Depth of Mercy

After I blogged about the video ‘In view of God’s mercy’ I have listened to the song ‘Depth of Mercy’ quite a few times.

Today I looked up the lyrics for the song and found that it actually has 13 verses! I think the words to this song by Charles Wesley are incredible, I find them very moving. They seem to really hit the mark and really summed up how I was feeling in part, can there really be this mercy for a sinner like me? Clearly these lyrics came from the heart of a man who knew he was a sinner totally pardoned by the blood of Jesus and felt overwhelmed by it, this is reflected in these great lyrics.

Depth of Mercy by Charles Wesley

Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.

I have spilt His precious blood,
Trampled on the Son of God,
Filled with pangs unspeakable,
I, who yet am not in hell!

I my Master have denied,
I afresh have crucified,
And profaned His hallowed Name,
Put Him to an open shame.

Whence to me this waste of love?
Ask my Advocate above!
See the cause in Jesus’ face,
Now before the throne of grace.

Jesus, answer from above,
Is not all Thy nature love?
Wilt Thou not the wrong forget,
Permit me to kiss Thy feet?

If I rightly read Thy heart,
If Thou all compassion art,
Bow Thine ear, in mercy bow,
Pardon and accept me now.

Jesus speaks, and pleads His blood!
He disarms the wrath of God;
Now my Father’s mercies move,
Justice lingers into love.

Kindled His relentings are,
Me He now delights to spare,
Cries, ‘How shall I give thee up?’
Lets the lifted thunder drop.

Lo! I still walk on the ground:
Lo! an Advocate is found:
‘Hasten not to cut Him down,
Let this barren soul alone.’

There for me the Savior stands,
Shows His wounds and spreads His hands.
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps and loves me still.

Pity from Thine eye let fall,
By a look my soul recall;
Now the stone to flesh convert,
Cast a look, and break my heart.

Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.

And Can It Be

Last night at 2020 were were reading through the book Experiencing the Spirit by Graham Beynon.

As we looked through we were thinking about the second chapter and what it means to have the Holy Spirit living within us. It was great actually looking at what Jesus Himself said about the Spirit, for instance in John 16: 7-11 Jesus says even that it is good for Him to be leaving the world because it means that we have the Spirit, or Advocate or Counsellor with us who will always point us to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the One who gives us life as Christians and keeps us walking with Jesus and we need to be so thankful each day that He is with us, for without Him we wouldn’t be Christians at all!

This also got me thinking about Romans 7 where Paul talks about his struggle against sin. The Holy Spirit, as He is making us more like Jesus will continue to help us see more how great Jesus is and how unsatisfying and horrible sin is, and thus this war will become more and more fierce! This calls for us to encourage one another constantly as we wage war against Satan and sin. I find the these awesome words of this great Hymn by Charles Wesley so encouraging and they are some of my favourite ones to sing! The hope and the peace that are in these words are brilliant, that our Salvation is secure in the blood of Jesus, that a filthy sinner like me should share His inheritance is pure, amazing grace!

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

‘Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love Divine!
‘Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
‘Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness Divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.