823--God before the world's foundation

God before the world's foundation

823

	1.	God before the world's foundation
		Chose the Church in Christ the Son,
		That the Church might share the
		sonship,
		Holy, blameless, with Him one;
		That the Church be His possession
		With the Spirit as the seal,
		Of our heritage the earnest
		While His Son He does reveal.
	2.	To the throne Christ has ascended,
		Far above all rule and power;
		God has made Him Head o'er all things
		To the Church, His Body here.
		All in He ever filleth,
		And His fulness is expressed
		Through the Church, which is His
		Body
		And His image manifests.
	3.	We, once dead in our offences,
		Walking in the worldly course,
		Lusts of flesh and mind fulfilling,
		Satan and his hosts their source,
		God with Christ has resurrected,
		Seated in the heavenlies;
		We, His masterpiece, created
		In Christ Jesus, Him to please.
	4.	Jews and Gentiles are one body-
		God His myst'ry has made know-
		On apostles, prophets founded,
		Jesus Christ the cornerstone;
		We in Him are built together
		For God's dwelling manifest,
		Fitly framed by God the Spirit
		For His pleasure and His rest.
	5.	In eternal ages purposed
		That His wisdom be made known,
		Was the Church, His hidden myst'ry,
		Where the Son could make His home;
		That the saints may all in spirit
		Apprehend His boundlessness,
		Know His love which passes
		knowledge,
		All God's fulness to possess.
	6.	One in body, hope, and Spirit,
		One in faith, one Lord, the Son,
		One baptizing, with one Father,
		That the Church may thus be one;
		Christ to know in all His fulness,
		Unto manhood be matured,
		Ne'er by winds of doctrine
		Carried,
		Nor by cunning men allured.
	7.	Many gifts the Lord has given,
		That His Body He may build,
		That the saints may be perfected
		And their ministry fulfilled.
		Thus we must put off the old man
		That we may put on the new;
		Thus, renewed in mind and spirit,
		We will bear God's image true.
	8.	Christ in love Himself has given
		That the Church be sanctified,
		Without blemish, spot, or wrinkle,
		To become His glorious bride.
		He does nourish her and cherish
		As a man his body treats;
		He and she become on body-
		Thus the myst'ry very great.
	9.	Body, house, new man the Church is,
		Bride, and temple, and yet more:
		She's the army too which fighteth
		All God's foe to triumph o'er.
		She is clothed with all God's armor,
		In His mighty strength is strong,
		Standing in the Lord, resisting,
		With all prayers she fighteth on.