"He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe...in that day" (2 Thess. 1.10).

INTRO.: A song which emphasizes some of the things that Jesus has done and will do, leading up to the time that He will come to be glorified in His saints is "One Day" (#160 in "Hymns for Worship Revised"). The text was written by J. Wilbur Chapman (1858-1918). A native of Richmond, IN, he became a Presbyterian preacher, an outstanding revival evangelist, and a noted conservative theologian. The tune (Chapman) was composed by Charles H. Marsh (1886-1956).

Marsh wrote that about 1908 or 1909 he was invited by Chapman to be music director at the Winona Lake, IN, Bible Conference for the three summer months. Just having graduated from high school, he thought that it seemed like a fabulous job with $100 a month and all expenses paid. Either that same summer or the following one, Chapman was invited to to conduct a Bible conference at Stony Brook on Long Island, NY, and took Marsh with him. It was there that Chapman gave Marsh the words to "One Day." Marsh set them to music that summer, and they were copyrighted in his name. Exactly when Chapman had produced the poem is unknown, but it was likely about the time that he gave it to Marsh. The date usually given is around 1909.

Marsh then sold the song to Chapman's assistant, Parley E. Zartmann, left his association with Chapman, and went to college. Zartmann then sold the song to Hope Publishing Co. However, soon afterwards, Chapman joined forces with Charles M. Alexander, a well-known evangelistic songleader, and "One Day" first appeared in print as copyright 1910 by Charles M. Alexander, owner, in Alexander's 1911 book "The Message in Song." It is thought that Alexander simply appropriated the song because of his association with Chapman. The Rodeheaver Co. later claimed that it bought the song from Alexander, but when it came up for renewal, Rodeheaver had to buy it again from Marsh.

The song recounts various aspects of Jesus' life on earth and His second coming.

I. From stanza 1 we learn about His virgin birth

A. The Bible says that Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin: Matt. 1.22-23, Gal. 4.4

B. As a human being, He dwelt among men: Phil. 2.5-8

C. The fact that Jesus was born of a woman and lived on earth made it possible for Him to be our perfect example: 1 Pet. 2.21

II. From stanza 2 we learn about His death on the cross]

A. His death occurred at a place called Golgotha or Calvary: Matt. 27.33-35, Lk. 23.33

B. There they nailed Him to die on the cross or tree--none of the accounts of Jesus' crucifixion specifically say that He was nailed to the cross, but we know that He was: Jn. 20.25

C. Because He died on the cross for our sins, He is our Redeemer: Rom. 3.24, Eph. 1.7

III. From a stanza not in this book we learn about His burial in the tomb

"One day they left Him alone in the garden, One day He rested from suffering free; Angels came down o'er His tomb to keep vigil; Hope of the hopeless, My Savior is He."

A. After His death, Christ was left alone in the garden tomb to rest from His sufferings: Mk. 15.42-47

B. The burial of Jesus isn't given the same kind of spiritual significance as His death and resurrection, but it is still one of the basic facts of the gospel that must be believed: 1 Cor. 15.1-4

C. And it is part of His overall sacrifice by which He became our Savior: 1 Tim. 1.15

IV. From the next stanza, we learn about His resurrection from the dead

A. That the grave could conceal Him no longer and the stone rolled away from the door to allow Jesus to arise is presented in scripture as a historical fact: Mk. 16.1-9

B. Following His resurrection, He ascended into heaven: Acts 1.9-11

C. And His resurrection from the dead is the crowning proof that He is both Lord and Christ, the divine Son of God: Acts 2.36, Rom. 1.3-4

V. From the final stanza, we learn about His second coming

A. One day the trumpet will sound for His coming: 1 Thess. 4.16-17

B. On that day, when His glory will shine, He will bring our beloved ones because the dead will be raised: 1 Cor. 15.51-52

C. And at that time, the Lord will be revealed in His fullness as our Savior because He will be coming apart from sin for salvation: Heb. 9.27-28

CONCL.: The chorus recapitulates these facts about Jesus and makes application of them to our lives--He came to earth because He loved us, He died to save us, He was buried to take our sins away, He arose that we might be justified, and He will come again to take us home. Most certainly we can, and should, be thankful for what Jesus has done and will do for us "One Day."