"Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe." What a beautiful truth for each believer. This truth is what makes this one of my very favorite hymns.
The words find a scriptural basis in Paul's teaching of justification by faith in Romans 5:1-2: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Julia Harriette Johnston (1849-1919) was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister and a mother who was a poet. She began writing when she was nine years old but really started writing verse in high school. Later she authored many books on Christian missions and missionaries, along with about 500 hymn texts, many of which were published in her books. She was faithful to the ministries of the church, serving in Sunday school for 41 years and also as president, for two decades, of the Presbyterian Missionary Society, an organization founded by her mother.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the suffrage movement was intensifying in the United States. It was a time when women in many denominations were in the paradoxical position to spread the Good News, but had to be remain quiet while doing it. However, there were women hymn writers, such as Johnston, who decided to ignore this and wrote hymns as social, religious, and biblical commentary. This hymn is a commentary on Romans 5, particularly on Romans 5:20b, which says: "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."
In this great hymn Johnston contrasts the theme of God's abundant grace - manifest through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross - with "our sin and our guilt" (stanza one), our "sin and despair" (stanza two), and our "dark stain" (stanza three). The words remind the sinner that despite what has happened in the person's life, God's grace has wiped away all sin through the death of Jesus.
In the second verse she uses the imagery of the "sea waves cold" to describe the effects of sin. While the sinner may indeed be drowning in the vast, bleak, cold ocean with no hope in sight, the grace that poured out on the sinner is greater and deeper than anything else and it leads the sinner "to the refuge, the mighty cross." It does not matter what has happened or what the sinner has done; God's love is greater and is graciously given to those who believe.
Personally, I love the words of the refrain which sum up the message and impact of grace. It will pardon and cleanse and it is greater than all our sin. Marvelous, infinite and matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe. I pray that you have experienced this grace in your life and that your heart is overflowing with the wonder of God's great grace. And, if you haven't, then the final verse is an invitation for you
1. Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin
2. Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin
3. Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today.
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin
4. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe,
All who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin
No comments:
Post a Comment