This Christmas I have been struck by the simple gospel heart expressed in the words of the carol, The Truth from Above, which our choir sang at Lessons and Carols. I will refer to this in my sermon today, but I also wanted to print a fuller version of the words for you.
- This is the truth sent from above,
The truth of God, the God of love;
Therefore don’t turn me from your door,
But hearken all both rich and poor. - The first thing that I will relate,
That God at first did man create
The next thing which to you I tell,
Woman was made with him to dwell. - Then after that, ‘twas God’s own choice
To place them both in Paradise,
There to remain from evil free
Except they ate of such a tree. - But they did eat, which was a sin,
And then their ruin did begin —
Ruin’d themselves, both you and me,
And all of our posterity. - Thus we were heirs to endless woes,
Till God the Lord did interpose
For so a promise soon did run
That he’d redeem us with a Son. - And at this season of the year
Our blest Redeemer did appear
And here did live, and here did preach,
And many thousands he did teach. - Thus He in love to us behav’d,
To show us how we might be saved
And if you want to know the way
Be pleased to hear what he did say. - Go preach the Gospel now he said,
To all the nations that are made
And he that does believe on me,
From all his sins I’ll set him free. - If he believes and does obey,
I’ll raise him up at the last day,
And now as sure as he does live,
Eternal life to him I’ll give. - O seek it now while life does last,
For death is coming very fast,
And if he finds thee void of this,
The wrath of God you cannot miss. - O seek! O seek! of God above,
That saving faith that works by love,
And if he’s pleased to grant thee this,
Thou’rt sure to have eternal bliss. - God grant to all within this place
True saving faith—that special grace,
Which to His people doth belong—
And thus I close my Christmas song.