Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice

“Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” (LSB 556) is Martin Luther’s second hymn. The earliest printing of this hymn carried the following superscription: “A Christian hymn by Doctor Martin Luther, setting forth the indescribable grace of God and the true faith.” As such, this hymn of Luther (1483-1546) set the Reformation Gospel before the common people on the wings of song as a remarkably clear and complete summary of the Lutheran doctrine of justification.

The origins of this hymn have often been identified with Luther’s personal experience in “discovering” the Gospel. It may also be accurate that this hymn is not so much reflective of Luther’s personal experience as it is of the doctrine of justification revealed in Scripture and grounded in the life of every Christian.

This hymn may be outlined this way:

Stanza One – Justification: the source of Christian joy
Stanza Two – The sinner and original sin
Stanza Three – The sinner and unrighteous deeds
Stanza Four – The Father’s mercy from eternity
Stanza Five – The Father’s gracious sending of His Son
Stanza Six – The Word become flesh
Stanza Seven – The “joyous exchange”
Stanza Eight – Calvary’s benefits received in faith
Stanza Nine – The promise of the Holy Spirit
Stanza Ten – The Means of Grace

The hymn concludes saying that Christians are to guard themselves against human teachings, lest this great Gospel treasure be destroyed (Matthew 28:20; Colossians 2:20-20).

1     Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice,
    With exultation springing,
And with united heart and voice
    And holy rapture singing,
Proclaim the wonders God has done,
How His right arm the vict’ry won.
    What price our ransom cost Him!

2     Fast bound in Satan’s chains I lay;
    Death brooded darkly o’er me.
Sin was my torment night and day;
    In sin my mother bore me.
But daily deeper still I fell;
My life became a living hell,
    So firmly sin possessed me.

3     My own good works all came to naught,
    No grace or merit gaining;
Free will against God’s judgment fought,
    Dead to all good remaining.
My fears increased till sheer despair
Left only death to be my share;
    The pangs of hell I suffered.

4     But God had seen my wretched state
    Before the world’s foundation,
And mindful of His mercies great,
    He planned for my salvation.
He turned to me a father’s heart;
He did not choose the easy part
    But gave His dearest treasure.

5     God said to His belovèd Son:
    “It’s time to have compassion.
Then go, bright jewel of My crown,
    And bring to all salvation.
From sin and sorrow set them free;
Slay bitter death for them that they
    May live with You forever.”

6     The Son obeyed His Father’s will,
    Was born of virgin mother;
And God’s good pleasure to fulfill,
    He came to be my brother.
His royal pow’r disguised He bore;
A servant’s form, like mine, He wore
    To lead the devil captive.

7     To me He said: “Stay close to Me,
    I am your rock and castle.
Your ransom I Myself will be;
    For you I strive and wrestle.
For I am yours, and you are Mine,
And where I am you may remain;
    The foe shall not divide us.

8     “Though he will shed My precious blood,
    Me of My life bereaving,
All this I suffer for your good;
    Be steadfast and believing.
Life will from death the vict’ry win;
My innocence shall bear your sin,
    And you are blest forever.

9     “Now to My Father I depart,
    From earth to heav’n ascending,
And, heav’nly wisdom to impart,
    The Holy Spirit sending;
In trouble He will comfort you
And teach you always to be true
    And into truth shall guide you.

10  “What I on earth have done and taught
    Guide all your life and teaching;
So shall the kingdom’s work be wrought
    And honored in your preaching.
But watch lest foes with base alloy
The heav’nly treasure should destroy;
    This final word I leave you.”

Text: Public domain