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(Directions)

Not in Part but the Whole

At the Tuesday night men’s Bible study, one of the brothers (not me) led us in a few songs from his guitar. We closed with “It is Well.” After we had finished singing, I mentioned to the brothers that third verse of that hymn has to be one of the best stanzas in all of hymnody. I’m sure if I gave you few words you’ll be able to recite the rest, but just in case, here’s the third stanza:

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

What a comfort this stanza has been to me over the years, especially the words, “My sin not in part but the whole.”

I don’t know about you, but sometimes it is hard for me to sing those words. It is hard to sing those words because I am so filled with thanks. And this isn’t some sappy emotional vortex that I put myself into for a spiritual high. This is the truth of Scripture that I am rightly moved by. He delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into his kingdom (Colossians 1:13). For you and me, he made peace by the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:20). God made us alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14). Biblical doctrine drives our devotion, and that is how it should be. May the Lord grant that our spirits are truly moved by the truth of his Word.