Music shapes humans in profound ways. There is not one place in this world that your foot could trod that you will not discover people worshipping, primarily through music. God created mankind to worship. We are not complete if we do not worship. Our need to worship reminds us of our emptiness.
This truth is substantiated by Scripture. Psalm is Scripture's longest book and serves as its book of worship. It teaches us that worship is both a mind and heart engagement. If we worship with only our hearts, our worship will be shallow, devoid of life change, and maturation. Worship has a process. It begins in our mind with rich theological truth. This truth flows from our minds to our hearts, where it inflames our being.
Worship that by-passes our minds creates a shallow experience. I did not say that it wasn't real; it lacks a richness that it could possess. I am not saying worship should be void of emotion. I am saying that when emotion is fueled by exposition (understanding) of Scripture, our experience will be rich and, most of all, maturing.
My subsequent blogs are meant to expose or remind us of music that is rich in maturing content. Songs that will root and build you up in your faith (Colossians 2:7). Songs that will enable you "to walk in a manner worthy of your calling" (Ephesians 4:1). Furthermore, I encourage you to compare not the tunes but the truths of these songs to those which you are consuming.
Song #40 - Yet Not I But Christ In Me
Listening to this song is like trying to drink water from a Scriptural fire hydrant. A maturing song is one that is loaded with Scripture. I am not sure that my countdown will have a song packed with more Scripture than this one. The following lyric breakdown is from website called The Berean Test.
The song lyrics are italics.
[Verse 1]
What gift of grace is Jesus, my redeemer
That is, the gift of undeserved favor (Genesis 15:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, and James 2:23).
There is no more for heaven now to give
The promised Son was prophecied in Isaiah 9:6 and fulfilled through Jesus in Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-25. He is the greatest gift the Father could offer us, demonstrating how much He loves us (John 3:16 and Romans 5:6-8).
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
God is the source of:
Joy (1 Thessalonians 1:6 and Hebrews 12:2)
Righteousness (Exodus 9:27, Deuteronomy 32:4, Judges 5:11, 1 Samuel 12:7, 2 Samuel 23:3-4, Ezra 9:15, Nehemiah 9:8, Job 37:23, Psalm 7:11, Psalm 9:8, Psalm 11:7, Psalm 36:6, Psalm 35:24, Psalm 40:10, Psalm 48:10, Psalm 50:6, Psalm 65:5, Psalm 89:14, Psalm 96:13, Psalm 97:2, Psalm 97:6, Psalm 99:4, Psalm 103:6, Psalm 119:137, Psalm 71:19, Psalm 111:2-3, Psalm 119:7, Psalm 119:142, Psalm 129:4, Psalm 145:17, Isaiah 5:16, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 45:21, Isaiah 46:13, Isaiah 51:8, Jeremiah 9:24, Jeremiah 11:20, Jeremiah 12:1, Lamentations 1:18, Daniel 9:14-16, Micah 6:5, Zephaniah 3:5, Zechariah 8:8, John 17:25, 2 Timothy 4:8, and Revelation 15:3)
Freedom (Psalm 119:45, Isaiah 58:6, Isaiah 61:1, John 3:16-21, John 8:31-36, John 10:10, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6:1-23, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 8:20-21, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 7:21-23, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 3:22, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, Colossians 1:21-23, Hebrews 2:14-15, and 1 Peter 2:16)
Love (Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 17:7, Psalm 36:5-7, Psalm 63:3, Psalm 69:16, Psalm 117:2, Isaiah 54:8, John 3:16, John 13:34, John 15:13, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 8:37-39, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:4-5, Ephesians 5:25, Titus 3:4, 1 John 4:8, and 1 John 4:16-19)
Internal peace (John 14:27, John 16:29-33, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-15, and Colossians 3:15).
[Chorus 1]
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
It is only in Jesus through whom we may be saved (Acts 4:10-12) and by which we may access the Father (John 14:6).
For my life is wholly bound to His
Our entire life is centered on Christ (Hebrews 12:2).
Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing: All is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
We no longer live, but Christ who lives within us (Galatians 2:20). This occurs through the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:16-19, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 5:18, and 2 Timothy 1:14).
[Verse 2]
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Saviour He will stay
God’s light conquers darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, 1 Peter 2:9. He does not leave nor forsake those who are His (Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 118:6 and Hebrews 13:5-6).
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed
In the same way as Paul, who manifested the power of God in weakness, so His strength is made perfect in our inadequacies (2 Corinthians 12:9).
[Chorus 2]
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley, He will lead
Jesus, who is the good shepherd (John 10:11-18), is our defense (Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3-4, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 5:11, Psalm 18:30, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 34:22, Psalm 41:2, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 59:1, Psalm 61:3, Psalm 91:1-16, Psalm 118:8, Psalm 121:7-8, Psalm 138:7, Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 30:5, Nahum 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, and 1 John 5:18) and leads us through trials and tribulations, comforting us (Psalm 23:4).
Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome
For the first part, see Verse 1, line 1. Line 4 connects with the second part, which shows God overcoming and not us.
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Repeats Chorus, line 4.
[Verse 3]
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
Christ paid the penalty for our lawbreaking to which we may attain forgiveness for sins (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9). He rose from the dead (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8), conqering death (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Hebrews 2:14) and giving us hope of eternal life (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11 , Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4). Knowing this, what can man do to me (Psalm 27:1, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 51:12, and Hebrews 13:6)?
[Chorus 3]
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
That is, nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14). See Verse 3.
Jesus now and ever is my plea
See Chorus 1, line 2.
Oh, the chains are released, I can sing: I am free!
That is, the yoke of slavery to sin has been severed (Psalm 116:16, Mark 5:8, Romans 6:20, and Galatians 5:1).
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Repeats Chorus 1, line 4.
[Verse 4]
With every breath, I long to follow Jesus
See Chorus 1, line 2.
For He has said that He will bring me home
Our destination is a new heaven and earth, where God will reign (Matthew 24:35, Luke 21:33, Revelation 6:14, Revelation 20:11, and Revelation 21:1).
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
God changes our desires and sustains us until physical death (1 Samuel 10:9, Psalm 51:10, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, and 2 Corinthians 5:17).
[Chorus 4]
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
Repeats Chorus, line 1.
All the glory evermore to Him
See Exodus 16:7, Exodus 24:17, Exodus 40:34-35, Leviticus 9:23, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalm 3:3, Psalm 8:1, Psalm 19:1-4, Isaiah 6:1-3, Isaiah 40:5, Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 58:8, Isaiah 60:1, Habakkuk 2:14, John 1:14, John 17:22, Romans 3:23, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 1:1-3, Revelation 21:10-14, and Revelation 21:23.
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
That is, when we die, we will continue to praise God (Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 30:12, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 89:1, Psalm 115:18, Psalm 145:1-2, Psalm 145:21, and Revelation 5:9-13).
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Repeats Chorus 1, line 4.
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Repeats lines 1-4.
[Outro]
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Repeats Chorus 4, lines 3 and 4.
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