The Power of the Cross

We sang this song in church today to close the service.  Novel idea, I know, to close the service with a song.  The song is relatively new, written in 2005 by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend.  Great words, and a melody that keeps you singing it all day long.  Here are the lyrics (click on the link to hear a sample:

The Power Of The Cross

Oh to see the dawn of the darkest day.
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten then
Nailed to a cross of wood.
This the pow’r of the cross.
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath.
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh to see the pain written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev’ry bitter thought, ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.
This the pow’r of the cross.
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath.
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Now the daylight flees, now the ground beneath
Quakes as its maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life.
“Finished!” the vict’ry cry.
This the pow’r of the cross.
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath.
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see my name written in the wounds,
For through Your suff’ring I am free.
Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love!
This the pow’r of the cross,
Son of God slain for us.
What a life, what a cost.
We stand forgiven at the cross.

© 2005 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

As we sang the last verse, I couldn’t help thinking of a couple of other songs that fit right in with specific phrases.  The first phrase, “Oh to see my name written in the wounds” took me at once to the songA Debtor to Mercy Alone” where Augustus Toplady drew from Isaiah in saying “My name from the palm of your hand eternity will not erase, Impressed on your heart it remains, in marks of indelible grace“.  Then the next phrase, “Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live” took me to a song written by Henri Malan and updated by Bob Kauflin, “It Is Not Death to Die“, where he says in the chorus “O Jesus, conquering the grave. Your precious blood has power to save. Those who trust in You Will in Your mercy find That it is not death to die.

What a great HOPE we have for tomorrow when we put our faith in, and WAIT on the Lord today.

It Is Not Death to Die

It is not death to die,
To leave this weary road,
And join the saints who dwell on high,
Who’ve found their home with God.
It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears,
And wake in joy before Your throne,
Delivered from our fears.
O Jesus, conquering the grave.
Your precious blood has power to save.
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die.

It is not death to fling
Aside this earthly dust,
And rise with strong and noble wing,
To live among the just.
It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years
To praise You evermore.
O Jesus, conquering the grave.
Your precious blood has power to save.
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die.

Words by Henri Malan and Bob Kauflin

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Ministries.

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