Welcome!  Hymns have been and continue to be a real source of inspiration to me.  My desire in this blog is to share special hymns with my readers hoping that the words will minister to them, especially in times of great personal need.  If one of these hymns ministers to you, please take time to leave a comment so that I know that my blog is helping others as much as it helps me. Sometimes I will also provide a link where you can go to hear the hymn played.  So, please join me here each week and sing along as we praise God together.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

NAILED TO THE CROSS


     It is always amazing to see how God chooses to use all sorts of people for His glory.  Imagine a woman who had no musical abilities, could not even carry a tune, but had a special gift of poetic rhythm.  Such was the case with Carrie Elizabeth Ellis Breck (1855-1934) who God used to write more than 2,000 poems many of which were turned into hymns by gifted musicians. Brought up by God-fearing parents, she cannot remember when Bible reading and prayer were not her daily home custom. From the days of her youth Carrie E. Breck wrote verse and prose for religious and household publications.  A wife and mother to five daughters she was not particularly robust in health and had to take frequent rests while doing chores. According to Breck, "I penciled verses under all conditions; over a mending basket, with a baby on my arm, and sometimes even when sweeping or washing dishes," she recalled. "My mind moved in poetic meter."  It was in 1899 that she penned the lyrics of this week's hymn choice. The tune was composed by Grant Colfax Tullar (1869-1950). A Methodist minister and evangelistic song leader who had a successful music printing business. Mrs. Breck often sent her poems to Mr. Tullar so that he could provide music for them. Some of their most famous collaborations are the songs, "Shall I Crucify My Savior?" and "Face to face with Christ, my Savior".  This week's hymn choice is a hymn that emphasizes the fact that we can have forgiveness of sins because of what Jesus did at the cross.  Like most of Breck's poems, this one is simple, straightforward, and unpretentious. It's based on a passage from the epistle to the Colossians:  "He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." (Colossians 2:13-14, NIV).  The hymn text is simple in the same way that the Gospel is simple. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, so our sins are forgiven.  The first verse reminds us that all of our past sins can be forgiven.  The second verse shares that we no longer have any condemnation.  Verse three reminds us that our future can be filled with hope.  And the chorus continues to remind us of the importance of the fact that Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross for our sins.  Rejoice in this hymn and these simple but profound words during this Easter season.

1. There was One Who was willing to die in my stead,
That a soul so unworthy might live;
And the path to the cross He was willing to tread,
All the sins of my life to forgive.
They are nailed to the cross! They are nailed to the cross!
Oh, how much He was willing to bear!
With what anguish and loss Jesus went to the cross,
But He carried my sins with Him there.

2. He is tender and loving and patient with me,
While He cleanses my heart of the dross;
But "there's no condemnation", I know I am free,
For my sins are all nailed to the cross.
They are nailed to the cross! They are nailed to the cross!
Oh, how much He was willing to bear!
With what anguish and loss Jesus went to the cross,
But He carried my sins with Him there.

3. I will cling to my Savior and never depart,
I will joyfully journey each day,
With a song on my lips and a song in my heart,
That my sins have been taken away.
They are nailed to the cross! They are nailed to the cross!
Oh, how much He was willing to bear!
With what anguish and loss Jesus went to the cross,
But He carried my sins with Him there.

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Mr. Kauffman,

I just discovered your blog and wanted to thank you for your work here! It came about as I searched for quality psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to add to a library I am building at my website. It seems to my that over recent decades Christian music has degraded, old quality hymns have largely been left behind, and new quality songs are more rare to come by. So I am finding your blog to be a treasure trove! And your research and comments are enriching! Thank you for sharing out of the treasures of your faith and life.

My blog is only a few months old and has the theme, Prepare the way of the Lord. The emphasis is on both the first and second comings of the Lord Jesus Christ, with a focus on individually applied salvation. Repentance and faith.

I think the world is fairly advanced into the end times and the physical return of Christ from heaven. So my first series relates some current events with Bible prophecy.

In the hymn section, I thought that from time to time I would refer readers to your Hymns With A Message to be further enriched by your research and comments. My guess is that you probably would agree with me that hymns are spiritually effective when the reader/singer makes it a personal expression of his or her soul. Casually singing along without heart and faith engagement results in minimal effect. It is like reading the Word without mixing it with personal faith.

My site is at john1today.com . I am still trying to learn the techy side of it!

My prayers are with you and your wife regarding the physical challenges you have described.

God bless you,

Larry Zanetti

Anonymous said...

Hi Mr. Kauffman,

Is it your policy not to respond to comments? Or is it that you do not know how to do so? I am wondering because I had engaged you through a comment about a month ago, yet no response...

Sincerely,

Larry Zanetti

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry I didn't respond. I appreciate your comments and wish you the best with your new blog. It is a topic that needs to be shared today. And, I'm not a techie either but I've learned enough as I've worked through the process.