Trust in Christ Alone

Sometimes satire bats 1000% when putting a fine point on the truth.

President Donald Trump: 

“I want to try and get to heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this [Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations] will be one of the reasons.”

Babylon Bee:

“Celestial sources report that in response to hearing of President Trump’s hopes for getting into heaven, God has agreed to let Trump into His kingdom if he simply repents of his sin and trusts in Christ alone for his salvation.

“According to the angelic hosts, the Lord had mercifully declined Trump’s wish to have his merits weighed against his faults, instead offering His only begotten Son as the spotless sacrifice for Trump’s sins.

“‘Peace deals are wonderful – yet, none are righteous. No, not one,’ the angel Gabriel confirmed. ‘But, peace deal or no, God in his love and mercy has agreed to let Trump into Heaven all the same, if he will only repent and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s grace is sufficient.’

“Heavenly sources confirmed that no one throughout history who trusted in their own goodness has been able to enter the presence of the Holy of Holies.”

Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Pray for the President, and ALL that trust in themselves, rather than trusting in God which raiseth the dead, and his Son who rose from the dead!

Self-righteous souls

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

The hymn beginning with the first line “Self-righteous souls on works rely,” is No. 12 (page 9), in The Primitive Hymns, Spiritual Songs, and Sacred Poems by Benjamin Lloyd. This is where I first saw and heard it. It is uncredited in Primitive Hymns. William Gadsby’s A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship credits it to “A. C. R., 1790” (an author or source), titles it “Free Grace,” and references the Bible texts Romans 3:24, 1 Corinthians 15:10, and 1 Timothy 1:14.

The hymn meter is Long Meter (L.M.). I have sung it to the tune Heavenly Home, and I think it works well. However, that is not the tune I heard it used with when I first heard it sung. Neither do I know whether that tune is printed (if it is).

1. Self-righteous souls on works rely,
And boast their mortal dignity;
But if I lisp a song of praise,
Each note shall echo grace, free grace.

2. ’Twas grace that quickened me when dead,
And grace my soul to Jesus led;
Grace brought me pardon for my sin—
And grace subdues my lusts within.

3. ’Tis grace that sweetens ev’ry cross,
’Tis grace supports in ev’ry loss;
In Jesus’ grace my soul is strong—
Grace is my hope, and grace my song.

4. ’Tis grace defends when danger’s near;
By grace alone I persevere;
’Tis grace constrains my soul to love—
Grace, grace, is all they sing above.

5. ’Tis thus alone of grace I boast
And ’tis alone in grace I trust;
For all that’s past, grace is my theme—
For what’s to come, ’tis still the same.

6. In countless years of grace I’ll sing,
Adore and bless my heavenly King;
I’ll cast my crown before his throne,
And shout free grace, free grace, alone.