It is Well (Part 3/4)
To read part one click here.
To read part two click here.
Preface: This was by far the hardest one to write. Sometimes I just have a hard time wrapping my hands around the subject of Christ dying for me. Not to sound “super-spiritual,” but I know me. What you ’re about to read is just a slight glimpses of what God has done you and me. I would love to get your interpretation, your thoughts, of this verse of It is Well with My Soul.
My sin – oh the bliss of this glorious thought -
My sin not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed the cross, and I bear it no more:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
My sin – depending upon where you read the lyrics of this song, you may see something different leading into this verse. I have seen it start with “He Lives” and “My Lord.” I’m not sure about the reasoning behind the changes, perhaps one is equating sin as a blissful thought so they felt the need to change it. I personally think the writer began his writing and pondered the blissful thought of which he was about to pen down. My sin. What is sin in light of a holy God? Sin defined is “missing the mark”; the mark of God’s holiness and glory. Many of you are familiar with Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin carries with it the penalty of death (Romans 6:23). God is Holy (perhaps another blog on this term)(I love how Isaiah 6:1-7 and Revelation 4:1-8 declare God’s holiness and glory). Because of His hoiness, sin can have no presence. The bottom line is that sin has separated us from God (I don’t think I need to break out the cliff or “one verse evangelism” drawing to show you). Sin has no place with a Holy God and His holiness owes us no explanation.
Oh the bliss of this glorious thought – I love that word bliss (another word that has been replaced in some hymnals with joy). What does the word ‘bliss’ mean or the phrase “blissful thinking”? I think the best way to describe the word bliss is to share with you its synonyms. Words such as, heavenly, wonderful, delightful, perfect, and peaceful. The writer is about to share with us the most blissful thought/event that happens in scripture. It is the story of the Bible: God’s Redemptive Plan for Man.
My sin not in part, but the whole - All. Very simple, yet profound. Christ, who knew no sin (Romans 5:21), took upon my sins and the sins of the whole world (I John 2). Take a moment and read through Psalm 103 as David remembers and praised God his forgiveness. David wrote in verse 12 that God has removed his transgress as far as east is to the west. Watch This!
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it know more – While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He, who bore our sins, was taken and nailed to a cross that we may have life in him (Colossians 2:13-15). This is the glorious thought. This is blissful thinking. My favorite two words in the New Testament are found in Ephesians 2:4, “but God.” Paul describes our helpless estate as being dead in our sins, “but God who is rich in mercy and with His great love, even though we were dead has made us alive together in Christ.” To that I say… “Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord O My Soul!”
My sin has been nailed to the cross of my Savior
Where Satan has no power
For God has displayed His undeserved favor
He has taken my sin and he has naile it to the cross
