Christ Our Hope in Life and Death - April 2020

The Heidelberg Catechism begins with a simple and foundational question: “What is your only comfort in life and death?” This is the heart of human pursuit. Yet, so often we settle for comforts that fall through and don’t satisfy, finding security in our finances, relationships, families, homes, and healthcare systems. In this unique time of uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, this question is front and center on the hearts of every single person on earth, whether they know it or not. We’re watching the world change in front of our eyes, health care systems struggling to stay ahead of the curve, families buckling down for massive social, financial, and medical turmoil, and communities trying to make sense of it all. Where is one to find hope?

Amidst what is, no doubt, and global crisis, there is but only one truth unshaken: the Lord reigns! And from this very fact, so many wonderful promises flow: He upholds the universe by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3), nothing ever happens outside of God’s sovereign decree (Isaiah 46:8-11), He has numbered everyone of our days (Psalm 139:16), and no power, ruler, illness, or virus can ever snatch God’s people from His hand (John 10:28-30) or separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Because central to all of Scripture and History is the answer to Heidelberg catechism question #1:

That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.

The song, “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death”, is truly a gracious gift of the Lord’s providence. Two years in the making, this song releases today, Friday March 20, when every heart is clamoring for hope. Where will we find it? In God made flesh, Christ our Savior and Sustainer. I am thankful for the Lord’s work in stirring the hearts of these songwriters two years ago to equip the church to declare where our hope is found to our own hearts, to each other, and to the world around us. Yes, we live in godly wisdom and prudence, but we place our hope in life in death in none other than the One who defeated death and raised to life, that we might do the same. Oh sing Hallelujah, our Hope springs eternal! Now and ever we confess Christ our hope in life and death!

- Jonathan

Key Scripture Passages:

Luke 24:6-7
Romans 14:7-9
1 Corinthians 15:19-22
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Philippians 1:20-21
1 Thessalonians 4:17
Hebrews 1:1-14
1 Peter 2:4-7

Christ Our Hope in Life and Death

Written by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Matt Papa

Lyrics: 

Verse 1

What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to him belong.
Who holds our days within his hand?
What comes, apart from his command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand.

Chorus

O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.

Verse 2

What truth can calm the troubled soul?
God is good, God is good.
Where is his grace and goodness known?
In our great Redeemer’s blood.
Who holds our faith when fears arise?
Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh
Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?

Verse 3

Unto the grave, what shall we sing?
“Christ, he lives; Christ, he lives!”
And what reward will heaven bring?
Everlasting life with him.
There we will rise to meet the Lord,
Then sin and death will be destroyed,
And we will feast in endless joy,
When Christ is ours forevermore.

© 2020 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Messenger Hymns (BMI) / Jordan Kauflin Music (BMI) / Matthew Merker Music (BMI) / Getty Music Hymns and Songs (ASCAP) / Love Your Enemies Publishing (ASCAP) / adm at MusicServices.org

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O Praise the Name - March 2020

There are times in life when we are simultaneously overwhelmed by the magnitude of God’s glory and His gracious, personal act of knowing us intimately, and making Himself known. I remember sitting on the back porch of a cabin in the mountains years ago, guitar in hand, and thinking about God’s beauty in the midst of His creation. My eye was suddenly captured by two amazing sights in the same landscape. In the distance I saw the grandeur of mountains, towering over valleys filled with tall trees, shrinking the cabins around them. And yet, in the foreground of this same landscape, a few feet in front of me I saw the minute details of gorgeous flowers, blossoming in early Spring. The same God who causes magnificent mountains to rise above the earth expresses the beauty of His character in the exquisite details of an elegant flower. He overwhelms us with His majesty and His intimacy, His transcendence and His immanence, the mountain and the flower. By God’s design, Scripture portrays this amazing heavenly reality of both beholding the glory of Christ and seeing Him “face-to-face.”

What will it be like to behold Christ, the greatest treasure our hearts could ever long for (Phil 3:8)? In our study of 1 Corinthians 13, we see a glimpse into what God is making us in Christ (Rom 8:29). We also read that “now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face” (1 Cor 13:12). Really, face-to-face? To see the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, our Savior and Redeemer face-to-face (Rev 22:4)?! The disciples got a glimpse of this in the Transfiguration when Christ’s face was altered and His clothing became “dazzling white” (Luke 9:29). What an amazing gift from the Lord to one day behold the “Sun of Righteousness” (Mal 4:2) in all His glory, who’s face is “like the sun shining in full strength” (Rev 1:16). And yet, we are given this privilege because we have been adopted as God’s children (1 John 3:2). While we will be overwhelmed by the radiance of His glory (Heb 1:3), we are truly known and truly loved. “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known (1 Cor 13:12).

