I love the band MercyMe. And this song has a very catchy melody and rhythm too, which makes it nice to listen to. And the message of this song is very Gospel-centered.
In an interview, the lead singer of MercyMe – Bart Millard – said this about the song: “I set out to write a song that was confessional and refers to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus in each verse. It was my intent to mention every stage of Christ’s condescension and atoning sacrifice throughout the song.”
The lyrics to the song are as follows:
“Separated until the veil was torn. The moment that hope was born, and guilt was pardoned once and for all.”
“Captivated, but no longer bound by chains. Left at an empty grave, the sinner and the sacred resolved.”
(Chorus): “And all of Creation sing with me now; lift up your voice and lay your burden down. And all of Creation sing with me now; fill up the heavens, let His glory resound.”
“Time is fading, and we see Him face to face. Every doubt erased. Forever we will worship the King.”
(Repeat Chorus)
“The reason we breathe is to sing of His glory and for all He has done. Praise the Father, praise the Son, and the Spirit in One.”
(Repeat Chorus 2x)
“And every knee will bow, oh and every tongue praise the Father, praise the Son, and the Spirit in One.”
In the first verse, Millard gives us a reference to the veil of separation between God and sinful humans being torn by Christ’s death on the cross. Now, the Temple Veil separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place within the Temple. Under the Mosaic Covenant, the Holy of Holies was a place reserved only for the High Priest to enter once a year.
The rending of the Temple Veil at Christ’s death was an important symbol. He tore the Veil in half to signify the free access to Him by ALL PEOPLE through His atonement for the sins of all people. Jesus restored our relationship with God through His death on the cross.
In Scripture, we find this in Matthew 27:50-51 (ESV): “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His Spirit. And behold, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.”
In John’s account of Christ’s crucifixion, in John 19:30, Jesus says: “It is finished.” Jesus said this for a very important reason. What He meant by this statement from the cross, was: “My work of salvation is COMPLETED. There is nothing left to do to atone for the sins of the people.” This brings great comfort to me and it should bring great comfort to you too.
Now, the second verse of this song is referring to Paul’s letter to the Romans 6:17-18 (NIV): “Thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”
This is the life of a “sinner-saint” – or believer in Jesus Christ. That is, we are ALL fully sinners in need of Christ’s salvation AND believers are fully saints, already. By the grace and mercy of God, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are set free from sin and made righteous through Christ.
But this doesn’t mean that we can live in our sin. We are called to repent – to turn away from our sin, and turn back to God. And on the Last Day, believers will no longer be called “sinner-saints,” but will instead just be called “SAINTS.”
Praise be to God!
Which leads us to the chorus of the song. When Jesus Christ returns on the Last Day and judges this fallen world – bringing it to an end – ALL OF CREATION will sing in victory through all of eternity.
“Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV)
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4 ESV)
Soli Deo Gloria!
Philip Frank
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