O dearest Lord, what law hast Thou e’er broken

V. THE LIFE THAT HAS BEEN TESTED

IN CHRIST’S HUMAN LIVING

The indestructible life has been tested in Christ’s human living ( John 18:38 ; 19:4 , 6 ). This life was tested during Christ’s thirty-three and a half years on earth. At the end of the Lord’s earthly life, Pilate, a governor of the Roman Empire, made the last three tests, and at the end of every test, he declared, “I find no fault in Him. ” Can you find another person concerning whom your conscience can say that he has no fault? Although my dear wife loves me very much, she would have to admit that she has found fault with me. I believe that every wife has found fault with her husband. Although none of us can stand the test, the Lord Jesus withstood every test. The kind of life that we have today is a life that has passed through every test. This life is perfect.

VI. THE LIFE THAT HAS

PASSED THROUGH DEATH

The indestructible life is a life that has passed through death ( Rev. 1:18 ). Death is powerful. When it comes, no one can resist it. In the universe there is only one thing that is more powerful than death—the divine life. The life in reality, the real life, not the life in shadow, is more powerful than death. Which is more powerful—darkness or light? Light is more powerful than darkness because whenever it shines, it overcomes darkness. Which is more powerful—life or death? Praise the Lord that life is more powerful than death. This is the reason that life was able to pass through death. This life did not just scarcely pass through death; it passed through death like a tourist on a sightseeing tour. After the Lord Jesus died on the cross, He went to take a tour of the region of death. After visiting the region of death and having a good sightseeing tour, the Lord simply walked away from death. Death could do nothing with Him. This should not merely be a doctrinal understanding to us. We must see that the very life that has passed through death is ours today; it is in us right now.

VII. THE LIFE THAT DEATH

CANNOT HOLD

The indestructible life is a life that death cannot hold ( Acts 2:24 ). When Christ was in Hades, taking a sightseeing tour of the region of death, death energized all its power in an attempt to hold Him, but death could not do anything. Although death tried its best to hold Him, it could not do it, because life is more powerful than death.

We all have both death and life within us. Even your losing your temper or feeling unhappy with the brothers and sisters is death. Your inability to praise, pray, or function in the meetings also is death. Life never says, “I can’t. ” In life’s dictionary there are no such words as I can’t. Life always says, “I can. I can do everything: I can function, I can pray, I can shout, I can say Amen, and I can praise. ” Whenever you say, “I can, ” that is life. Whenever you say, “I can’t, ” that is death. In the church life from now on we must avoid saying, “I can’t. ” If you are asked to give a word, you must reply, “Hallelujah, I can do it. There’s no problem. ” Whenever a brother or sister says, “I can’t, ” we should remind them that that is death. Death says, “I can’t, ” but life says, “I can. ” There is no impossibility with life. Life can do anything. Life can enable the brothers and sisters in the local churches to love one another to the uttermost, to perfection. In Isaiah 6:8 the Lord said, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us? ” Isaiah, the prophet, responded, “Here am I; send me. ” When we hear the Lord asking us, “Whom shall I send? ” we should not say, “No, Lord, not me”; we should say, “Lord, here I am—send me. ” If all the local churches will get into life, the church life will be higher than the heavens. I hope that soon the churches will be like this. May all the churches be in life!

VIII. THE RESURRECTION LIFE

The indestructible life is the resurrection life ( John 11:25 ). What is the difference between life and resurrection life? Life has not been tested by death; it has never passed through death. Resurrection life is life that has been tested by and has passed through death, proving that death is unable to do anything with it. Our life today is the resurrection life, the life that has passed through death and has proved that death cannot hold it down.

IX. THE LIFE OF WHICH THE SPIRIT IS

The indestructible life is the life of which the Spirit is ( Rom. 8:2 ). Romans 8:2 speaks of the Spirit of life. Where life is, there the Spirit is because the Spirit is the essential reality, actuality, and practicality, of this life. When you have life, you have the Spirit, and when you have the Spirit, you have life. Life and the Spirit can never, never be separated.

X. THE SAVING LIFE OF CHRIST

The indestructible life is the saving life of Christ ( 5:10 ). As such a saving life, it is able to save us to the uttermost. Romans 5:10 says that we have been reconciled through the death of Christ and will be saved by the saving life of Christ.

XI. THE REIGNING LIFE

This life is also the reigning life ( v. 17 ). We are not only being saved in life, but we are also reigning in life. We have a life that enthrones us, that puts us on the throne as a king. This is the reigning life.

XII. THE LIFE OF THE TREE OF LIFE

The indestructible life is the life of the tree of life ( Gen. 2:9 ; Rev. 2:7 ; 22:2 , 14 ). The tree of life was the life at the beginning, for in the beginning of the Bible, there was the tree of life. This tree of life will also be the life in eternity. In Genesis 2 we have the life at the beginning, and in Revelation 22 we have the life that is for eternity. This life, the eternal life without beginning or ending, is the life of the tree of life.

