Rebecca Writes - Rebecca Writes

The doctrine taught in song this week is, once again, the doctrine of the incarnation. We’re repeating last week’s hymn writer, too. It’s Martin Luther, better known for another of his Christmas hymns, Away in a Manger, and also the familiar hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God.

This Christmas hymn from Luther puts the incarnation in its place in the purpose of God—Christ came to “be to the lost Salvation.” You’ll also find some of the role of the Father and the Holy Spirit in our salvation explained.

Dear Christian People All, Rejoice

Dear Christian people all, rejoice,
Each soul with joy upraising.
Pour forth a song with heart and voice,
With love and gladness singing.
Give thanks to God, our Lord above,
Thanks for His miracle of love!
Dearly He hath redeemed us.
He spoke to His belovèd Son
With infinite compassion:
“Go hence, my heart’s most precious One,
Be to the lost Salvation;
Death, his relentless tyrant, stay,
And bear him from his sins away
With Thee to live forever!”
The Son came, saying: “Cling to Me,
Thy sorrows now are ending;
Freely I give Myself to thee,
Thy life with Mine defending;
For I am thine and thou art Mine,
And where I am there thou shalt shine,
The foe shall never reach us.”
“To heaven again I rise from hence,
High to my Father soaring,
The Master there to be, and thence
My Spirit on thee pouring;
In every grief to comfort thee,
And teach thee more and more of Me,
Into all truth still guiding.”
“What I have done and taught on earth,
Do Thou, and teach, none dreading;
That so God’s kingdom may go forth,
And His high praise be spreading;
And guard thee from the words of men,
Lest the great joy be lost again:
This my last charge I leave thee.”

More on the doctrine of the incarnation:

The Athanasian Creed, which includes a concise statement of the nature of Christ and the nature of his work.
From Dr. David Well: Why the Incarnation? (mp3)

Other hymns, worship songs, etc. posted today:

Have you posted a hymn this Sunday and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.