Is It True?

When I listen to a song, I usually ask myself, “Is it true?” I also want to think about how it is helpful. Far too much of what is written is neither. Some of the songs that are written are true, but they don’t offer any hope or promises for something better than what this life currently seems to offer. For example, as a teen I enjoyed listening to the songs of Simon and Garfunkel. I remember listening to “Sounds of Silence” dozens of times. It speaks truth, but it doesn’t offer hope. If you are not familiar with this classic, one verse declares, “And in the naked light, I saw ten thousand people, maybe more. People talking without speaking. People hearing without listening. People writing songs that voices never shared, no one dared, disturb the sound of silence.”

Jesus Our Judge and Our Savior – by Colin Buchanan, Bob Kauflin, and David Zimmer

One song that our lead pastor recently shared on our church Facebook page is the song, “Jesus, Our Judge and Our Savior.” The song declares two things about Jesus that seem to be in conflict. If someone is your judge, it is not rational to assume they are your savior, unless you are innocent. We are not innocent. Therefore, we need a savior judge.

CHORUS

Call now, O sinner, on your coming Judge

To be here even now as your Savior

Fall now, O sinner, on the mercy and grace

Of Jesus, our Judge and our Savior

VERSE 1 –

Who is He we shall meet at the end of life’s road

The One who will judge every heart, every soul

Who is He who will one day sift the tares from the wheat?

Jesus, our Judge and our Savior

Does the Song Speak Truth?

2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

That, quite frankly, is not the good news we want. Jesus often spoke of judgement. He talked about separating the sheep from the goats and the wheat from the weeds. He said there are two paths: a narrow one that leads to life and a wide one that leads to destruction. He said many were on the wide path, including the religious leaders of his day. The story doesn’t end there.

Romans 10:11-13 declares, “For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

Can You Sing The Song?

You cannot presume upon God’s grace by inaction and you won’t be able to claim ignorance of the law when you (and I) stand before God’s judgement seat. So the question is, can you sing the song from a position that is more than just Jesus the Judge? Is he Savior for you as well?

Call now, O sinner, on your coming Judge

To be here even now as your Savior

Fall now, O sinner, on the mercy and grace

Of Jesus, our Judge and our Savior

All scripture passages are from the English Standard Version except as otherwise noted.