Church Of God, Beloved And Chosen

 

"But we, brethren beloved by the Lord, ought and are obligated,
as those who are in debt, to give thanks always to God for you,
because God chose you from the beginning as His first fruits,
first converts for salvation through the sanctifying work of 
the Holy Spirit and your belief in, adherence to, trust in,
and reliance on the Truth."
(II Thessalonians 2:13)

Sweet William & Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Photograph courtesy/Metchosin Farms

Church of God, beloved and chosen,

Church of God, for whom He died,

Claim thy gifts, and praise the Giver,

"Ye are washed and sanctified"-

Sanctified by God the Father,

And by Jesus Christ His Son,

And by God the Holy Spirit,

Holy holy, Three in One.

By His will He sanctifieth,

By the Spirit's power within;

By the loving hand that chasteneth

Fruits of righteousness to win;

By His truth and by His promise;

By the Word, His gift unpriced;

By His own blood and by union

With the risen life of Christ.

Holiness by faith in Jesus,

Not by efforts of thine own,

Sin's dominion crushed and broken,

By the power of grace alone;

God's own holiness within Thee,

His own beauty on Thy brow;

This shall be thy pilgrim brightness,

This thy blessed portion now.

He will sanctify thee wholly;

Body, spirit, soul shall be

Blameless till thy Savior's coming,

In His glorious majesty.

He hath perfected forever

Those whom He hath sanctified;

Spotless, glorious, and holy,

Is the Church,  His chosen bride.

"Church Of God, Beloved And Chosen"
(1873)
Frances Ridley Havergal
(1836-1879)
Prolific English Christian poetess
 and hymn writer