Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book 220. Jesus Christ, my sure Defence

219

Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book‎#220

221

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Jesus Christ, my sure Defence

220. Jesus Christ, my sure Defence

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1 Jesus Christ, my sure Defence
And my Savior, ever liveth;
Knowing this, my confidence
Rests upon the hope it giveth,
Though the night of death be fraught
Still with many an anxious thought.

2 Jesus, my Redeemer, lives!
I, too, unto life must waken;
Endless joy my Savior gives;
Shall my courage then be shaken?
Shall I fear? or could the Head
Rise and leave His members dead?

3 Nay, too closely am I bound
Unto Him by hope forever;
Faith's strong hand the Rock hath found,
Grasped it, and will leave it never;
Even death now cannot part
From its Lord the trusting heart.

4 I am only flesh and blood,
And on this corruption seizeth;
But I know my Lord and God
From the grave my body raiseth,
That with Him eternally
In HIs glory I may be.

5 Glorified I shall again
With this skin then be enshrouded,
In this body I shall then
See my God with eyes unclouded,
In this flesh I then shall see
Jesus Christ eternally.

6 Then these eyes my Lord shall know,
My Redeemer and my Brother;
In His love my soul shall glow,--
I myself, and not another!
Only there shall disappear
Weakness in and round me here.

7 What now sickens, mourns, and sighs,
Christ with Him in glory bringeth;
Earthly is the seed and dies,
Heavenly from the grave it springeth;
Natural is the death we die,
Spiritual our life on high.

8 Then take comfort, nay, rejoice!
For His members Christ will cherish;
Fear not, they will know His voice,
Though awhile they seem to perish,
When the final trump is heard,
And the deaf, cold grave is stirred.

9 Laugh to scorn the gloomy grave,
And at death no longer tremble,
For the Lord, who comes to save,
Round Him shall His saints assemble,
Raising them o'er all their foes,
Mortal weakness, fear, and woes.

10 Only draw away your heart
Now from pleasures base and hollow;
Would ye there with Christ have part,
Here His footsteps ye must follow;
Fix your hearts beyond the skies,
Whither ye yourselves would rise!