"We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord,

and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake."

2 Corinthians 4:5

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Author: Unknown Tune: Depth of Mercy (William B. Bradley)

1. Sons of God redeemed by blood,

Raise your songs to Zion's God;

Made from condemnation free,

Grace triumphant sing with me.

2. Calvary's wonders let us trace,

Justice magnified in grace;

Mark the crimson streams and say,

Thus my sins were washed away.

3. Wrath Divine no more we dread,

Vengeance smote our Surety's head;

Claims of justice fully met,

Christ hath paid the dreadful debt.

4. Lamb of God! Thy death hath giv'n,

Pardon, peace and hope of heav'n;

It is finished; let us raise,

Songs of gratitude and praise.

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Faith is not our savior. It was not faith that was born at Bethlehem and died on Golgotha for us. It was not faith that loved us and gave itself for us, that bore our sins in its own body on the tree, that died and rose again for our sins. Faith is one thing and the Savior is another. Faith is one thing and the cross is another. Let us not confound them nor ascribe to a poor, imperfect act of man that which belongs exclusively to the Son of the living God. --Horatius Bonar

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but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Cor. 13:13).

I admire the blessed conclusion with which the Apostle ends the chapter in drawing the different qualities of faith, hope, and charity, by the way of the more exalting the latter. Faith abideth with the believer, being a grace of the SPIRIT in the believer, and from His operation in the soul; it therefore abideth to the very last. Yea, regenerated souls, not only live believing, but die believing.

The Covenant-love of GOD in CHRIST, with regenerated souls, are the same in life and death. These all (saith the HOLY GHOST by his servant the Apostle) died in faith, Hebrews 11:13. So hope, in like manner, rests in the full assurance of all the unseen things engaged for in the covenant. Hope realizes them, substantiates them, and considers them sure. Hence it is called, a blessed hope (Titus 2:13).

But both faith and hope cease when the soul enters Heaven; for their offices are for ever done away. For what a man seeth, he can no longer hope for, Romans 8:4. But charity, the love which is a branch of the love of GOD in CHRIST, flowing from His heart into ours, remains forever; and therefore, in this sense, is greater than both. Precious JESUS! Oh! For a portion of that love, that charity, which is the LORD'S gift, and not man's creating; and which, as it comes from GOD, so does it lead to GOD and will find room for exercise forever. --Robert Hawker

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But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14).

For his own part, the apostle was determined to glory in nothing save the cross of Christ. He had gone out to Him without the camp, bearing His reproach, and like Moses, he counted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. The cross is here put for the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross.

This is the foundation which God hath laid in Zion for the hope of the guilty. His own self bare the sins of His people in His own body on the tree; they are justified by His blood, redeemed from the curse; and upon this, and this alone, believers rest their hope. They do not glory in any real or fancied superiority over others. They behold the glory of the Lord shining in the face of Jesus Christ. Through the rent vail of the Redeemer's flesh, they draw near to their covenant God, seated on a throne of grace; and, beholding the perfection of the sacrifice offered on Calvary, and arrayed in their Redeemer's everlasting righteousness, they challenge the universe to lay anything to their charge. --James Haldane