Charles Wesley - Great Is Our Redeeming Lord Lyrics

Meaning & Inspiration

This timeless hymn by Charles Wesley, "Great Is Our Redeeming Lord," though penned centuries ago, continues to resonate with profound spiritual power, finding new life and accessibility with its digital availability on January 14, 2021. Charles Wesley, a prolific poet and one of the founders of Methodism, crafted hymns that were not merely songs but theological treatises set to verse, designed to instruct and inspire the burgeoning revival movement. This particular work perfectly encapsulates his ability to blend deep doctrinal truth with fervent devotion, inviting believers to engage personally with the majesty of God and the security of His Church.

At its core, "Great Is Our Redeeming Lord" is a magnificent declaration of God's sovereignty, His redemptive work, and the unwavering foundation of the Christian faith. Wesley, living in a time of significant spiritual awakening, sought to articulate the grandeur of God in a way that was both accessible and deeply affecting. The hymn serves as a powerful reminder of God's attributes—His power, truth, and grace—and the unique privilege of His people to offer Him praise, echoing the adoration offered in the highest heavens. It tells the story of God's presence among His people, positioning the Church not just as a gathering but as a spiritual "city" and "holy mount," a place from which His name is to be published and spread across the earth, reflecting the universal call to worship found in passages like Psalm 96:3, "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."

The second stanza delves deeper into the motivation for this praise, anchoring it in God's "loving-kindness." We are invited to remain in His spiritual "temple"—a concept beautifully aligned with 1 Peter 2:5, where believers are called "living stones" built into a spiritual house. Here, within the embrace of divine presence, we "record" His faithful love and witness His "saving power display." The hymn emphasizes that God's praise is inextricably linked to His very "name," meaning His character and revealed nature. As His perfections shine, the aspiration is that "earth's remotest bounds shall own Thy works are all divine," a vision of global recognition of God's ultimate authority and creative power, as prophesied in Psalm 22:27, "All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord."

Perhaps one of the most comforting and foundational aspects of the hymn emerges in the third stanza, which offers an unshakeable assurance regarding the "gospel church." Wesley powerfully declares the Church to be "secure, And founded on a rock," a direct and profound echo of Jesus' words in Matthew 16:18, where He states that He will build His church, and "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This stanza underscores the certainty of God's promises to His Church and questions rhetorically, "Her bulwarks who can shock?" This imagery conveys divine fortification, much like the promise in Zechariah 2:5, "For I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the Lord, 'and I will be its glory within.'" The absolute affirmation that "the church can never fail" serves as a profound comfort and a testament to God's eternal commitment to His people, solidifying faith in the face of any temporal challenge.

Finally, the hymn culminates in a deeply personal and eternally hopeful declaration within its fourth stanza. It affirms a proprietary relationship: "Zion's God is all our own, Who on his love rely." This speaks to the covenantal intimacy and assurance believers have in God, knowing His "pardoning love" and dedicating their lives ("live to Christ, and die") to Him, much like Paul's declaration in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." The vision extends beyond this earthly life, pointing towards the "new Jerusalem," a powerful biblical symbol of heaven and eternal communion with God, as seen in Revelation 21:2. The hymn assures us that God "our faithful guide shall be," a promise of steadfast companionship through all eternity, allowing us to "claim, and rest in him" with the certainty of everlasting security, echoing John 10:28-29, where Jesus affirms that no one can snatch His sheep out of His hand or His Father's hand.

"Great Is Our Redeeming Lord" is more than just a historical hymn; it is a vibrant theological testament that continues to energize and anchor the faith of believers today. It is a stirring call to recognize God’s magnificent nature, to actively participate in His praise, to rest in the unshakeable security of His Church, and to embrace the glorious promise of an eternal future with Him. Engaging with its profound message encourages a deeper appreciation for God's enduring love and unwavering power, inspiring a confident and joyful walk of faith in every generation.