Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature

See how patient Jesus stands,

Insulted in this awful place!

Sinners have bound the Almighty hands,

And spit in their Creator’s face.

With thorns

His temple gored and gashed

Send streams of blood from every part;

His back with heavy scourges lashed,

But sharper scourges tear His heart.

Nailed naked to the accursed wood,

Exposed to earth and heaven above,

A spectacle of wounds and blood,

A sad display of injured love.

(“His Passion” by Joseph Hart, 1712-1768;

to the tune of “‘Tis Midnight, and on Olive’s Brow”).

Forbid it,

Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ, my God,

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

(“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,”

by Dr. Isaac Watts, 1674-1748).

“But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath through him.

For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Romans 5:8-10).

“And God said.”

Christ, who spoke the universe into being,

died in thy place to save thee from eternal wrath.

That is the message of Genesis.

That is the message of the whole Bible, from end to end.

That is the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Come to Him Trust in Him.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

AND GOD SAID

by Dr. R. L. Hymers, Jr.