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, should die for me?
Chorus: Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me! Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me!
He left His Father's throne above, So free, so infinite His grace! Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam's helpless race. 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, For O my God, it found out me!
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.
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 the eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own
Often times in college I would find myself singing this song with a sense of confusion, but not like the kind Charles Wesley experienced that compelled him to write this with the Holy Spirit, but more of the "I don't know what the heck we are singing".
At first glance, much of the style and arrangement of this song makes it difficult to create a "flow". And honestly, I may have thought at times that having to think about what was being said kinda takes away from my ability to worship.
However, as I began to sing this song and other hymns put to new music, I began to realize that with some mediation, and taking a moment to actually just read the words instead of singing them in large group, produced a good confusion and amazement, perhaps much like that of Wesley, astonished by the Gospel.
I have grown to love this hymn because of the story it tells, story of the Gospel. Each verse builds the story to the proclamation and conclusion that I am fully Christ's beloved, worthy of and filled with the power of the Gospel. The theology and the lyrics build the sense of befuddlement that the Gospel brings, the overarching theme, which is "Really? Is this possible? Could He really take me out of the depths of my sin and despair in my soul? I cannot comprehend such mercy and grace."
I can't. And that is why this song has often brought tears to my eyes. He pursued me to the depths of my soul, to the darkest areas, and has loved me through it all. Sometimes that love was difficult to accept because it was just so sweet, other times because it was so painful. But it is good.
So I encourage, you, the skeptic, to give hymns a chance. Check out http://www.igracemusic.com/ for more info on modern hymns, their history, and why we need hymns.
