Lyrical Theology: In Christ Alone (Part 7)
In Christ Alone – Newsboys (see full lyrics here)
No guilt in life, no fear in death / This is the power of Christ in me / From life’s first cry, to final breath / Jesus commands my destiny / No power of hell, no scheme of man / Can ever pluck me from his hand / Till he returns, or calls me home / Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
The first three stanzas of the song shine forth the beauty of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. If ever there was one worthy of praise, here he is! This Jesus of Nazareth came and put an end to the curse of sin. He showed that he is greater than death by rising from the grave. The Saviour of the world has made himself known.
But what does this mean for a follower of Jesus? The results are beautiful. Those who put their faith in Christ are forgiven. Their sins are wiped away, and therefore they can have “no guilt in life”. This is liberation at it’s best! Who doesn’t have regrets from the past, baggage they wish could just go away? In Christ, we are given a clean slate. Our failures are gone and along with them, the guilt of not measuring up.
Gone too is the crippling fear of death. Everyone has wondered what lays beyond the grave, but if anyone is qualified to speak on such a subject, it would be Jesus. He, after all, has been there and back! Jesus’ definitive statement is that anyone who belongs to him will go to be with him in his Kingdom. Death is not the end for the Christian – it is the beginning of eternal life, a perfect life with no sorrow or pain or death. Only pure joy with Jesus forever.
This is what the power of Jesus does in a persons life! Our destiny, both on earth and in eternity, is in the hands of Jesus. He has already secured our future in heaven forever. But he is also with us on this side of death as well. Nothing can ever take away the salvation that Jesus has purchased for us, not even the powers of hell or the cunning schemes of men. Christ promises to keep us until he returns to set up his Kingdom, or our life on earth comes to an end, whichever happens first. Our salvation is secure not because we are faithful but because he is, because we are firmly in his grasp and he will never let go.
These truths ought to stir up a heart of worship in any believer. The forgiveness of sin, the gift of eternal life, the promise of keeping us until the end – all of this gives us great assurance and joy, the kind that is unfading and unbreakable. The power of Christ at work in a person’s life truly is a thing to experience. When one realizes that the Lord of the universe died for them and will never let them fall away, nothing else can even compare.
Canadian Bible Guy 