1
In the bosom of the Father,
Ere the ages had begun,
Thou wast in the Father's glory,
God's unique begotten Son.
When to us the Father gave Thee,
Thou in person wast the same,
All the fulness of the Father
In the Spirit to proclaim.
Ere the ages had begun,
Thou wast in the Father's glory,
God's unique begotten Son.
When to us the Father gave Thee,
Thou in person wast the same,
All the fulness of the Father
In the Spirit to proclaim.
2
By Thy death and resurrection,
Thou wast made God's firstborn Son;
By Thy life to us imparting,
Was Thy duplication done.
We, in Thee regenerated,
Many sons to God became;
Truly as Thy many brethren,
We are as Thyself the same.
Thou wast made God's firstborn Son;
By Thy life to us imparting,
Was Thy duplication done.
We, in Thee regenerated,
Many sons to God became;
Truly as Thy many brethren,
We are as Thyself the same.
3
Once Thou wast the only grain, Lord,
Falling to the earth to die,
That thru death and resurrection
Thou in life may multiply.
We were brought forth in Thy nature
And the many grains became;
As one loaf we all are blended,
All Thy fulness to proclaim.
Falling to the earth to die,
That thru death and resurrection
Thou in life may multiply.
We were brought forth in Thy nature
And the many grains became;
As one loaf we all are blended,
All Thy fulness to proclaim.
4
We're Thy total reproduction,
Thy dear Body and Thy Bride,
Thine expression and Thy fulness,
For Thee ever to abide.
We are Thy continuation,
Thy life-increase and Thy spread,
Thy full growth and Thy rich surplus,
One with Thee, our glorious Head.
Thy dear Body and Thy Bride,
Thine expression and Thy fulness,
For Thee ever to abide.
We are Thy continuation,
Thy life-increase and Thy spread,
Thy full growth and Thy rich surplus,
One with Thee, our glorious Head.
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Sydney, NSW, Australia
This hymn begins with the bosom of the Father where in eternity past Christ resided as the centre and focus of the Father's love and affections. The following stanzas and verses portray the working out of the Father's heart in and for Christ through us His predestinated ones, firstly in incarnation where Christ fully declared in His living the Father's life, nature and purpose. Secondly, through death and resurrection, Christ became the Firstborn Son of God and we through regeneration by His resurrection, the many sons of God. Verse 3 fully explains the implications of such a regeneration where we become Christ's very reproduction, as His own Body. Lastly in verse 4 we see the full development of God's heart to have the Bride, the fullness for Christ as the Head. The vast panaroma is presented to us of God's eternal economy, and we would do well to prayerfully muse on this hymn with a joy that is surpassing and full of glory.
Newton, MA, United States
I have always wondered how we would have known the organic aspect of the church had Paul not described the church as the Body of Christ. To see that the church is Christ's own body and that this is Christ's continuation is truly a marvelous revelation. Every time I sing this hymn I really have a sense of loving all the dear children of God whom He has brought to be the "dear body and dear Bride" of Christ. Christ and His church are not separate. The Church as the Body of Christ is His extension, continuation, expression and fullness. Hence, the church as the Body of Christ is the continuation of Christ as the Head of the Body. Awesome! This hymn gives us all the deeper description of the organic connection between Christ and His church. How privileged it is to be a part of Christ's extension! When we meet brothers and sisters in Christ, we have this sense of being Christ's Body. Hence our reaction is that of love and care toward them as we are members one of another in the same Body. Thank you Lord for bringing me to be part of your continuation, expression and fullness!