Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death is a new hymn we have been singing at FBCW since we started meeting back indoors. Based on the Heidelberg Catechism, this hymn helps us review some of the major tenants of Reformed Theology. Catechism is a fancy word for teaching, and Reformed Theology is a fancy phrase that means what the Reformers, who tried to use only the Bible for guidance, thought about God. I love that the ancient texts of the Bible that still hold life for us today. It is also nice to know that this confession, written in 1563, still holds sound Biblical teaching we can use as we struggle through to find our way in what can often feel like a hopeless world.
I prefer the poetry of the song to the catechism, but I hope that you can appreciate both and spend a minute reading some of the passages that form the basis of this deep and rich theology. (I’ve only included verse one. Click here if you would like all the lyrics)
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death (by Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Matthew Merker)
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
Question 1: What is your only comfort in life and in death?
Answer: That I am not my own,(1) but belong—body and soul, in life and in death(2)to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.(3)
He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,(4) and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.(5) He also watches over me in such a way(6) that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven;(7) in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.(8)
Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life(9) and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.(10)
1 1 Cor. 6:19-20
2 Rom. 14:7-9
3 1 Cor. 3:23; Titus 2:14
4 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2
5 John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11
6 John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:5
7 Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18
8 Rom. 8:28
9 Rom. 8:15-16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14
10 Rom. 8:1-17
Pastor Ray is the Pastor of Worship and Administration at FBC Weslaco. He hopes you will join us Sunday, August 15th in corporate worship as we sing Christ Our Hope in Life and Death!