04 Mar Christ Our Hope in Life and Death

Last Sunday, Pastor Jeremy Chasteen preached the sermon: “Avoid Deception,” from 2 Corinthians 11:1-15. To avoid deception, we must: 1) Defend the truth, 2) Display the truth, and 3) Discern the truth.

Read: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

This Sunday, Ryan Heard, our Small Groups Director, will preach from 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 and will show us that true servants of Christ pursue others with truth, prove faithful through trial, and boast in Christ alone. As you prepare to gather with the body, consider the following writeup from Keith and Kristyn Getty’s website on the song: “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death.” This modern song is rooted in a rich history and powerfully directs us to our proven hope in the risen Christ. This is the truth that we must pursue each other and the nations with at all costs.

Reflect: “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death”

“WHAT IS YOUR ONLY COMFORT IN LIFE AND IN DEATH?”

For centuries, believers have learned the Christian faith beginning with that question. It’s the first article in the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563. Why start there? Because death is our common fate. Unless Jesus returns first, we will all die. To find comfort in life, we must know how we can face death. Hope comes only in trusting the one who died to take the curse of death and who crushed the power of death by his resurrection. “Christ has been raised from the dead” (1 Cor 15:20). That is the only statement that can transform how we live each day and how we prepare for our earthly life to end.

The hope of the resurrection spurs us to sing. That’s why a group of songwriters from Getty Music wrote the modern hymn “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death.” Like the Heidelberg Catechism that inspired it, this song is honest about death. There is no need to shrink back from mentioning death in our hymns, because we know the Living One who has conquered death forever. The Christian can sing hallelujah, because Christ assures us of our glorious future. Now and ever, we confess: “I am not my own, but belong—body and soul in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.”

What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to Him belong.

Who holds our days within His hand?
What comes, apart from His command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand.

O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.

What truth can calm the troubled soul?
God is good, God is good.
Where is His grace and goodness known?
In our great Redeemer’s blood.

Who holds our faith when fears arise?
Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh
Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?

Unto the grave, what shall we sing?
“Christ, He lives; Christ, He lives!”
And what reward will heaven bring?
Everlasting life with Him.

There we will rise to meet the Lord,
Then sin and death will be destroyed,
And we will feast in endless joy,
When Christ is ours forevermore.

Words and Music by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Matt Papa

©2020 Getty Music Publishing (BMI) / Messenger Hymns (BMI) / Jordan Kauflin Music (BMI) / Matthew Merker Music (BMI) / Getty Music Hymns and Songs (ASCAP) / Love Your Enemies Publishing (ASCAP) / adm at MusicServices.org CCLI # 7147502

“Christ Our Hope in Life and Death,” song story, https://www.gettymusic.com/christ-our-hope.

Sing: Song List for Sunday

1. “Let the Nations Be Glad,” by Matt Boswell
2. “The Depths of Your Love,” by North Wake Music
3. “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death,” Arr. Shane & Shane