Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#220

220. To Jordan came our Lord, the Christ

1 To Jordan came our Lord, the Christ,
To do God’s pleasure willing,
And there was by St. John baptized,
All righteousness fulfilling;
There did He consecrate a bath
To wash away transgression,
And quench the bitterness of death
By His own blood and passion;
He would a new life give us.

2 So hear ye all and well perceive
What God doth call Baptism,
And what a Christian should believe
Who error shuns and schism:
That we should water use, the Lord
Declareth it His pleasure;
Not simple water, but the Word
And Spirit without measure;
He is the real Baptizer.

3 To show us this He hath His Word
With signs and symbols given;
On Jordan’s banks was plainly heard
The Father’s voice from heaven:
"This is My well beloved Son,
In whom My soul delighteth;
Hear Him." Yea, hear Him, every one
When He Himself inviteth,
Hear and obey His teaching.

4 In tender manhood God the Son
In Jordan's water standeth;
The Holy Ghost from His own throne
In dove-like form descendeth;
That thus the truth be not denied,--
Nor should our faith e’er waver,--
That the Three Persons e'er preside,
At Baptism’s holy laver,
And dwell with the believer.

5 Thus Jesus His disciples sent:
Go teach ye every nation,
That, lost in sin, they must repent
And flee from condemnation:
He that believes and is baptized
Shall thereby have salvation;
A new-born man he is in Christ,
Is safe from condemnation,
And shall inherit heaven.

6 Who in this mercy hath not faith,
Nor aught therein discerneth,
Is yet in sin, condemned to death,
And fire that ever burneth;
His holiness avails him not,
Nor aught which he is doing;
His birth-sin brings all to naught,
And maketh sure his ruin;
Himself he cannot succor.

7 Blind sense but water sees, and spurns:
"Pray, how can water save us?"
Faith marks the Word, and well discerns
Christ's merits that here lave us;
Faith sees this cleansing fountain red
With, both from sin inherited
From fallen Adam frees us,
And sins we have committed.

Text Information

• First Line: To Jordan came our Lord, the Christ
• Author: Dr. Martin Luther (1541)
• Translator: Richard Massie (1845)
• Meter: No. 47
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: The Catechism: Holy Baptism
• Notes: From the German text: Christum wir sollen loben schon

Tune Information

• Name: BAPTIZEIN (Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam)
• Adapter: Dr. Luther (1524)
• Adapter: Johann Walther (1524)
• Meter: No. 47
• Key: a minor
• Source: Secular origen