When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

© Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen

All Rights Reserved

Rich men without convictions are more dangerous in modern society than poor women without chastity.

-       George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950.

   So many times have I heard people, and especially preachers, say that God loved us ‘because of the cross of Calvary’.  We may have been sanctified by the blood and sacrifice (of Jesus Christ) of the cross, but to say that God loved us ‘because of the cross’ is putting the (theological) cart before the horse.  God has loved us long before the cross (i.e. long before the crucifixion).  The love of God (for mankind) eventually culminated in the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth for the sins of the world at Calvary ... not the other way around.  The Bible says:

   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ASV).

    

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When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Isaac Watts, 1674-1748/From a Gregorian Chant, Arr. by Lowell Mason, 1792-1872)

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ, my God;

All the vain things that charm me most –

I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did ever such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small:

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Piet Stassen

eLiterature/eLiteratuur:

1. Scribd Publishing Site:  www.scribd.com/PietStassen (ENGLISH & AFRIKAANS)
2. eBook: 'Evolution: The Science That Evolved Into A Fairy Tale' (ENGLISH)  
3. eBook:  'Bertrand Russell Revisited: Rebuttal Of Bertrand Russell's 'Why I Am Not A Christian''(ENGLISH)
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7. eBook: 'Names And Titles Of Jesus Of Nazareth (ENGLISH)'
8. eBoek:  'Darwin Of Christus: Suid-Afrikaners By 'n Kruispad!' [AFRIKAANS].
9. eBoek:  'Bevryding Van Die Anti-Evangelie Van Ateisme-Evolusionisme' [AFRIKAANS].
10. eBoek:  'Name & Titels Van Jesus Christus' [AFRIKAANS].
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Bibliography

1.  Andrews, Allen (1969) Quotations For Speakers And Writers. Newnes Books. Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. London.

2.  Peterson, John V. (1968) Great Hymns Of The Faith. ‘When I Survey The Wondrous Cross.’ Singspiration Inc. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan.