This song was written by Billy James Foote in 1999. However, in 2000 he developed a neurological condition called “hyper-dysphonia” which affected his vocals, preventing him from recording it right then. In 2001, the group Phillips, Craig & Dean released their recording of it. And in 2003, Newsboys recorded and released their version of this song. I like the version that Newsboys performed best.
The song begins:
“I'm forgiven because You were forsaken. I'm accepted, You were condemned. And I'm alive and well, Your Spirit is within me. Because You died and rose again. I'm forgiven because You were forsaken. I'm accepted, You were condemned. I'm alive and well, Your Spirit is within me. Because You died and rose again.”
This song is very strong in the Gospel message. The song explores the mystery of “The Great Exchange” which is the work of our salvation, completed through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Apostle Paul said it like this in the following Bible passage:
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 21 NIV)
Jesus Christ did not just die a physical death on the cross; Jesus literally took all of our sins onto Himself and became sin itself, even though He had never sinned because God cannot sin. Jesus Christ exchanged our sin for His righteousness; meaning that He clothed us in His righteousness and became our sin on the cross, even though He knew no sin.
Thanks be to Him that Jesus took our place. Our sins should put us on our own crosses. God loves the sinner, but absolutely hates sin. Our sins deserve nothing less than God’s wrath and eternal condemnation. (Romans 6:23). But Jesus exchanged His perfection for our sin. When He died on the cross, our sins died with Him.
Then Jesus rose Himself from the dead and left the grave behind, empty. His death and resurrection clothed us in His righteousness. Now, we still commit sins, and we still deserve God’s wrath and eternal condemnation, but God no longer sees our sins; He only sees Jesus Christ’s brilliant white robes of righteousness covering us. (Revelation 7:14). Because of Jesus’ work for our salvation, we are reconciled to God and are saved. (Romans 5:6-11).
The song concludes:
“Amazing love, how can it be. That You, my King, should die for me? Amazing love, I know it's true. And it's my joy to honor You. In all I do, to honor You. You are my King. You are my King. Jesus, You are my King. You are my King.”
Jesus Christ is surely our eternal and Almighty King. In fact, He is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. (Revelation 17:14). He is the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end. (Revelation 21:6). He is the Almighty Word of God incarnate in human flesh. (John 1:1-5). He did not have to die for any of us, yet He willfully died for all of us. (John 3:16-17).
There is nothing more amazing than that. There is no love greater than that! Remember that this Wednesday for Valentine’s Day. God loves you, more than He loves Himself. Praise be to Him that Jesus drank God’s cup of wrath for us and saved us!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Philip Frank
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