LAW, GOSPEL, AND A GOOD HYMN

By on Sep 11, 2012 in Current Issues, Devotions, Features

By Daniel Neades of Better Than Sacrifice
This is a repost of an original article on Better Than Sacrifice

What makes a good hymn?

We’d like it to be skilfully crafted. And it must be set to a fitting tune – preferably one we can sing.

But I suggest that the primary requirement of a good hymn is that it should clearly articulate biblical truth.

We remember what we sing.

A poor hymn can confuse us, lead us astray. A good hymn strengthens our knowledge of the Christian Faith.

What is that faith?

Christians are not those who have confidence in our own good works. We have failed to honour our parents, we have murdered, we have committed adultery, we have stolen, we have told lies, we have coveted. If not in deed, then certainly in the thoughts of our hearts.

God has commanded that we love Him with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul and all our strength. That we love our neighbours as ourselves. This we have failed to do. This we fail to do.

And so Christians recognize that we have nothing to offer God except our sin. We deserve not His favour, but His wrath.

Unless someone takes the punishment we deserve, unless someone reconciles us with God, unless someone gives us a righteousness that is not our own, we shall receive God’s everlasting punishment.

That Someone is Jesus Christ. God’s only begotten Son, made flesh and sent into the world to seek and to save we who were lost.

Jesus led a sinless life. He died on the cross, bearing in full the punishment for our sins. And, by His resurrection from the dead, His perfect obedience is now counted as ours.

If, that is, we are those who are trusting Him.

This, then, is the Christian Faith: to trust not in what we do, but in what Christ has done for us.

A good hymn speaks of this Faith. This hymn ranks among the best.

Thy works, not mine, O Christ,
speak gladness to this heart;
they tell me all is done,
they bid my fear depart.
To whom save Thee, who canst alone
for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?

Thy wounds, not mine, O Christ,
can heal my bruisèd soul;
Thy stripes, not mine, contain
the balm that makes me whole.
To whom save Thee, who canst alone
for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?

Thy cross, not mine, O Christ,
has borne the awful load
of sins that none could bear
but the incarnate God.
To whom save Thee, who canst alone
for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?

Thy death, not mine, O Christ,
has paid the ransom due;
ten thousand deaths like mine
would have been all too few.
To whom save Thee, who canst alone
for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?

Thy righteousness, O Christ,
alone can cover me;
no righteousness avails
save that which is of Thee.
To whom save Thee, who canst alone
for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?

HORATIUS BONAR, 1808-89

The original appears here.

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