XIII. THE LIFE THAT IS

WITH INCORRUPTION

The indestructible life is a life that is without corruption but is always with incorruption ( 2 Tim. 1:10 ). Where this life is, there is no corruption. Corruption is a by-product of death, but the divine priesthood, being constituted with the indestructible life, diminishes all corruption.

XIV. THE LIFE THAT IS
INDISSOLUBLE,
INDESTRUCTIBLE

The indestructible life is indissoluble ( Heb. 7:16 ). It can never be dissolved. Certain chemical compounds can be dissolved by placing them in a particular liquid, but nothing can dissolve this indestructible life. It will remain the same forever. This is the kind of life that we have within us and that we may enjoy today. This life is called the indestructible life because nothing can destroy or dissolve it. If you burn it or pour water on it, it still remains. If you kill it, it lives all the more. If you put this life into the grave, the grave will burst, and if you place it into Hades, Hades will be powerless to hold it down. Since we have this wonderful life in us, we should stop groaning and looking at our weaknesses. The life that we have received is an indestructible life, and nothing on earth, in heaven, or in hell can deal with it. This is the life that constitutes the divine priesthood. The divine priesthood of Christ is constituted with such a wonderful life. This is the reason why the divine priesthood is able to save us to the uttermost, saving us from all the by-products of death into Christ’s complete perfection—glorification.

Life-study of Hebrews

Message 34 (LSM)

The English translator of this song was Miss Catherine Winkworth, born in London, September 13, 1827. She was an industrious and successful translator of German hymns, contributing many results of her work to two English editions of the Lyra Germania, to the Church Book of England, and to Christian Singers of Germany. She died 1878.

This hymn was originally written by Jean De Fecamp (1000 - 1079), translated to German and developed by Johann Heermann (1585-1647) and then translated to English by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878).

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Jean De FeCamp was a Benedictine monk who lived and wrote about 900 years ago. Fecamp was head of a monastic colony in Normandy for half a century. Later in his career, he decided to visit the Holy Land. While there, he was arrested and imprisoned by the ruling Turks. You might imagine him in that dank Turkish jail, as he remembered another innocent man imprisoned in Palestine by an occupying army - Jesus Christ.

It is no surprise that Lutheran pastor Johann Heerman should translate this hymn and develop the theme as his German town of Koben was ravaged by the 30 Years' War. - Great Songs of Faith by Brown & Norton

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There are additional stanzas. Following hymnal.net 2nd stanza:

3. Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?
It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish;
Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit,
This I do merit.
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Following hymnal.net stanza 4:

6. There was no spot in me by sin untainted;
Sick with sin's poison, all my heart had fainted;
My heavy guilt to hell had well-nigh brought me,
Such woe it wrought me.
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7. O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded,
That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded!
All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying
While Thou wert dying.
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Following hymnal.net stanza 5:

9. For vainly doth our human wisdom ponder, --
Thy woes, Thy mercy, still transcend our wonder.
Oh, how should I do aught that could delight Thee!
Can I requite Thee?
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10. Yet unrequited, Lord, I would not leave Thee;
I will renounce whate'er doth vex or grieve Thee
And quench with thoughts of Thee and prayers most lowly
All fires unholy.
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11. But since my strength will nevermore suffice me
To crucify desires that still entice me,
To all good deeds, oh, let Thy Spirit win me
And reign within me!
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following hymnal.net last stanza:

13. Whate'er of earthly good this life may grant me,
I'll risk for Thee; no shame, no cross, shall daunt me;
I shall not fear what man can do to harm me
Nor death alarm me.
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14. But worthless is my sacrifice, I own it;
Yet, Lord, for love's sake Thou wilt not disown it;
Thou wilt accept my gift in Thy great meekness
Nor shame my weakness.
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15. And when, dear Lord, before Thy throne in heaven
To me the crown of joy at last is given,
Where sweetest hymns Thy saints forever raise Thee,
I, too, shall praise Thee.

"Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without compassion on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

By how much do you think he will be thought worthy of worse punishment who has trampled underfoot the son of God and has considered the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing and has insulted the spirit of grace?". (Heb. 10:28-29).

Lord Jesus have mercy on us!

A hymn we hardly ever sing, and a rare jewel amongst many hymns on Christ's suffering. The writer had both a musical tenderness, as well as a sincere appreciation for Christ's unjust, and agonizing death. Makes us further sober to realize the seriousness and meaning of His death and suffering. How deep and how far reaching is Thy Kingly accomplishment and such abundant mercy to us who don't deserve Him!!