COMPLETE IN THEE

               On Tuesday evangelist Dr. Billy Graham was 98.  In my estimation he has been one of the most influential evangelists the world has ever seen.  I personally have great memories of watching his crusades on television and even attending one in Times Square many years ago.  Hymns were always an important part of his crusades.  I've always loved the beautiful, powerful voice of George Beverly Shea, one of my favorite soloists who was part of the crusade team.  Graham was often asked what his favorite hymns were.  Those mentioned by him were "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", "I'd Rather Have Jesus", "Just As I Am", and his most favorite, "And Can It Be".  Each of these hymns have been featured in this blog at different times over the years.  But there is one that he loved that we have never mentioned because it is no longer well known. That is "Complete in Thee" which was often sung by Shea in the early years of their ministry together.  Graham has said how powerful of a message that is for all of us, meaning "we are complete when we're in Christ."  Verse 1 begins by contemplating how believers are declared righteous in Christ because of his cross work. Verse 2 remembers that our Savior is the source of our every good. Verse 3 celebrates that Christ's grace is more powerful than the draw of sin in our lives. And the final verse looks forward to the day when we will appear in God's presence at the judgment, and Christ will be our reason for confidence and standing in that great day. The chorus rehearses the glorious benefits of salvation, from justification, and sanctification, to glorification.  I personally am stirred by the power and truth of the chorus. "Yea, justified! O blessed thought!  And sanctified! Salvation wrought!  Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,  and glorified, I too,shall be!"  The words of the verses were written by Aaron Roberts Wolfe (1821-1902) in 1851.  Wolfe wrote this hymn just before graduating from Union Seminary.   The chorus was added by James Martin Gray (1851-1935). The music was added by Talmadge J. Bittkofer.  But then in 2003, Ben Nyce the rewrote the melody "to be more singable and memorable."  Personally I preferred the original melody as I heard it sung so often by Shea.   I chose this hymn this week in honor of Dr. Graham and I thought that it was especially appropriate with all that is happening in our world today.  While events all around us can be rather frightening and discouraging, we need to be reminded of the spiritual blessings that we have through Christ that can never be taken from us ... salvation sanctification ... glorification.  What a blessed thought and truth.  So let us rejoice this week that as believers, we are complete in Him.  Praise God!

1.   Complete in Thee! no work of mine

May take, dear Lord, the place of Thine;

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

And I am now complete in Thee.

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!

And sanctified! Salvation wrought!

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

And glorified, I too, shall be!

2     Complete in Thee, each want supplied,

And no good thing to me denied;

Since Thou my portion, Lord, wilt be,

I ask no more, complete in Thee.

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!

And sanctified! Salvation wrought!

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

 And glorified, I too, shall be!

3     Complete in Thee, no more shall sin,

Thy grace hath conquered, reign within;

Thy voice shall bid the tempter flee,

And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!

And sanctified! Salvation wrought!

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

 And glorified, I too, shall be!

4     Dear Savior! when before Thy bar

All tribes and tongues assembled are,

Among Thy chosen will I be,

At Thy right hand, complete in Thee

Yea, justified! O blessed thought!

And sanctified! Salvation wrought!

Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,

 And glorified, I too, shall be!

You can listen to it here.    LISTEN