Our Fallen World Is Steeped in Sin (Or, An Inadvertent Hymn Limerick)

Our fallen world is steeped in sin
Surrounding us, without, within.
       Our own strength fails,
       Will not avail
To 'gainst the curse the battle win.

Yet some think that they can attain
To holiness which life them gains.
       With hard'ning hearts,
       They set apart
Themselves as free from sinful stain.

Upon the Law do they rely
And place their hope to curse deny.
       Yet shows their deaths
       The curse's breadth
For from the Law their works belie.

Where our own strength is worthless shown
God makes His pow'r in weakness known:
       Christ, crucified,
       In weakness died,
His blood shed to our sin atone.

Though free from sin and curse's blame
Christ spurned not cross and curse became.
       In dying thus,
       Christ redeemed us,
And by this sin's curse overcame.

Set free from self-reliant ways,
We now on Christ do fix our gaze.
       We need not fear,
       For faith sees here,
The strength for everlasting days.

[2013]