No Not One!

Sung this hymn in church on Sunday. Music to the sinners ears!

1. There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
   No, not one! No, not one!
   None else could heal all our soul’s diseases,
   No, not one! No, not one!
2. 
   
3. Refrain:
4. Jesus knows all about our struggles,
5. He will guide till the day is done;
6. There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus,
7. No, not one! No, not one!
8. No friend like Him is so high and holy,
   No, not one! No, not one!
   And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,
   No, not one! No, not one!
9. There’s not an hour that He is not near us,
   No, not one! No, not one!
   No night so dark but His love can cheer us,
   No, not one! No, not one!
10. Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him?
    No, not one! No, not one!
    Or sinner find that He would not take him?
    No, not one! No, not one!
11. Was e’er a gift like the Savior given?
    No, not one! No, not one!
    Will He refuse us a home in heaven?
    No, not one! No, not one!

Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you, through his poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

The only response to such love is worship. Here is a moving hymn we sung at church  (New City South) this past Sunday: "Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour"

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,

All for love's sake becamest poor;

Thrones for a manger didst surrender,

Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,

All for love's sake becomes poor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,

All for love's sake becamest man;

Stooping so low, but sinners raising

Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,

All for love's sake becamest man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,

Saviour and King, we worship thee.

Emmanuel, within us dwelling,

Make us what thou wouldst have us be.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,

Saviour and King, we worship thee.

Hallelujah, What A Savior!

Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior

Oh Come, Angel Band

2am this morning. Historic Dixon Theatre.

Mumford and Sons with Jerry Douglas and Abigail Washburn finish the night with an acoustic rendition of Johnny Cash's "Oh Come, Angel Band."

Verse 2:
Oh, bear my longing heart to him
Who bled and died for me
Whose blood now cleanses from all sin
And gives me victory

Oh, come, angel band
Come and around me, stand
Oh, bear me away on your snowy wings
To my immortal home
Oh, bear me away on your snowy wings
To my immortal home

Morning Music Video

OK, the month of May was kind of a hiatus for me. But, since it is June 1st, I'm back and rolling and will hopefully will be posting more frequently.

A little over a week ago I had the opportunity to see one of my favorite bands, Page CXVI. Page CXVI started a project a few years back to remake hymns in order to make them more accessible. I love this band because of their creativity. They are simply great artists making great music; and they are doing it to some of the deepest, truest, and impactful lyrics ever produced. Below I'm posting one of their music videos to Come Thou Fount. I'm also attaching a link to the rest of their music videos that they have put out. I recommend checking out 'O Sacred Head', it's a great rendition.



How Deep the Father's Love For Us


O Sacred Head

The Royal Bath of Mercy

"The royal bath of mercy, wherein black souls are washed, was filled from the veins of Jesus; not a drop was contributed by any other being."

 

-Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sermons, Vol. 3, p. 196

This reminds me of a line from one of my favorite hymns: 

Nothing in my hand I bring

Simply to thy cross I cling

I Asked the Lord that I Might Grow

A great hymn by written by John Newton (guy who wrote Amazing Grace). I don't think there has been a time in my life where these words have been so true. Here is a video of the song with the lyrics. They are well worth listening to and meditating upon.

"These inward trials I employ

From self and pride to set thee free

And break thy schemes of earthly joy

That though mayest seek thy all in me"

Rescue From Danger

"Jesus sought me when a stranger

wandering from the fold of God,

He to rescue me from danger

interposed His precious blood"

These words are from the 2nd verse of the hymn, Come Thou Fount, and remind me of an illustration my professor used in class a few weeks back. We were talking about propitiation, in regards to Jesus being the propitiation for our sins. 

Imagine you are taking your 3 year old son for a walk. You take your eyes off of him for an instant, to find that he has left your side. You have no idea where he is. Frantically, you look in every direction. Then,  in the distance, you see him running further and further away. You begin pursuing after him, when you realize that he is headed straight for the expressway. No stoplights or crosswalks to the rescue, just the force of cars going 70 mph. As you sprint towards your son, he takes two steps onto the expressway. You can see a car that is about 50 yards away from your son and is on a direct collision course. Right before the car collides with your son, you jump in the street with just enough time to pick up your child and throw him off the road. But, the car was coming too fast. You weren't able to get out of the way. You absorb the full weight of the car coming at 70mph.

While this picture is far from perfect, I think it captures the idea that Jesus stepped in on our behalf in a propitiatory manner. When we wandered from God, Jesus sought us. When we stood under the weight of sin, Jesus willingly stepped in and took its full burden. At the cross, Jesus was crushed. It was gruesome; far worse than getting hit by a car at 70 mph. He absorbed the full force of God's wrath which we rightly deserved. He tasted the very worst sting of death, in order that we may live. 

The Love of Christ is Rich and Free

1. The love of Christ is rich and free;
Fixed on His own eternally;
Nor earth, nor hell, can it remove;
Long as He lives, His own He’ll love.

