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One Race, One Gospel, One Task

One human race, created by the Father
in life and faith to glorify his name;
one human race, by hatred split asunder
to live apart from God their source of live;
one human race, beloved of the Saviour
who died for them upon a cross of shame -
our Father God who us have made
who seek to live from you apart,
fire with your love who faith in you profess -
revive, enlarge our fainting heart!

One Gospel true, of Jesus Christ the Saviour,
who died to save the fallen human race;
one Gospel true, restoring to God's favour,
renewing from within the hardened life;
one Gospel true, for plighted life's deliv'rance,
who turns in faith and trust to God again -
O Saviour, who for us has died,
who seeks to make the broken new,
fire with your love who faith in you profess -
your Word to speak and point to you!

One task is ours - by God himself commissioned
to show the world what God the Lord has done;
one task is ours - the love of Christ constraining
to call folk back to God their source of life;
one task is ours - the Spirit's might enabling
to lead them to receive the Father's Son -
O Spirit, witnessing to Christ,
who strives in us and shows our need,
fire with your love who faith in you profess -
victorious in your name indeed!

(submitted for hymn contest for World Congress on Evangelism, Berlin, October 26 to November 4, 1966)


© Peter J Blackburn 1966, 2001
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