-
THE OFFERING OF THE NATURAL
My Utmost For His Highest Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. Gal. 4:22. Paul is not dealing with sin in this chapter of Galatians, but with the relation of the natural to the spiritual. The natural must be turned into the spiritual by sacrifice, otherwise a tremendous…
-
WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
Amazing Grace William C. Dix, 1837–1898 When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child … (Luke 2:17) The question asked in this well-loved carol must have been uppermost in the minds of those present at Jesus’ birth. We can almost hear the question being asked…
-
JOY TO THE WORLD
Amazing Grace Isaac Watts, 1674–1748 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10) As one of the most joyous of all Christmas hymns, this carol omits references to shepherds, angelic choruses, and wise men. It emphasizes…
-
O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL
Amazing Grace Latin hymn, 18th centuryEnglish translation by Frederick Oakeley, 1802–1880 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about!” … (Luke 2:15, 20) The songs of the Christmas season…
-
Morning & Evening
We may understand this to refer to justification. “They shall walk in white”; that is, they shall enjoy a constant sense of their own justification by faith; they shall understand that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them, that they have all been washed and made whiter than the newly-fallen snow. Again, it refers…
