Christ The Lord Is Risen Today

I didn't write this. The words to this hymn were written in 1739 by some guy named Charles Wesley. Really, I'm not making this up. We sang this in church today, Easter Sunday, and I was really struck by the words.

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia.

Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia.

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia.

Sing ye heav'ns, and earth reply, Alleluia.


Lives again our glorious king: Alleluia.

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia.

Dying once, He all doth save: Alleluia.

Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia.


Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia.

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia.

Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia.

Christ has opened Paradise. Alleluia.


Soar we now, where Christ has led, Alleluia.

Foll'wing our exalted Head; Alleluia.

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia.

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies. Alleluia.

Christ saves all? Love's work is done? The battle is won? Do we soar now? Are we made like Him now? Do we rise now?

What a beautiful description of the spiritual resurrection of believers which is decribed in

Romans 6:5,6

For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

and

Colossians 3:1,2

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

Could it be that Charles Wesley was a Universalist/Preterist?