Monday, July 21, 2008

God's own child

We just came home from a funeral. The struggle of Vivian's short life and the sadness of seeing that impossibly small casket were real. But, thanks be to God, so was the truth of the Sermon and the joy of the hymn.


God's own child, I gladly say it:
I am baptized into Christ!
He, because I could not pay it,
Gave my full redemption price.
Do I need earth's treasure many?
I have one worth more than any

That brought me salvation free
Lasting to eternity!

Sin, disturb my soul no longer:
I am baptized into Christ!
I have comfort even stronger:
Jesus' cleansing sacrifice.
Should a guilty conscience seize me
Since my Baptism did release me
In a dear forgiving flood,
Sprinkling me with Jesus' blood?

Satan, hear this proclamation:
I am baptized into Christ!
Drop your ugly accusation,
I am not so soon enticed.
Now that to the font I've traveled,
All your might has come unraveled,
And, against your tyranny,
God, my Lord, unites with me!

Death, you cannot end my gladness:
I am baptized into Christ!
When I die, I leave all sadness
To inherit paradise!
Though I lie in dust and ashes
Faith's assurance brightly flashes:
Baptism has the strength divine
To make life immortal mine.

There is nothing worth comparing
To this lifelong comfort sure!
Open-eyed my grave is staring:
Even there I'll sleep secure.
Though my flesh awaits its raising,
Still my soul continues praising:
I am baptized into Christ;
I'm a child of paradise!

LSB 594

Text: Erdmann Neumeister, Trans. Robert Voelker

Tune: Johann Caspar Bachofen





4 comments:

Lauren said...

I've never sang this hymn before today. I love it! It's so comforting and yet has a certain "take that, Satan - you lose" tone to it that I appreciate.

Jane said...

We first sang it at the "Making Waves" Higher Things conference in Duluth in 2002. I loved it then, but I loved it even more in today's context.

Marie N. said...

I'm so thankful for our outstanding hymnody. Those are so much more than mere words.

GreenJello said...

There are few things in life that cause the level of heartbreak more than seeing those little ones in caskets.

It's a tough one.