Paperthin hymn: You Have Been Raised

 

You Have Been Raised

Verse1
How do we know we’ve been forgiven?
How do we know that we have been made clean?
How do we know we’ll go to heaven?
How do we know we’ve been redeemed?

Chorus
You have been raised, the tomb has been opened
Nothing can take away our hope in You
You have been raised
You have been raised, the work is completed
Hell and its powers have been defeated
You have been raised

Verse 2
Now we are free from condemnation
There is no judgment left for us to fear
We don’t have to wonder if we’re welcome
You are the One who’s brought us near

Bridge
The price You paid for us
Has fully been accepted
Because of Your shed blood
We cannot be rejected

REFLECTIONS

“You have been raised” is one of my favorite songs from the new Sovereign Grace album “Risen”, released just a few months ago. [Click link to listen and purchase] The music is by Mark Altrogge, Bob Kauflin, and Ken Boer; and the lyrics are by Mark Altrogge and Bob Kauflin. The album itself is a concept album, whereby

“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.”  These words, spoken by an angel to the women at Jesus’s tomb, changed history forever. Christ’s resurrection was more than a display of raw supernatural power. It was the single event that assures us that his payment for our sins has been accepted. God’s wrath is satisfied. Death is defeated. The powers of darkness are overcome. Sin’s dominion has been broken. And the life of the age to come has dawned.  The songs on this album celebrate these realities, experienced and enjoyed by all who place their faith and hope in Jesus Christ.

I’m not sure I can say it better than that. I’ve said before in other posts that our praise and worship music is a sermon; that it’s purpose is to teach us about Christ and his word.This song does exactly that. At the same time praise and worship is also a form of prayer. There is a little known Latin phrase whereby “lex orandi, lex credendi” -As we pray, so we believe. That strikes me as a very apt term, and a wonderful way to express what we’re listening to and singing. The more we sing this, [ie, confess this] the more it will shape and reinforce our beliefs.

As it were, this is a perfect song to demonstrate the sheer “singability” of a song that would rival almost any hymn for theological and biblical depth. There are many great hymns which have beautiful lyrics, but have a very jarring composition. This is not one of them.It is hard to listen to this song without standing up and cheering while you sing.

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bonus: YouTube video w/choir