Sunday Hymn: The Lord's My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
His goodness restores my soul.

And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,
And He anoints my head with oil,
And my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on His pure delights.

And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me, and Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know.

—Stuart Townend Copyright © 1996 Thankyou Music

Another hymn for this Sunday:

• Alas and Did My Savior Bleed at The Happy Wonderer 

Theological Term of the Week: Grace

grace

God’s free, sovereign, undeserved favour or love to humans in their state of sin and guilt, which manifests itself in the forgiveness of sin and deliverence from its penalty;1 God’s unmerited favor toward the undeserving and ill-deserving. 

• From scripture: 

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:6 ESV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV).

… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…  (Romans 3:23-24 ESV).

• From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof, page 428: 

The teachings of Scripture respecting the grace of God stress the fact that God distributes His blessings to men in a free and sovereign manner, and not in consideration of any inherent merit of men; that men owe all the blessings of life to a beneficent, forbearing, and longsuffering God; and especially that all the blessings of the work of salvation are freely given of God, and are in no way determined by supposed merits of men. This is clearly expressed by Paul in the following words: “For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory,” Eph. 2:8,9. He strongly emphasizes the fact that salvation is not by works, Rom. 3:20-28; 4:16; Gal. 2:16.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: What is the definition of grace? and What does it mean to be saved by grace?
2. R. C. Sproul: What Is Grace?
3. Ask Ligonier: What Is Grace?
4. Michael Reeves: Grace: What Does God Give Us?
5. J. I. Packer: The Grace of God
6. Jerry Bridges: What Is Grace?
7. Loraine Boettner: Salvation By Grace 

Related terms:

• common grace
• goodness
• grace alone
• love (as an attribute of God)
• mercy
• prevenient grace

1 Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof, page 427.

Filed under Salvation

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Sunday Hymn: Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart

Rejoice, ye pure in heart,
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing:
Your festal banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain

Rejoice, rejoice,
Rejoice, give thanks and sing.

Bright youth and snow-crowned age,
Strong men and maidens meek,
Raise high your free, exulting song,
God’s wondrous praises speak.

With all the angel choirs,
With all the saints on earth,
Pour out the strains of joy and bliss,
True rapture, noblest mirth!

Yes, on through life’s long path,
Still chanting as ye go;
From youth to age, by night and day,
In gladness and in woe.

At last the march shall end,
The wearied ones shall rest,
The pilgrims find their Father’s house,
Jerusalem the blest.

Then on, ye pure in heart,
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your glorious banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

—Ed­ward H. Plump­tre

Another hymn for this Sunday:

• Higher Ground at The Happy Wonderer