God before the world’s foundation

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.

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 all He ever filleth

And His fulness is expressed

Through the Church

which is His Body

And His image manifests.

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.

Jews and Gentiles are one body—

God His myst’ry has made known—

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 one body—

Thus the myst’ry very great.

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.