E821

The Church the vessel is to Christ,

The Church - The Vessel of Christ

20

Verse 1

The Church the vessel is to Christ,

Him to contain and Him express,

Just as the human body doth

Man's life show forth, his life possess.

Verse 2

As was the temple to the ark,

Receptacle and resting-place;

So Christ the Church's content is,

And in the Church, Christ's dwelling-place.

Verse 3

As Christ is God's true mystery,

God to explain and God express;

So is the Church Christ's mystery,

Christ to explain and manifest.

Verse 4

The members of the Church of Christ

Are all primarily of clay;

They need to be transformed and made

Transparent, precious day by day.

Verse 5

By transformation they are built,

A vessel they to Christ afford;

His all-inclusiveness they hold;

Transparent, they express the Lord.

Verse 6

Thru all the transformation work

The triune God performs in them,

The Church a corporate vessel is

And like the new Jerusalem.

Verse 7

How precious she in each respect,

Transparent too in every phase;

Christ with God's fulness she contains,

Christ with God's glory she displays.

Verse 8

With Christ as life, with God as light,

And with the Spirit's living flow,

The triune God she manifests

For all the universe to know.

Hymn details

Lyrics: Witness Lee

Music: Charles J. Vincent

Meter: 8.8.8.8.