Culture, music and habits may change but the timeless message of salvation is eternal as these two hymns from different centuries show.
This meditation is significantly different from the others that have been posted. I would like you to reflect on two different songs from two very different eras. . . with the same basic message – the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Love, Mercy and Grace
The first hymn was written in 1938 by Charles Austin Miles. Born in New Jersey in 1868, Miles became a pharmacist after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He married Bertha Haagen and they had two sons.
In 1892, Miles felt called to leave the pharmacy profession to serve God through music. That calling was the start of his second career writing gospel songs. Initially he wrote songs for the Hall-Mack Publishing Company. Later, because of his excellent performance, Miles became the publisher and manager of the company. He served that company for 37 years, publishing a number of song books. As a hymn writer, he wrote/composed over 400 hymns. He felt that he was serving God best through this career. Miles died in 1946.
I grew up in the Methodist church with his hymn Love, Mercy and Grace as one of my favorites. It is number 153 in the Cokesbury Hymnal. Here are the words to that great hymn.
‘Twas Love that gave at greatest cost
A Life, that mine should not be lost.
The Love that died in deep despair
My debt fully satisfied there.
Chorus:
It was Love that took my place
On the cross of Calvary;
it was grace, redeeming grace,
That paid my ransom full and free.
Over sin, without, within,
I have the victory,
Thro’ grace, marvelous grace, that lives in me.
The love that freely all forgives
In fullness now within me lives;
Thro’ ev’ry trial this I see;
His grace is sufficient for me. [Chorus]
God’s love, His mercy and His grace,
Combine to raise a fallen race;
His hand is ready, ere we call,
Held out with forgiveness for all. [Chorus]
When Death Was Arrested And My Life Began
Now, fast forward over 80 years to 2021. I was in chapel at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary when I first heard the second song featured here. When Death Was Arrested and My Life Began is a powerful praise song that was written in 2017 by the North Point Worship group, North Point InsideOut.
The song features Seth Condrey and first came out on their album Nothing Ordinary. This praise song, which has had more than 7 million views on YouTube, has powerful lyrics.
Alone in my sorrow and dead in my sin
Lost without hope with no place to begin
Your love made a way to let mercy come in
When death was arrested and my life began
Ash was redeemed only beauty remains
My orphan heart was given a name
My mourning grew quiet my feet rose to dance
When death was arrested and my life began
Chorus
Oh, Your grace so free
Washes over me
You have made me new
Now life begins with You
It’s your endless love
Pouring down on us
You have made us new
Now life begins with You
Released from my chains I’m a prisoner no more
My shame was a ransom He faithfully bore
He cancelled my debt and He called me His friend
When death was arrested and my life began (Chorus)
Our savior displayed on a criminal’s cross
Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost
But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand
That’s when death was arrested and my life began (Chorus)
Oh, we’re free, free
Forever we’re free
Come join the song
Of all the redeemed
Yes, we’re free free
Forever amen
When death was arrested and my life began
Oh, we’re free, free
Forever we’re free
Come join the song
Of all the redeemed
Yes, we’re free free
Forever amen
When death was arrested and my life began
When death was arrested and my life began
When death was arrested and my life began
When we listen to these two songs and consider the words, we find an underlying harmony. It’s clear they are from two completely different eras, but they share common themes which center on the gospel. So, let’s look some of the common elements.
First, we are sinners alienated from God.
Miles writes of a life that could be lost – a life that needs debt paid for sins committed. The praise song indicates that I am “alone in my sorrow and dead in my sin.”
Paul confirms these truths throughout his writings. One of the best places to see this is in Ephesians.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2: 1-3
Second, we are lost without hope.
Miles writes that we are a “fallen race” in need of someone to pay our “ransom.” We cannot save ourselves. The praise song puts it this way: “lost without hope with no place to begin.”
Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Ephesians 2:11 – 12
Third, God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him.
Miles writes about the Love that took our place on the cross, thereby buying our pardon. The praise song indicates, “Your love made a way to let mercy come in.”
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:4 – 5
Fourth, grace is a free gift from Him.
Miles writes, “it was grace, redeeming grace that paid my ransom.” The praise song makes it clear: “Oh your grace so free washes over me.” It makes us new!
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8 – 9
Fifth, the gift is through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection
Miles writes, “it was Love that took my place on the cross of Calvary.” He took our place on that cross and died the death we deserve so that we can live a life (new) we don’t deserve. The praise song echoes this victory with the following.
Our savior displayed on a criminal’s cross
Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost
But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand
That’s when death was arrested and my life began.But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 1:3-6 and 2:13
The timeless message of hope
Though these two Christian songs are separated by almost 80 years and complete cultural, political, economic, technological, and educational transformations, they both provide us with the same truth and hope.
It seems appropriate to close this meditation with a line from another well-known hymn:
“My hope is built on nothing less
Music and lyrics
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
May each of us experience God’s love, mercy and grace which is so free! It washes over us, makes us new and is all-sufficient for those who receive Christ! Amen.
Hymns for Him 