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"As Surely as I Live," God Said

"As surely as I live," God said

"As Surely as I Live," God Said is a hymn text by Carl Döring (1884) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Christian Hohlfeld. Found in CW21 656, CW93 308, ELH 417, elw 726.

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

  • Christian Worship: Hymnal — 656
  • Christian Worship — 308
  • Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 417
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 726
  • Lutheran Service Book — 614
  • Lutheran Worship — 235
  • The Lutheran Hymnal — 331

Translation

Christian Hohlfeld

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

In the Church Year

Suggested in the one-year series

  • Trinity 10 (3×)
  • Trinity 19 (3×)
  • Trinity 3 (2×)
  • Sts. Simon and Jude (1×)
  • Trinity 11 (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

  • Lent 3 (1×)
  • Proper 5 (1×)

From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.

Themes

God's mercy and grace Repentance and forgiveness Divine love Return to God Assurance of salvation

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