The song, “O Praise the Name (Anástasis)”, recounts the resurrection ( the meaning of the word anástasis) of our Lord Jesus, the declarative defeat of death and sin that we cannot over celebrate. By this, Christ secured for us victory over sin and life eternal in Him. We take a moment to vividly reflect on His sacrifice, celebrate His resurrection, and long for the day when we will both bow in His presence and gaze at the glory of His face. Come, let us praise the Name of the Lord, our God!

- Jonathan

Key Scripture Passages:

Matthew 28:1-10
Romans 5:8
1 Peter 2:24
1 Corinthians 15:54-57
Revelation 1:1-20
Revelation 22:20

O Praise The Name (Anástasis)

Written by Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, & Marty Sampson

Lyrics: 

Verse 1

I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me
I see His wounds His hands His feet
My Savior on that cursed tree

Verse 2

His body bound and drenched in tears
They laid Him down in Joseph's tomb
The entrance sealed by heavy stone
Messiah still and all alone

Chorus

O praise the Name of the Lord our God
O praise His Name forevermore
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

Verse 3

Then on the third at break of dawn
The Son of heaven rose again
O trampled death where is your sting
The angels roar for Christ the King

Verse 4

He shall return in robes of white
The blazing sun shall pierce the night
And I will rise among the saints
My gaze transfixed on Jesus' face

© 2015 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

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Lamb of God - February 2020

Genesis 22 is simultaneously one of the most heart aching and beautiful chapters in the Bible. It’s the story of God’s provision for redemption. The story of a father’s willingness to give up what He loves most in worship of God. The story of a son’s quiet trust and obedience to his father, even unto death.

At this key moment in Redemptive History, the Lord tests Abraham’s faith, upping the stakes four times in succession, saying: “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love… and offer him there as a burnt offering” (Gen. 22:2). Oh, what must have been going on in Abraham’s mind, but more painfully, in his heart. After the covenant promises, ceremony, and sign, how could this make sense? The Lord had miraculously given a son to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. As far as the covenant is concerned Isaac is Abraham’s only son. How sweet Isaac’s name must have been to Abraham’s ears. And if the first three weren’t enough, God reminds Abraham of his love for his son, Isaac.

Yet we see no hesitation from Abraham. Instead, he rises “early in the morning,” in worshipful obedience, to do what God commands. On the way, Isaac asks a question that makes tears well up in the eyes of any father reading this account: “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Gen. 22:7b). Abraham’s response? “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son” (Gen. 22:8a).

As the story unfolds, the Lord indeed provides the sacrifice to die in Isaac’s place. The foreshadowing of Christ in this gripping narrative is potent. It points forward to the day when God would provide the ultimate Lamb for sacrifice: God’s own Son, His only Son. Jesus, Whom He loves. All to make good on His covenant promises to His children. The difference is, there’s no ram in the thicket for Christ. There’s no substitute for Him. He is the substitute for you and me.

Because of our sin, we deserve death (Rom. 6:23). God’s holiness commands it. But Christ sheds His blood in our place that we may go free. This is a glorious truth worth celebrating. In fact, we do this as we partake in the Lord’s Supper every week. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

“Lamb of God” is meant to help us remember Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross to fully pay for our sin, past, present, and future. As we are united in Christ, His death is our death, and His resurrection is our resurrection to new life. There is no greater love!

- Jonathan

Lamb of God

Written by Andi Rozier, Jason Ingram, & Meredith Andrews

Lyrics: 

VERSE 1
You came from heaven’s throne (Jn 3:13; 6:38)
Acquainted with our sorrow (Is 53:3)
To trade the debt we owe (2 Cor 5:21)
Your suffering for our freedom (Ac 13:39; 1 Pt 3:18) 

CHORUS
The Lamb of God in my place (Is 53:5, 7; 1 Pt 2:24)
Your blood poured out (Mt 26: 28; 1 Pt 1:19)
My sin erased (Ps 103:12; Is 1:18; Col 2:14; 1 Jn 1:7)
It was my death You died (Rm 6:6, 23, 5:8; Gal 1:4)
I am raised to life (Rm 6:5, 22; 1 Pt 2:24)
Hallelujah! The Lamb of God (Jn 1:29; Rev 5:11-13)

VERSE 2
My name upon Your heart (Jn 10:28-29; Rev 21:27)
My shame upon Your shoulders (Is 53:4)
The power of sin undone (Rm 8:1; 1 Jn 2:2, 3:5)
The cross for my salvation (Jn 3:36; Gal 3:13)

 BRIDGE
There is no greater love (Jn 15:13, Heb 12:2)
There is no greater love (Rm 5:8)
The Savior lifted up (Jn 3:14; Phil 2:9; Heb 1:3)
There is no greater love (Jn 3:16)

© 2014 All Essential Music, HBC Worship Music, Open Hands Music, So Essential Tunes, Curb Word Music.

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