In the Cathedral at Zurich, Zwingli introduced changes which aroused criticism and opposition but he steadily contended for the faith. He rested his faith in the Word of God. His was a simple creed: he believed that man was holy but that he had fallen. Recovery was not his work, but God's. Zwingli said:

Christ, very man and very God, has purchased for us a never ending redemption. His suffering satisfies the divine justice forever in behalf of those who by an unshakable faith rely upon it. If we could have been saved by our works it would not have been necessary for Christ to die.

He believed in the doctrine of personal election but did not understand it as being in conflict with man's free will.

Handsome in appearance, tall and strong of body, Zwingli spoke with a note of authority. His voice carried to every part of the church when he spoke. "He was a man of power in the pulpit, a power born not of eloquence but of logic, common sense, keen thinking, and a burning heart." He was diligent in pastoral visitation and he preached from house to house.

Zwingli carefully observed his hours of study, guarding them from all unnecessary intrusions. He never went into the pulpit poorly prepared. This is what he said about expository preaching:

The life of Christ has been too long hidden from the people. I shall preach upon the whole of Matthew's gospel, chapter by chapter, according to the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, without human commentaries, drawing solely from the fountain of Scripture, according to its depths, comparing one passage with another and seeking for understanding by constant and earnest prayer. If is to God's glory, to the praise of His holy Son, to the real salvation of souls, and to their edification in the truth faith that I shall consecrate my ministry.

James McGraw says:

The principal criticism of Zwingli's sermons is that they are somewhat formless in their compositions. The scriptural examples are unnecessarily numerous, and in them there are many exegeses of passages which are not directly related to the main theme. In spite of these homiletical weaknesses, there is a fine power and freedom in his development of the subject.

Zwingli was a man of learning, a faithful friend, and a man of courage. He met his death in 1531 at age forty-seven, in battle at Kappel. He had been faithful to his convictions, faithful to the interests of his country, faithful in his opposition to Rome's use of Swiss mercenaries, and faithful to the preaching of the Bible which he knew and loved so well.

His religious zeal was translated into political action and into fierce spiritual struggle. He died fighting for his beliefs. When the Zurich canton was attacked, Zwingli rode with the troops as their chaplain, but he did not confine his energies to their spiritual welfare. He fought side by side with men to whom he administered words of comfort. It was while he was speaking words of consolation to a dying man on the battlefield that Zwingli received his fatal wound.

The last words Ulrich Zwingli uttered are typical of a man who carried into every phase of life the courage of his convictions. He said: "What matters it? They may kill the body but they cannot kill the soul." With his death a great light went out in the Church of God. Other reformers were mightier than he in their words, but few were mightier in their actions.