In Christ Alone

     Do you remember this hymn? It points to the peace, comfort, strength, hope and victory we have in our wonderful Lord and Shepherd: Jesus Christ! Ponder His love, His suffering and His unchanging message as you read the verses below.
     But keep in mind that His timeless message is intolerable to those who want a more flexible kind of "god"! Those who yield to "the prince of darkness" will deny the problem of sin and mock the reality of divine wrath. They include so-called "Christians" who prefer "gods" of their own making and follow seductive voices that promise bliss but dismiss our Savior.
     It's not surprising that liberal Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders have rejected the message of this hymn. After all, its words don't fit today's image of a compromising "God" who minimizes sin yet offers unconditional salvation.
    What makes this hymn so offensive to the world's distorted "Christianity" is its message that those who mock or deny God's truths will face His wrath. But while His justice continues to offend unbelievers, His Word still reigns in the hearts of those who love and follow Jesus.

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.

      The following excerpts provide more information:

Presbyterians' decision to drop hymn stirs debate: "The committee putting together a new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) hymnal dropped the popular modern hymn 'In Christ Alone' because the song's authors refused to change a phrase....

      "The original lyrics say that 'on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.' The Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song wanted to substitute the words, 'the love of God was magnified.'...Critics say the proposed change was sparked by liberals wanting to take God's wrath out of the hymnal."

     The song's authors, Stuart Townsend and Nashville resident Keith Getty, objected. So the committee voted to drop the song."...

     "Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala. said in a phone interview he worries that the committee dropped the song because the idea of God's wrath has become unpopular. 'I don't see this as an isolated case,' he said. 'It fits into a wider pattern of downplaying parts of Christian doctrine that are offensive."

      Here are some relevant Scriptures:

"He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble..." Jeremiah 10:10.

"...the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness..." (Romans 1:18)

"Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Romans 5:8-9)

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." (Eph 5:6)

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