The wonder of grace

Now, it’s not that I know so few hymns that I have to quote from the same one for a second day running, but it’s the contrast of mood in Charles Wesley’s And Can It Be? that speaks so boldly of who we are in Christ, that brings me back to it.

 

Yesterday we looked at how it was our sin that took Christ to the cross for us, and how utterly amazing that is. As the hymn continues Wesley begins to spell out the astonishing riches believers enjoy.

 

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. (Repeat)

 

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. (Repeat)

 

Jesus said that he had come “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners” Luke 4:18, and Paul writes “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1. 

 

We can often feel dark, sometimes defeated – but the cross is the finished work of God and in his victory can we approach God’s throne with confidence in prayer. Allow this stunning truth to inform how you pray today.

 

Oh and you can find the whole hymn at: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/c/acanitbe.htm

 

David Brown