Lord’s Day, Vol. 3 No. 30

(1) The Church’s One Foundation

– Cauldron of Doctrinal Dispute

The history of the Christian church is far from idyllic. Rather, it is one of persecution and struggle, from its inception to the present day.

The church has been attacked through the centuries by heretical doctrines and practices from those who would defile and destroy it.

In 1866, an influential and liberal Anglican bishop wrote an article to attack the historical accuracy of the Pentateuch. A widespread controversy raged through the Anglican Church.

Samuel J. Stone (1839-1900), a pastor ministering among the poor in London, was deeply stirred by the debate.

He wrote a collection of twelve creedal hymns based on the Apostles’ Creed, to instruct his people in the truth and to defend the Bible.

Stone knew that the foundation of the church must be the Lordship of Christ and not the views of men.

His hymn “The Church’s One Foundation” was based on the Ninth Article of the creed, which reads, “The Holy Catholic [Universal] Church; the Communion of Saints: He the Head of this Body.”

Thus from the cauldron of a doctrinal dispute and crisis that occurred a century ago, a great hymn of our faith was written.

Stone’s faith in the inspiration of Scripture, his refusal to compromise before the Higher Criticism of his day and his conviction of the Lordship of Christ has resulted in the realisation of this stately hymn.

 

The Church’s one foundation

Is Jesus Christ her Lord;

She is His new creation

By water and the Word:

 

From heav’n He came and sought her,

To be His holy bride;

With His own blood He bought her,

And for her life He died.

 

Elect from every nation,

Yet one o’er all the earth,

Her charter of salvation

One Lord, one faith, one birth;

 

One holy name she blesses,

Partakes one holy food,

And to one hope she presses,

With ev’ry grace endued.

 

‘Mid toil and tribulation

And tumult of her war,

She waits the consummation

Of peace forever more;

 

Till with the vision glorious

Her longing eyes are blest,

And the great Church victorious

Shall be the Church at rest.

 

Yet she on earth hath union

With God the Three in One,

And mystic sweet communion

With those whose rest is won:

 

O happy ones and holy!

Lord, give us grace that we,

Like them, the meek and lowly,

On high may dwell with Thee.

 

May our individual lives be built on the foundation of Christ, the One who came and died for our sins and rose triumphantly!

Colossians 1:13,14, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

A day is coming when we would reign victoriously with Him for all eternity.

[Extracted and edited from Songs in the Night by Henry Gariepy].

 

(2) New Prayer Meeting Series

On 22 July 2015, we completed our bible study on the Precepts of Prayer for our weekly prayer meetings on Wednesday nights.

From 5 August 2015, we shall begin a new series from the Book of Ruth, entitled “Under His Wings”.

Ruth 2:12, “The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”

Make an appointment with the Lord to come for prayer meetings on Wednesday nights at 8pm in the Praise Chapel and thereby be spiritually enriched, “Under His Wings”.

 

Yours lovingly,

Pr. Lek Aik Wee