Introduction. (Colossians 3:16). We note in this text the phrase “Teaching and admonishing one another in songs, hymns and spiritual songs.” First Corinthians 14:15 teaches us that we must sing with the spirit and with the understanding. This is the onlyway that teaching can come about. The songs that are a part of worship to God are not for entertainment, they are for teaching. No one sits back and observes others sing, we sing to each other and thus admonish each other through these musical lessons about God.
This eveing we will need three things for our lesson:
1. A songbook: We are going to sing some songs together. We are going to use our hymnbook - Hymns for Worship
2. A Bible: Hymns are only of value when they reinforce truths which Scripture teaches us.
2. An open heart: Lord willing in our study tonight we can encourage one another to a greater love for the Lord, a firmer commitment to Him and a more zealous deisre to see Him one day.
I. “Our God, He is Alive” (No. 9 - vss. 1, 2).
Why should anyone assemble to worship? -- Why should people meditate upon Scripture, strive to do right or plan for life after death? Quite simply because...“There is a God” and “He is alive!” Read: (Psalm 90:1, 2) - We note: “You are God.” Read: (Nehemiah 9:6) - We note: “You alone are the Lord”
II. “He Loved Me So” (No. 166 - vss. 1, 2).
A being that is so powerful, we might imagine, is almost too awesome to even consider the individual lives of human beings. Yet, God’s power does extend to us. He knows the “very hairs upon our head.” In fact, it is for human beings that He sent the Son, one of three persons of His triune nature, to die on behalf of man’s sins. Why would He do this? We could offer complex, philosophical answers to this - but the Bible gives us a very simple answer - because he loved us so! Read: (Romans 5:8) Note - “God demonstrates His own loved towards us.” (Sing).
III. “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” (No. 189 - vss. 1-3).
To an outside observer, the Christian faith might seem to be most unusual in the that it foucuses all of its hope, trust and devotion upon a most brutal and horrifying event -- the crucifixion of Jesus Christ! While this might seem unusual or confusing the fact is that we do not rejoice in the event but in the results of the event. Read: (Isaiah 53:4-6) Note - “The Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.”
IV. “I Have Been Redeemed” (No. 362 - vss. 1).
The true glory of the cross is what it accomplished. It paid the debt of sin. For those who receive the Christ (in truth) through putting their faith in Jesus, confessing Him before man, repenting of their sins and dying to their old man of sin in the waters of baptism, the sin that justly separates us from God can be washed away. Having been sold as slaves to sin, we are redeemed out of this bondage and brought unto liberty in Christ. Read: (Revelation5:9-10) Note - Addressing Jesus, the Lamb it says “You redeemed us to God by Your blood.” (Sing).
V. “O To Be Like Thee” (No. 97 - vss. 1, 2).
Redemption changes our relationships. It changes our relationship to the world. No longer is the materialworld our hope and focus, but we look to the world to come. It changes our relationship with others. People are no longer seen as objects serving our needs. Those in Christ are our brethren, to who we offer encouragment and support. Those outside of Christ, we try to influence to bring them to salvation in Christ. It changes our relationship to ourself. No longer are we in charge of directing our own steps. We submit ourselves to the guidance of God through His word. We must act differently. Read: (Romans 12:1, 2) Note - “Do not be conformed...be transformed”
VI. “I Love Thy Kingdom Lord” (No. 433 - vss. 1, 2).
Although Christ’s death redeemed us personally, it did not redeem us exclusively. All others who have obeyed the gospel and abide in His word are also redeemed by His blood and belong to Him as His own people.
VII. “A Mighty Fortress” (No. 16 - vss. 1, 3).
The great challenge for one who has obeyed the gospel of Christ is endurance. It is perseverence. It is faithfulness. There are many things which enter our lives which can hinder this...discouragement, hardships, temptation, presecution, illness, disaster or worry. Yet, it is clear that without faithfulness we will be lost! Read: (Revelation 2:10) Note - “be faithful until death” Read: (Matthew 24:11-13) Note - “He who endures to the end shall be saved”
Conclusion.
Won’t you take refuge in the mercy of God through obedience to the gospel of Christ?
God is the one thing in all of existence that has always been. He is a being of such awsome ability that He spoke the enormous stars and galaxies of the universe into existence. He is a God of such wisdom that He encoded the most minute strings of DNA with all the information needed to distinguish life from life and species from species. The foundation of all worship, all doctrine, all faith is the fundamental principle which this beautiful song expresses so boldly - “There is a God, He is alive!” (Sing).
When the song “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” was first written by Isaac Watts in the 1700s, it was published with this heading: “Crucifixion to the world, by the cross of Christ. Galatians 6:14.” This text reads:
“But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
The most faithful Christian in the world must always realize that the only thing which he or she has to glory in is the cross of Christ. Matthew Arnold considered this hymn to be the greatest of all English Hymns. (Sing).
This transformation involves looking to a new pattern and role model for our behavior - Jesus Christ. Read: (I John 2:5, 6) Note - We are to “Walk as He walked” This song expresses, in the form of a prayer, or plea, this declaration. Jesus is our pattern. We should strive to follow Him and to be like Him. (Sing).
How do you feel about the church? Many in the world like to think that we can have a relationship with God in Christ without also having a relationship with (and responsibility to) His people. In feeling this way, they in essence say - “Jesus, I love you -- but I can’t stand your people!” Read: (I Corinthians 12:12, 26-27). In this verse Christians are told - “you are the body of Christ” We cannot love Christ and not love His people. These people in true fellowship with Him are his body. They are His church. They are His kingdom - serving Himas king.
The song “I Love Thy Kingdom Lord” was written by Timothy Dwight (the grandson of the famous Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards. Dwight had overstrained his eyes in his youth and during the last 40 years of his life he could only read for about 15 minutes at a time. One person wrote of his life, “it wwas almost never exempt from severe bodily pain...” If Dwight shared his grandfather’s Calvinistic views, then we would most certainly differ with such views on predestination, the elect and what truly consitutes the church and the kingdom. Nevertheless, Mr. Dwight had a good understanding of the kind of love that we should feel for the Lord’s people - His kingdom. (Sing).
When Martin Luther, the individual known to history as one who began the Protestant Reformation, wrote this song he was certainly facing great hardship. He had become a Catholic priest and yet came to the conviction that the Catholic Church of his day was not what was described in the Bible. IN 1517 he had nailed 95 Theses (or debate points) to the door of the church building in Wittenburg Germany. This event is often seen as the beginning of the Reformation.
Luther’s efforts were noble, yet sadly he did not go far enough. In reaction to the view of meritorious salvation taught by the Catholic Church of His day he came to teach and believe in salvation by faith alone ( a doctrine which the Bible does not teach). Even so, it was right for Him to urge men to go back to the BIble. He was more interested in reforming the apostate faith of His day rather than restoring New Testament faith. Nevertheless, he must be admired for his conviction, determination and courage.
When this song was written:
In response to this Luther wrote this song. It was based upon Psalm 47 which begins: “God is a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” What a wonderful thought it is that we can have such comfort. (Sing).