4th century BC
Plato
- Idealism — forms over particulars
- The Republic ethic: “God is not the author of evil”
Notes
Track 5 of Hand It Down -- justification from eternity as compact hymnody.
Source: Romans 4:5-6, Romans 8:33-34 (it is God that justifieth), Revelation 13:8 (the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world), and the Gill stream of justification from eternity B carries in Chapter 15.
Doctrine: God never viewed His elect as condemned; the verdict was settled in eternity past, the cross renders into time what was already true in the decree. The Counted Righteous on Sing Anyway is the same doctrine in western-swing register; this hymn version is plainer, shorter, common-meter, singable in a kitchen.
Form: Common Meter, six short verses, no chorus, female lead with male harmony underneath.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
The verdict came before the world,
Before there was a sun,
Before the gavel ever fell,
The trial had been won.
[Verse 2]
The charge was real, the charge was true,
The sinner had no plea,
But God Himself was Judge that day,
And looked at Calvary.
[Verse 3]
He counted us as righteous, friend,
Because His Son was slain,
He looked at Calvary and said,
The verdict will remain.
[Verse 4]
And here is something stranger still,
That you must hold in view:
The verdict was not given new,
The whole long ages through.
[Verse 5]
He saw me free, He saw me clean,
Before the world began,
He saw the Lamb who bore my sin,
And held me in His plan.
[Verse 6]
So sing it plain, the saints of God,
The verdict is not late,
It came before the world began,
And love will hold its weight.
Commentary