He knows you need strength to pray, to listen, to suffer for Him, and, "in the very hour it will be given" (Matt. 6:32-33).
(2.) This way of God's dealing with His saints adds to the fullness and stability of their strength. If we had to manage it ourselves, we would soon fail. God knows we are like leaking vessels; even when we're full, we couldn't hold it for long. So, to make sure everything is secure, He keeps us under the constant flow of His strength, just like a leaking vessel under a faucet gets back what it loses. This way, our losses are continually replenished. This is the provision God made for Israel in the wilderness: He split the rock, and the rock followed them. They didn't just have a drink at that moment; it flowed in a stream after them, so you don't hear any more complaints about water. This rock was Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). Every believer has Christ supporting them, providing strength as they go through every situation and trial. One flower with its root is worth many in a bouquet, which, though sweet, doesn't grow but withers as we wear them. God's strength, like the root, keeps our grace alive; without it, even if it were as perfect as Adam's, it would die.
Purpose #2: The second purpose God has in the happiness of His saints is to show His mercy and love in a way that brings the highest glory back to Him (Eph. 1:4, 12). This is fully achieved by empowering saints with a strength that comes from God, not from themselves, as they face challenges. If God had given His saints a supply of grace to start with and left them to manage it on their own, He would have been praised because it was more than He owed them. But He wouldn't be glorified as much as He is now, when not only does a Christian's initial strength to connect with Christ come from God, but they also rely on God for the use of that strength in every part of their Christian journey. Like a child traveling with their father, where everything is paid for but the father holds the money, so the Christian's needs are met in every situation. But they can't say, "I did this," or "I suffered that," because God worked everything in and for them. Pride is completely removed here; there is no room for self-exalting thoughts. A Christian can't say, "That I am a saint is mercy; but being a saint, my strong faith is due to my own care and watchfulness." Poor Christian! Who kept your eyes open and stirred up your care? Wasn't this also from God, just like your faith was at the start? No saint will say of heaven when they arrive, "This is heaven, which I have built by my own power." No, "Jerusalem above is a city whose builder and maker is God." Every grace, every level of grace, is a stone in that building, with the topstone laid in glory. There, saints will more clearly see how God was not only the Founder to begin but also the Benefactor to finish it. The glory of the work will not be divided, some to God and some to the creature, but all will be given entirely to God, and He will be acknowledged as all in all.
Application #1: Is the Christian's strength in the Lord, not in themselves? Then surely, a person without Christ must be a weak and powerless creature, unable to do anything on their own towards their own salvation. If a ship that's launched, rigged, and with its sails spread can't move until the wind comes and fills them, how much less can the timber in the carpenter's yard shape itself into a ship? If a living tree can't grow unless the root provides its sap, how much less can a dead, rotten stake in the hedge, which has no root, live on its own? In short, if a Christian, who has spiritual life through grace, can't exercise this life without strength from above, then surely someone without this new life, dead in sins and trespasses, can never create this life in themselves or contribute to its creation. The state of being unregenerate is a state of powerlessness. "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6). Just as Christ found humanity buried under the ruins of their fallen state, unable to lift themselves from under the weight of God's wrath, like someone buried under the debris of a fallen house can't free themselves without help, so the Spirit finds sinners in a similarly helpless condition. They are as unable to repent or believe in Christ for salvation as they were to earn it themselves. Let the language of those prideful people who boast about the power of nature be silenced forever, as if humans with their natural abilities could build something that reaches heaven itself. "So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy" (Rom. 9:16). God has scattered such builders of Babel in the imagination of their hearts, as He raises this spiritual temple in the souls of people, "not by might nor by power," of their own, "but by My Spirit," so that "grace, grace," might be proclaimed before it forever. Therefore, if anyone still in their natural state wants to become wise to salvation, let them first become fools in their own eyes, renounce their worldly wisdom, which can't understand the things of God, and ask for wisdom from God, who gives generously and without reproach. If anyone wants the strength to believe, let them become weak and die to their own strength, for "by strength no man shall prevail" (1 Sam. 2:9).
Application #2: Does the Christian's strength come from God and not from themselves? This should always keep the Christian humble, even when they are most active in their duties and feel most supported in their Christian journey. Remember, Christian, when you are at your best, who made it possible and who paid for it. Your grace and comfort are neither the work of your own hands nor the result of your own merit; don't be proud of what someone else has provided. That assistance won't stay long if it feeds your pride; you are not in control of the help you receive. Your Father is wise, and even when He provides you with the most for your spiritual needs, He still keeps the authority in His own hands and can quickly correct you if you become careless with His grace. Walk humbly before your God, and manage well the strength you have, remembering that it is borrowed strength. Who would waste what they have begged for? Or who would give more to a beggar who squanders what they have received? Even when you have the most, you won't be away from God's door for long. And how can you face Him to ask for more if you have wasted what you were given?