One Thing is Perfectly Clear

In a previous post, I spoke about how there will always be things about the Christian life that are not completely clear.  However, there is one thing that is very clear (at least to Lutherans) — we can’t save ourselves, or even contribute to our salvation by any action or choice that we make on our own.  We are saved by grace alone.  Just in case you didn’t know, this is the reason that many church doors are red.  We are able enter God’s presence, His holy house, only through the blood of Christ.  The red door is a symbol.  Thinking about these things last night led me to remember this hymn, Whiter Than Snow.

Written by a layman, James Nicholson (1828-1876), it is based on this verse from Psalm 51:

    “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7)

Think of it as a musical prayer, and pray it with me this morning.

For another post about this hymn follow the link below:

More on Psalm 51

 

More on Psalm 51

Many hymn writers have picked up on the themes expressed in Psalm 51.   One of those was James L. Nicholson, a native of Ireland. He came to America around the age of 25 and lived in Philadelphia for almost two decades. Around 1871 he moved to Washington DC and worked there as a clerk in the Post Office Department.  He wrote the hymn “Whiter than Snow.”  Listen and remember that God is the only one who can not only forgive our sins, but completely erase them through the sacrifice of His son, Jesus.