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In this masterfully written hymn by Charles Wesley, he begins verse 1 with the bleeding sacrifice of the Surety who stands before the throne of grace (Heb 7:22), and on Whose hands our names are written.
In verse 2, the sacrifice of Jesus's blood judicially pleads on our behalf (Heb 7:25-27) and has atoned for the wrath that our sins deserve. Just as blood of animal sacrifices sprinkled the elements of the OT temple, Jesus has now gone before us to that of which the earthly temple was merely a shadow. This verse is has with Hebrews 9 all over it as well.
In the beginning of verse 3 we see that the Holy Spirit answers to the blood of Jesus (which has been applied to the believer) by testifying that we are the children of God. Here Wesley focuses on believers who are wracked by fear of their own sinful guilt (verse 1, line 1) and points to the antidote for this fear and guilt: *not* about what we accomplish for God, but entirely about what Jesus accomplished for us. Given that so much of this song comes out of the book of Hebrews (leaning heavily on chapters 4, 7, 9, and 10), I would be curious to know if, when reaching Heb 10:15 (which mentions the testimony of the Spirit), Wesley's Scripture-memory co-opted with his creativity to reference Romans 8:16 in coming up with the brilliant line "His Spirit answers to the blood and tells me I am born of God."
Wesley closes this song in verse 4 by seemingly tying together Rom 8:15 & Galatians 4:5-6 with Heb 4:16 and Heb 10:19-22. The confidence of the final verse has nothing to do with the works of the believer, but everything to do with having been reconciled by the finished work of Jesus, having been pardoned, and having receiving the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
In the chorus, I simply tried (much like in "Hallelujah...") to provide a simple "amen" to the rest of the song: here reinforcing the great confidence we have because of the free justification provided by the atoning sacrifice of the God-man, Jesus Christ.
lyrics
Verse 1:
Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears
Before the throne my Surety stands
Before the throne my Surety stands
My name is written on His hands
Verse 2:
He ever lives above, for me to intercede
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead
His blood atoned for all our race*
His blood atoned for all our race
And sprinkles now the throne of grace
Chorus:
Arise, arise
Arise, my soul, arise
For Jesus died for thee
Arise, for Christ: both God and sacrifice
Presents thee perfectly
Verse 3:
The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son
His Spirit answers to the blood
His Spirit answers to the blood
And tells me I am born of God
Verse 4:
My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear
With confidence I now draw nigh
With confidence I now draw nigh
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry
* "all our race" = "all the human race"
credits
from
My Surety Stands,
released May 6, 2014
Charles Wesley: verse lyrics
Lewis Edson: tune
Lisa Kelly: BG vocals
James Murray: BG vocals
John Benitez: Drums
Cole Garrett: Bass
Travis Ham: chorus lyrics & arrangement, lead vocal, guitars, keys
license
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