The Church is Christ’s own Body

The Church is Christ’s own Body

The Father’s dwelling-place

The gathering of the called ones

God blended with man’s race;

Elect before creation

Redeemed by Calv’ry’s death

Her character and standing

Of heaven

not of earth.

New man of new creation

Born through her risen Lord

Baptized in God the Spirit

Made holy by His Word;

Christ is her life and content

Himself her glorious Head;

She has ascended with Him

O’er all her foes to tread.

Christ is her one foundation

None other man may lay;

All that she has

as Christ

is

Divine in every way;

Her members through the Spirit

Their death on Calv’ry own;

They’re built in resurrection—

Gold

silver

precious stone.

One God

one Lord

one Spirit—

Her elements all one—

One faith

one hope

one baptism

One Body in the Son;

The triune God is in her

One Body members own

By faith they are united

In hope of glory shown.

From every tribe and nation

Do all the members come

Regardless of their classes

United to be one.

No high there is

nor lowly

No Jew

nor Gentile clan

No free

nor slave

nor master

But Christ

the “one new man.”

One Body universal

One in each place expressed;

Locality of dwelling

Her only ground possessed;

Administration local

Each answ’ring to the Lord;

Communion universal

Upheld in one accord.

Her local gatherings model

The New Jerusalem;

Its aspects and its details

Must show in all of them.

Christ is the Lamp that shineth

With God within

the Light;

They are the lampstands bearing

His glorious Image bright.