Glorious Christ, in the beginning

C188 E8188
1
Glorious Christ, in the beginning;
From eternity He came.
Mighty God, Eternal Father,
I AM THAT I AM His name.
No beginning and no ending,
Without genealogy,
Changeless, years fore’er extending,
He is, was, and e’er will be.
2
Glorious Christ! Unique Creator,
Source whence all creation springs;
He o’er all is Lord and Master,
His the first place in all things.
All’s upheld by His commandment;
In Him do all things subsist.
He’s the Heir, by God’s appointment,
To inherit all that is.
3
Glorious Christ, the Word incarnate,
Tabernacled among us,
Virgin-born, a human perfect,
God in flesh expressing thus;
God yet man, without reluctance,
Took slave’s form, was humbled thus.
He’s the image of God’s substance,
God’s effulgence glorious.
4
Glorious Christ, in crucifixion,
Bore our sins, e’en sin became.
Judged and killed by God’s conviction,
Bore death’s bitterness and shame.
With Him slain, our old man’s over;
Satan’s vanquished mightily;
Sin reigns over us no longer;
From all snares we’re wholly free.
5
Glorious Christ, in resurrection,
He’s the Firstfruit from the dead;
We receive His life infusion,
Through His resurrection led.
This Life-grain has brought forth others.
Lo, the many grains are we!
Now God’s Son has many brothers,
We’ve the same one source as He!
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Glorious Christ, as Spirit enters
Into us as life to be;
By partaking of God’s nature,
We are made divine as He.
As He grows, He’s formed within us,
Till His image full we bear,
Till God’s riches, full and bounteous,
And His stature full we share.
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Glorious Christ, to heights ascended,
Far above all rule, He reigns;
Honor, glory, crown resplendent,
His the name above all names.
Brought with Him into ascension,
Seated in the heavenlies,
We, too, share His strength, position,
Even His authority.
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Glorious Christ, the Spirit sending,
Has the church established thus,
For its functions, gifts presenting,
That His church be built through us.
How He loves His dear expression;
Loves to nourish, cherish her.
She, His increase and extension,
Spreads to all the universe.
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Glorious Christ, with kingdom coming,
Saints He’ll rapture, glorify;
Foes He’ll crush, all nations judging,
Kingdom to set up thereby.
We will be beside Him reigning
E’en o’er earth’s remotest ends;
All lands peaceful, all men praising,
To all earth His peace extends.
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Glorious Christ, eternal center,
Gains His city, His dear bride;
The new heav’n and earth will enter;
All that’s old He’ll cast aside.
Christ’s the Lamp; forth from within Him
God as light shines gloriously;
His bright city manifests Him,
Filled with Him eternally.