The Gospel Song on Good Friday

I know this is a few days late, but it's still worth the post.  This past Friday, my family & I attended the Good Friday service at our local church, Sovereign Grace Church.  One of the songs that we sang was "The Gospel Song."  It's a simple song with only 4 lines, but it encapsulates the entire gospel as well as many of the core doctrines of our Christian faith... The Incarnation, Christ's active & passive obedience, man's sinfulness, substitutionary atonement, and imputation among others.  Without further ado, here are the lyrics:

"Holy God in love became
Perfect man to bear my blame.
On the cross He took my sin
By His death I live again."

How rich in doctrine and comforting in nature! This is the gospel.

Happy Easter & belated Good Friday!

How Sweet & Awful Is the Place

I recently bought the Together for the Gospel Live 2008 music CD last month and am loving it! I'm preparing myself to go to T4G 2010 and can hardly wait. By the way, if you're going, let me know. I'd love to see you there. Back to the CD...

One hymn in particular has been ministering to me: How Sweet & Awful Is the Place by Isaac Watts. It envisions the bride of Christ gathering around the heavenly table eating the feast of the Lamb and praising God. I keep coming back to this one stanza.

Why was I made to hear thy voice
And enter while there's room
When thousands make a wretched choice
And rather starve than come?

I will never understand why God has chosen to love a sinner such as me. There is nothing good in me that would cause God to love me. Nothing! I can only rely on Deuteronomy 7:7-8. He loves me because he loves me.

Hope you enjoy the song. The lyrics are below

How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores.

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast
Each of us cry with thankful tongues,
"Lord, why was I a guest?"

"Why was I made to hear thy voice
and enter while there's room,
When thousands make a wretched choice
And rather starve than come?"

'Twas the same love that spread the feast
that sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste
and perished in our sin

Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send thy victorious Word abroad
and bring the strangers home.

We long to see thy churches full,
that all the chosen race
may with one voice and heart and soul
sing thy redeeming grace.

Free Advent Songs from Sojourn Music

I just got done listening to two sampler songs from Sojourn Music that Justin Taylor recently recommended. One word review: Awesome! Click on the widget below to download their entire album. You can choose to either send the link to 5 friends for a free album download in return, or you can pay whatever you can afford for the album. Click here to sample two of the songs that Justin Taylor posted.

How to Write a Country Song by Andy Gullahorn

I had the pleasure of seeing Andy Gullahorn perform while I was at the Behold the Lamb of God concert.  One of the songs he played was a humorous song about how to write a country song.  Enjoy!



Thanks to: Justin Taylor

Unashamed

For some reason, godly lyrics set to music ministers deeply to me. This one has been ministering to Misha and I for the last two days.

All I Have Is Christ

I'm not much for music. Yea, I'll listen to it here and there for various reasons. I might want to sing along in the car or pass the time at work or pump up while lifting. But on a day-in, day-out basis, I really don't listen to that much music... Until a song comes around that resonates with my soul every time I listen to it.

Recently, God has been using All I Have Is Christ by Jordan Kauflin to encourage my weary soul and remind me of glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified. I hope it has a similar effect on you.

All I Have Is Christ

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujuah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujuah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI), by Jordan Kauflin