Everyone has heard the first question and answer in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” From 1643 to 1648, over 300 “divines” (ministers and professors) from England and Scotland met periodically in the Jerusalem Chamber of Westminster Abbey to produce standards of worship and polity and doctrine for the British and Scottish churches, as Puritan influence had become dominant. Those documents included the Westminster Confession of Faith as well as the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms. That period was marked by Parliament’s control of government and led to the execution of King Charles I in 1649.
But not as many are familiar with the first question and answer in the Heidelberg Catechism. “What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has delivered me from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, also assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.” That text is the basis of a new song from the team at Getty Music: “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death.”
The Heidelberg Catechism was the work of Zacharias Ursinus, a twenty-nine year old professor of theology at the university in Heidelberg, Germany. He completed it in 1563 and it quickly became a favorite as it was translated into other languages. After the Synod of Dordt in the Netherlands approved it in 1619, it was assured a special place among churches in the continental Reformed tradition. It is written in a “warmer” style and appeals as much to the heart as to the mind (as is especially evident in this first question and answer) in comparison with most other catechisms, and sounds very natural as a conversation between a teacher and students. It groups questions into 52 units that were intended to guide a church in working through the entire catechism, with its summary of the whole of Christian theology, in a year.
This first question is a wonderful, concise statement of the heart of the gospel. It identifies the reality and essence of our sin and the danger in which we stand before a holy God. But it leads us to run toward that God in loving trust, not away from Him in terror. It begins by asking what comfort we can find in this word, troubled as we are by evil around us as well as within us. And the answer comes not in words of a sterile doctrinal description, but rather in sweet assurances to the believer’s heart of the comfort we find in a God who loves us so dearly. The descriptions of the blessings that are ours are beautiful and inviting. They lay out a life of grateful trust as we discover that this powerful God has committed Himself to care for us in such an extensive manner that no detail of our life is outside of His design and control. This security extends to the very final days of our life. And it grounds this assurance in the work of Jesus Christ, who has paid for all our sins by the shedding of His precious blood.
Since this question provides such a marvelous summary of the gospel, and in words that appeal to the heart, especially in times when we are seeking support from “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1), it is often used as a corporate statement of faith to be professed in unison at the beginning of a Christian funeral service. Since there are more non-Christians in church for weddings and funerals than at any other time, it is a good way of setting the basics of the gospel before people at the beginning of the service, and inviting them to embrace the comfort offered by the Lord in the midst of their grieving.
The premier hymn-writing team in the world today is that of the musicians associated with Keith and Kristyn Getty. This Irish writing and performing couple have gained international recognition, beginning with their “signature song,” “In Christ Alone.” They have recorded multiple CDs, they tour the country in concerts (including their Irish Christmas program from Carnegie Hall in New York City), and they now lead the annual “Sing Global Conferences,” which began with the first such event in 2017. Each year thousands gather in-person and on-line to join in singing some of the best examples of contemporary hymnody from multiple composers, hearing lectures on the theology and practice of worship from some of the best-known theologians of our day, and take advantage of scores of seminars on practical topics to help them in their music and worship ministry in their local churches.
While in earlier years, most of the songs from the Gettys were their own compositions, sometimes along with Stuart Townend. Keith (he’s often the source of the music) and Kristyn (she’s often the source of the lyrics) now actively promote hymn writing from a multiple of composers. It‘s to their credit that their concerts and conferences always include a significant number of classic hymns, performed in a contemporary style with their superb praise band, and often with an Irish “flavor!” At present they are working with a major Christian publishing house to produce a new hymnal in the next couple of years, one that will contain a large selection of classic hymns from the ages as well as more contemporary contributions to the repertoire of Christian hymnody.
“Christ Our Hope in Life and Death” is one of their newest offerings to the growing field of doctrinally solid and musically exciting hymnody. It has come from a group of writers and performers who are part of the Getty ministry. For this 2020 song, these include not only Keith Getty, but also Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, and Matt Papa. It has been a theme song for several of the “Sing Global” conferences, and is sure to be included in hymnals in the years ahead.
