Scripture Verse

God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Introduction

Words: Ste­phen Po­po­vich, 2014 (re­leased to the pub­lic do­main).

Music: Lasst uns er­freu­en Aus­ser­le­sene ca­thol­ische geist­liche Kirch­en­ge­säng (Co­logne, Ger­ma­ny: Pe­ter von Brach­el, 1623). Har­mo­ny by Ralph Vaugh­an Will­iams in The Eng­lish Hym­nal (Lon­don: Ox­ford Uni­ver­si­ty Press, 1906), num­ber 519 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Stephen Popovich (1953–)

Lyrics

illustration
The Pillars of Creation

Ere one cre­ation pil­lar stood,
And what was seen de­clared as good,
God or­dained to lay a claim to
All who re­ceive His gos­pel’s breath
Into their ru­ined heart of death;
Jesus rais­es souls and prais­es
Jesus rais­es souls and prais­es
Souls and prais­es.

Long rose the an­gels’ sud­den gasp
When Hea­ven’s glo­ry left the grasp
Of our Sav­ior bound to pay for
God’s awf­ul price of brok­en law;
Taking the cup, He drank it all.
Sin de­fac­es, blood eras­es.
Sin de­fac­es, blood eras­es.
Blood eras­es.

No quest we need, ere truth be found,
To Hea­ven’s heights or un­der­ground;
Wisdom pleads us, fol­low Je­sus.
Feet of the bless­èd car­ry news.
Faith marks the heart that God will choose.
Truth is sound­ing, grace abound­ing!
Truth is sound­ing, grace abound­ing!
Grace abound­ing!

God, who man’s eye can­not be­hold,
Sheds forth His love where hearts un­fold
His cre­ation’s trans­for­ma­tion.
Gleaming with light of Hea­ven’s rays,
Parting the dark­ness with His ways;
See His child­ren, right­eous pil­grims.
See His child­ren, right­eous pil­grims.
Righteous pil­grims.