Thursday, April 2, 2009

Singing About Penal Substitutionary Atonement

Not a lot of songs being written these days about Father God choosing to show off his glory to the universe by crushing his innocent Son under the infinite, righteous wrath of a sin-hating God in the place of condemned sinners. But there is no greater "material" for the songwriter who has seen the cross! The love and justice of God meeting in Christ in that amazing "hour" (Jn 17:1), as he hung on the tree to redeem us! No greater theme for writing, singing, meditating and worshiping. Hallelujah to our God for his beautiful, soul-stirring gospel!

It takes us to the lowest depths of human emotion as Jesus felt for the first time in eternity the Father's...absence. The presence of his Father's glory, which was his passion and delight, was gone. "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"

This same gospel transports us to the highest realms of love; love that is beyond what we can ever fathom; mercy greater than our comprehension; GRACE poured out - lavished - upon those he could have crushed under good and perfect justice. Pardoning our wretched abominations! Giving to us the righteousness of Christ! Making us his sons and daughters!
O, wonderful love of God in Christ! ! !

Where are the songs on penal substitutionary atonement?

Here are a couple hymn verses that have elated my soul and filled me with wonderful praise to our Savior and God today:

The Lord in the day
Of his anger did lay
Our sins on the Lamb, and he bore them away.
He died to atone
For sins not his own;
The Father hath punished for us his dear Son
Love moved him to die
On this I rely
My Savior hath loved me, I cannot tell why;
But this I can tell:
He loved me so well
As to lay down his life to redeem me from hell
(Charles Wesley)

Ok, one more:

Death and the curse were in our cup
O Christ, 'twas full for Thee!
But thou hast drained the last dark drop
'Tis empty now for me.
That bitter cup, love drank it up
Thy bruising healeth me!
Jehovah lifted up his rod
O Christ, it fell on Thee!
Thou wast sore stricken of thy God
There's not one stroke for me...
Thy tears, thy blood, beneath it flowed
Thy bruising healeth me!
(Fanny Crosby).

There's no greater theme than the gospel!
Let it capture your heart, your thoughts, your emotions.
And if it leads to a song, sing it loud!!!

3 comments:

VK said...

Amen...sing it LOUD!!!

Rachel said...

I love this rap group called Shai Linne and their entire cd rapping about the penal substitutionary atonement. (you might even hear cj mahaney and john piper preaching to the beat..). You should take a listen, it's called "The Atonement" :).

cary cox said...

Rachel,
thanks for the comment! that sounds great. i've heard of Shai Linne, but not that cd. if you know Shai Linne, perhaps you also know about Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashi, Sho Baraka and all the Reach Records cats. www.reachrecords.com

may his name be great in all nations!!