As with several of the Getty songs, this was a collaborative effort. The heart of the song came from Jordan Kauflin, whose father, Bob Kauflin, is well-known for his writing and performing with Sovereign Grace. When Jordan brought it to others, it was Keith Getty who came up with the idea for the refrain, “O Sing, Hallelujah!” When they brought it to Ireland, Matt Papa and Matt Boswell pitched in, with Boswell proposing the idea of connecting it to the Heidelberg Catechism. In an interview with the writers, they point out that death is one of the few things that is certain in this life. And it is only the Christian gospel (as summarized so well in this catechism answer) that truly gives hope and peace in the face of death. We profess that Christ is “our only hope in life and death.”
The hymn is not a literal setting of the words of the Heidelberg Catechism question and answer, but reflects the dominant theme. And that is of our need for comfort and hope in the midst of the pressures, fears, dangers, and uncertainties of this life.
In stanza 1, we take our stand on the solid rock of Christ. How wonderful to be assured that we “belong” to the Savior who has purchased us and made us His own. He holds us in His hand, He tells us that nothing can come to us apart from His “command,” He will keep us to the end because He loves us. What an amazing fact that is! The love of God is so consistently present in the Bible, we who see it stand in amazement at those for whom it remains hidden by their unbelief. Even in the divine warnings of judgment in the Old Testament prophetical books, we still hear His voice, pleading in love for His people to return to Him.
What is our hope in life and death? Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence? That our souls to Him belong.
Who holds our days within His hand? What comes, apart from His command?
And what will keep us to the end? The love of Christ, in which we stand.
In stanza 2, we sing more specifically of God’s “grace and goodness,” not merely His power. This is more than a religious idea. It is a “truth” that stands despite doubts and challenges to our faith. And that goodness is most evident at Calvary, “in our great Redeemer’s blood.” While we were yet in our sin, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). And what a remarkable irony … that the waves that trouble us have actually been sent by Him to bring us home “unto the shore.” One of the strengths of our Christian faith is the reality in which the Bible helps us face the actual troubles of this life that can produce a “troubled soul,” that comes “when fears arise,” and that find us in a “stormy trial.”
What truth can calm the troubled soul? God is good, God is good.
Where is His grace and goodness known? In our great Redeemer’s blood.
Who holds our faith when fears arise? Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?
In stanza 3, we reach the high point of that moment when we have come to the grave, to the end of our life. Can we sing even then, and if so, what will we sing? That “Christ, He lives,” and that He will welcome us into His presence with the rewards He has purchased for us in that new heaven and new earth. And what is the greatest of those rewards? It is “everlasting life with Him.” Jesus Himself is the great reward that awaits us. Yes, it will be wonderful to be free from “sin and death,” but the best part of our future is going to be to “feast in endless joy” with Christ Himself!
Unto the grave, what shall we sing? “Christ, He lives; Christ, He lives!”
And what reward will heaven bring? Everlasting life with Him.
There we will rise to meet the Lord, Then sin and death will be destroyed,
And we will feast in endless joy, When Christ is ours forevermore.
The refrain is a masterful addition to the stanzas. It’s not just the words, the repeated shout, “Hallelujah!” It’s also the music. The melodic line suddenly jumps to a higher note than has yet been sung. And it is of long enough duration to draw attention to this great attitude of celebration. It continues to paraphrase themes from the Heidelberg Catechism, especially that of the everlasting joy which is promised to us in Christ, a joy that motivates us to be “wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.”
O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.
© 2020 by Getty Music Publishing, Messenger Hymns, Matthew Merker Music, Jordan Kauflin Music, Getty Music Hymns and Songs, and Love Your Enemies Publishing.
Here is a recording of the song as performed by the composers themselves.
In addition, here is a brief interview with the composers, as they talk about how the song came to be written.