"As Surely as I Live," God Said
"As surely as I live," God said
This hymn embodies the Lutheran doctrine of justification by grace through faith, emphasizing God's earnest desire for human repentance and His assurance of forgiveness. The text reflects the divine law that convicts sin and the gospel promise that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires their return.
History & Background
Carl Döring composed this German hymn in the late 19th century based on Ezekiel 33:11. Christian Hohlfeld translated it into English in 1884, and it became widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals including The Lutheran Hymnal and subsequent Lutheran Service Book collections.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 726
- Lutheran Service Book — 614
- Lutheran Worship — 235
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 331
Translation
Bulletin Note
Carl Döring's 1884 hymn captures Lutheran theology precisely: God's earnest oath that He takes no pleasure in death, only in repentance and life. A powerful meditation on divine mercy.
Preaching Connection
This hymn's central oath embodies the Law-Gospel dialectic: God's law reveals His passion for our repentance, while the Gospel assures us that in Christ, His mercy has already triumphed over judgment.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Themes
God's mercy and grace Repentance and forgiveness Divine love Return to God Assurance of salvation