Hymn 377 - Salvation unto Us Has Come

This weekend we enter into a short season between Epiphany and Lent called the Gesima Sundays. These names of these three weeks roughly count down the days until the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. On the first of these Sundays, Septuagesima (70 days), we reflect on our guilt and unworthiness before God and His mercy in giving us what we do not deserve.

The hymn that will be the focus of our service this weekend is the great reformation hymn by Paul Speratus "Salvation unto Us has Come." This hymn was written and included in the first Lutheran Hymnal published in 1523. It is a beautiful declaration of the sinner's salvation by Grace, through Faith, and in Christ Jesus, and powerfully reveals that we cannot be saved by our own works or efforts. This truth was particularly true in the 1500's in contrast to the false teaching of salvation by works as taught in Roman Catholicism, but it is just as needed today. The religions of the world that many people are confronted by today all teach salvation by works, and even many Christian denominations fall into the error of emphasizing man's works over God's grace. The rich Scriptural truths proclaimed in this hymn are as needed today as they were 500 years ago! In addition, these powerful words are combined with a powerful tune which matches its joy and confidence in Christ's work for us.

Join us as we study this hymn about our inability to save ourselves and the joy and comfort of knowing that Jesus has made the "full atonement" for our sins by taking on our flesh and giving His life as the ransom to set us free.