And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood
Died He for me who caused His pain
For me who Him to death pursued
Amazing love how can it be
That Thou my God shouldst die for me
Amazing love how can it be
That Thou my God shouldst die for me
And Can It Be, That I Should Gain? 1738
By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.
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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we begin our journey through this hymn which encourages us to be amazed at God’s love for us prepare to respond and give Him praise. Let’s think about this.
How?
Though we were tainted, spoiled, ruined by sin the Father sent His Son to change that. Our sins had separated us from God and we did not realize it nor would we have cared if we did, so pervasive was the degradation of our souls. We had no way back into a right relationship with God because we had no capacity to satisfy His righteous judgment.
Still…
He provided a way to appease or satisfy His laws demands. The fact that the holy One would make a way for the guilty to be forgiven is remarkable, but that is not the half of it. His solution to our inescapable dilemma was to our finite minds unfathomable. He would Himself offer and accept the only possible remedy for our malady.
His Son.
Amazing love how can it be
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 ESV
Propitiation is the act of appeasing. Our sin incurred God’s wrath. God appeased that wrath by sending His Son to die for us. Jesus willingly paid a price He did not owe, for the ones who did, to the One who would have otherwise demanded it from us. That is amazing love!
How can God love us when we are the very cause of the sacrifice and death of His Son? His only begotten Son? If it were not for sin, original and otherwise, there would be no need for sacrifice. Jesus willingly offered His life for us knowing we are culpable for it. There is no response appropriate, but still we must let our gratitude flow eternally for His…Amazing love!
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about propitiation, the act of appeasing. The Father appeased His wrath for our sin by offering His Son. Pray the simple prayer, “Jesus, thank You for Your amazing love.“
Thou
God died for me. “Thou died for me.” Is it difficult to wrap my heart and mind around that.
That love is amazing. Amazing in a way that reveals the word is often used incorrectly. One informal definition says startlingly impressive. That seems about right.
I am impressed with God’s love. It is a love that I struggle to emulate, let alone imitate. I love, but not like He does, yet that is exactly what I am called to do, and there is no excuse that gets me off the hook.
I am also startled by God’s love. To feel sudden shock or alarm. I vaguely recall when I first believed and was overwhelmed even shocked by His love, that He would love me like that. Honestly though I have too often become far too accustomed to the amazing nature of it. I want to be alarmed by in again, every day. How about you?
That Thou my God shouldst die for me
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 1 Peter 3:18 ESV
Jesus Christ is God, and God’s Son. The Son died for our sins to satisfy the justice of His Father. This was the only way He could bring us to God. He knew that and He willingly offered Himself for us. God died for us to satisfy His demand for justice.
Is there anyone you would die for? What if the only reason you had to die was because they had done something terrible, deserving punishment? What if they had done that terrible thing to you? That is effectively what Jesus did. Died for us because we were…us. Praise Him!
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and ask God to startle you with His love again today. Ask the Spirit to quicken your conscience with the holiness of God and then marvel that He would offer His Son for you when you were dead in trespasses and sin. Pray this simple prayer, “Lord, I praise You for Your love.“
Jesus, startle me with Your love today. Whether for the first time or again, I want to be shocked by Your extravagant sacrifice for me. I want to feel that wonder and be amazed all over again. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Startled Thinking!
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Podcast 43.1 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Ephesians 1:7 ESV
The writer is questioning how he could access the benefit available through the blood of Jesus Christ, knowing he was responsible for the shedding of it. We must ask the same question. How can it be that we acquire the benefit of His blood? Think about that.
Died He for me who caused His pain
For me who Him to death pursued
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8 ESV
What makes it so astonishing is that we get to enjoy what His pain accomplished even though we are each personally responsible for causing it. He knew that would be the case and still was willing to die for us. You may think you are not responsible, but your sin was His sentence.
Amazing love how can it be
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 ESV
Propitiation is the act of appeasing. Our sin incurred God’s wrath. God appeased that wrath by sending His Son to die for us. Jesus willingly paid a price He did not owe, for the ones who did, to the One who would have otherwise demanded it from us. That is amazing love!
That Thou my God shouldst die for me
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 1 Peter 3:18 ESV
Jesus Christ is God, and God’s Son. The Son died for our sins to satisfy the justice of His Father. This was the only way He could bring us to God. He knew that and He willingly offered Himself for us. God died for us to satisfy His demand for justice.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood
Died He for me who caused His pain
For me who Him to death pursued
Amazing love how can it be
That Thou my God shouldst die for me
Amazing love how can it be
That Thou my God shouldst die for me
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time,
Be Resonant.
The post When Were You Last Startled By His Love? appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son – https://www.cru.org/us/en/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally.html
And give Him the glory great things He has done – https://www.cru.org/us/en/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally.html
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