2. His loving heart engaged to be
Their everlasting Surety;
’Twas love that took their cause in hand,
And love maintains it to the end.

Chorus: Love cannot from its post withdraw;
Nor death, nor hell, nor sin, nor law,
Can turn the Surety’s heart away;
He’ll love His own to endless day.

3. Love has redeemed His sheep with blood;
And love will bring them safe to God;
Love calls them all from death to life;
And love will finish all their strife.

4. He loves through every changing scene,
Nor aught from Him can Zion wean;
Not all the wanderings of her heart
Can make His love for her depart.
(Repeat chorus)

5. At death, beyond the grave, He’ll love;
In endless bliss, His own shall prove
The blazing glory of that love
Which never could from them remove.

Listen to this song here. 

Page CXVI

Page CXVI, a musical group committed to remaking hymns, so that they are accessible and known again is releasing their 4th project today. Click here if you want to check out some of the songs from their new CD, 'Hymns VI'. They are streaming them for free on the their website the rest of the week. The 'Hymns IV' comes out October 4th. 

The reason I love Page CXVI is that in their own words, they are a band, "committed to making original music that reflects one of our favorite characteristics about God-beauty." Besides remaking hymns and playing in churches, the same 3 members from Page CXVI also makes music under another name, 'The Autumn Film'. The Autumn Film existed prior to Page CXVI and exists to make music that isn't necessarily 'Christian', but music that nonetheless reflects God's beauty. The Autumn Film tours playing in bars and clubs across the country. I love this groups desire to bring the amazingly rich truth of hymns relevant again, and also their desire to engage culture through the medium of beautiful music. 

Vast, Unmeasured, Boundless, Free!

"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:17-19


This past tuesday I had the privilege to join my friends/classmates in a time of worship through the singing of hymns and reading of Scripture. I was particularly struck by this song, 'O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus' and its description of Christ's love; vast, unmeasured, boundless, free. How easily I forget how truly amazing Christ's love is for His people. I am reminded of Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3, that they would know the fullness of God's immeasurable love for them. That is my prayer now. That God would awaken me to the vastness and depths of His love in Christ. 

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
’Tis a haven sweet of rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
’Tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee!

In the Hours

A hymn by Kevin Twit, 'In the Hours'


In the hours of pain and sorrow,
When the world brings no relief
When the eye is dim and heavy,
And the heart oppressed with grief
While blessings flee, Savior Lord we trust in Thee!
While blessings flee, Savior Lord we trust in Thee!

When the snares of death surround us,
Pride, ambition, love of ease
Mammon with her false allurements,
Words that flatter, smiles that please
Then ere we yield, Savior Lord be Thou our shield
Then ere we yield, Savior Lord be Thou our shield

When forsaken in distress,
Poor despised and tempest-tossed
With no anchor here to stay us,
Drifting, sail and rudder lost
Then save us Thou, who trod this earth with weary brow
Then save us Thou, who trod this earth with weary brow

 Thou the hated and forsaken,
Thou the bearer of the cross
Crowned of thorns and mocked and smitten,
Counting earthly gain but loss
When scorned are we, We joy to be the more like Thee
When scorned are we, We joy to be the more like Thee

Thou the Father's best beloved,
Thou the throned and sceptered King
Who but Thee should we adoring,
All our prayers and praises bring?
So blessed are we, Savior Lord in loving Thee
So blessed are we, Savior Lord in loving Thee

Thy Will Be Done

A great hymn we sang in church today @ the Journey: West County

My God and Father! While I Stray by Charlotte Elliott

My God, my Father, while I stray
far from my home, on life's rough way,
O teach me from my heart to say,
Thy will be done!

Though dark my path, and sad my lot,
let me be still and murmur not,
or breathe the prayer divinely taught,
Thy will be done!

What though in lonely grief I sigh
for friends beloved, no longer nigh,
submissive still would I reply,
Thy will be done!

If Thou shoulds't call me to resign
what most I prize, it ne'er was mine:
I only yield thee what is thine;
thy will be done!

Let but my fainting heart be blest
with thy sweet Spirit for its guest,
my God, to thee I leave the rest;
thy will be done!

Renew my will from day to day;
blend it with thine, and take away
all that now makes it hard to say,
Thy will be done!

Then, when on earth I breathe no more
the prayer oft mixed with tears before,
I'll sing upon a happier shore,
Thy will be done!

Observation # 9: Justification has Eschatological Implications

Because we are justified by Christ’s finished work, we no longer have to fear our future verdict. Our future is decided. On the final day of judgment, we are justified. Obviously, justification has present implications, but it is important to realize the future, or eschatological implications justification has. Because we are presently justified by Christ once and for all, we can be confident on the last day that we will also be justified. Here are the lyrics to an excellent song, 'Before the Throne', which describes our standing before the throne of God. 

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great high Priest who’s name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me

My name is graven on His hand
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart

When satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of the guilt within
upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin

Because a sinless Savior died
my sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of Glory and of grace

One in Himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

Come to Jesus

HT: Dan Orr



Thanks, D.O!

