Hymns, #824

The Church - Her General Definition

Eng/Kor:824  Chin:598  Span:351  Rus:226  Tag:824  Fra:824  Por:378

Lyrics:Witness Lee
Music:Samuel S. Wesley
Meter:7.6.7.6.D.

Hymns using same tune:

#833, #867, #1229

 
 1 

The Church is Christ's own Body,

The Father's dwelling-place,

The gathering of the called ones,

God blended with man's race;

Elect before creation,

Redeemed by Calv'ry's death,

Her character and standing

Of heaven, not of earth.

 
 2 

New man of new creation,

Born through her risen Lord,

Baptized in God the Spirit,

Made holy by His Word;

Christ is her life and content,

Himself her glorious Head;

She has ascended with Him

O'er all her foes to tread.

 
 3 

Christ is her one foundation,

None other man may lay;

All that she has, as Christ, is

Divine in every way;

Her members through the Spirit

Their death on Calv'ry own;

They're built in resurrection —

Gold, silver, precious stone.

 
 4 

One God, one Lord, one Spirit —

Her elements all one —

One faith, one hope, one baptism,

One Body in the Son;

The triune God is in her,

One Body members own,

By faith they are united,

In hope of glory shown.

 
 5 

From every tribe and nation

Do all the members come,

Regardless of their classes

United to be one.

No high there is, nor lowly,

No Jew, nor Gentile clan,

No free, nor slave, nor master,

But Christ, the "one new man."

 
 6 

One Body universal,

One in each place expressed;

Locality of dwelling

Her only ground possessed;

Administration local,

Each answ'ring to the Lord;

Communion universal,

Upheld in one accord.

 
 7 

Her local gatherings model

The New Jerusalem;

Its aspects and its details

Must show in all of them.

Christ is the Lamp that shineth,

With God within, the Light;

They are the lampstands bearing

His glorious Image bright.

 
Hymn #824