Mumford and Sons Jamming out to Amazing Grace

Mumford and Sons have become one of the most popular and influential bands in the world today. In terms of live shows, besides U2, they are regarded as probably the best live band around. Something that makes them unique is the wide variety of people their music attracts. From young hipsters to old lovers of classic rock, to post-modern relativists to atheists to reformed Christians. Their music is excellent and it appeals to many. It is an amazing thing and it brings me joy to hear a band like Mumford and Sons singing Amazing Grace and Come Thou Fount, praising God in the midst of their audience. It is wonderful that God uses common ground among people, such as music, in order to make His name known. I don't even know if Mumford and Sons are Christians, but based on their music, I think they are. Either way, God's beautiful grace is being declared among people who would otherwise never step in a church. That excites me.

The Wonderful Grace of Jesus

A hymn by Haldor Lillenas written in 1918 called 'The Wonderful Grace of Jesus'

The wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free;
The wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

The wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching a mighty host,
By it I have been pardoned, saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder, giving me liberty;
The wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

More patient than my fight, more faithful than my doubt,
Persistent though I run, O how his grace abounds!
Broader than my sin, deeper than my shame,
Stronger than my evil, O praise Jesus name!

The wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power, making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven, for all eternity;
The wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

More patient than my fight, more faithful than my doubt,
Persistent though I run, O how his grace abounds!
Broader than my sin, deeper than my shame,
Stronger than my evil, O praise Jesus name!

The wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it, where shall its praise begin?

Though I Once Embraced the Darkness

I know I've pretty much been MIA the last month or so, but now that summer is settling in I'm planning on returning to consistency. Here is a hymn written (both music and words) by one of my close friends David Gill. David has been a tremendous blessing in my life and has enriched my time here at seminary. At the bottom, I've left links for downloads for both a recording of the son, and for the music. Enjoy!

"Though I once embraced the darkness, loved my sin and self alone,
was opposed to Christ's own mission, lived for glory all my own:
Yet my God who loved me freely saw my sin, my guilt and shame,
saw my unrepentant spirit, still ordained me live again.

Live for Christ, in Him, forever, trusting Him and Him alone.
Resting not on my obedience: saved by works but not my own!
Christ obeyed the law completely, gave me standing pure and true,
fellowship that can't be broken by my will or what I do.

To the Father, Son and Spirit, I make this my earnest prayer:
Keep me close, surround me, guide me to Your side and to Your care.
To Your name and to Your glory, I now freely bend my knee;
Cause me now to know Your mercy; of your saving love for me.

Daughters, Sons, await His coming, when we'll see Him face to face.
Robes washed white with Christ's own bleeding, ruling with Him endless days!
He has set for us a banquet, giving us as Jesus bride;
all the blood bought saints around Him: these, for these has Jesus died. "

Download

download the recording

Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted

A wonderful hymn named, "Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted" explaining what occurred at the Cross.

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, 'tis He, 'tis He!
'Tis the long-expected prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord;
By His Son, God now has spoken
Tis the true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear him groaning,
Was there ever grief like his?
Friends thro' fear his cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress;
Many hands were raised to wound him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly,
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load;
'tis the Word, the Lord's Anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ's the Rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on him their hope have built.

Gospel= Saved by Works?

To some degree, everyone on this earth tries to justify their existence by works. Everyone thinks they are saved, or are justified in their existence, or will go to heaven based on works. Most people trust in their own works or own goodness. At the end of the day, they believe they are good people, who have done enough 'works' to get in. Comparatively speaking, we all think we are better than most. As humans, we inherently trust in our own works to justify ourselves. 


The gospel is both similar and sharply contrasted to this. The gospel says the only way to be saved is by works.....but not your own. And here is the gospel, or good news. 


The Bible testifies against man, that in their own works, or own goodness, no one is righteousness, not one. In our own standing, we are completely and utterly hopeless. Before God, any attempt to stand on our own two feet, or any attempt to justify ourselves by thinking we really aren't that bad, or are better than our neighbor or the 'evil' people in the world, won't stand. But, God being rich in mercy and great in love, saw this problem of Sin. He sent His Son to live the perfect life, and die the death we deserve. Now, though we all are condemned based on our own lives, the good news is that we can be saved based on the works of another. The gospel is that we are saved by works....but not our own. The gospel is that Christ's work is fully sufficient to merit salvation. More so, this is a gift that is given freely by grace. It can't be earned. So why would we spend our lives striving so hard to try and earn God's favor? Why do we try to justify our existence with our own goodness? Jesus is better. Being a Christian is to forsake, or turn from your own work/goodness and to turn to Christ and His work. In the words of my favorite hymn, 'Rock of Ages'

"Nothing in my hand I bring

Simply to your Cross I cling, 

Naked look to thee for dress

Helpless look to thee for grace."