1 IN the bonds of death he lay,
Who for our offence was slain,
But the Lord is risen to-day,
Christ hath brought us life again;
Wherefore let us all rejoice,
Singing loud with cheerful voice
Hallelujah!
2 Jesus Christ, God's only Son,
Came at last our foe to smite,
All our sins away hath done,
Done away death's power and right;
Only the form of death is left,
Of his sting he is bereft;
Hallelujah!
3 'Twas a wondrous war I trow,
Life and death together fought,
But life hath triumphed o'er his foe,
Death is mocked, and set at nought;
Yea, 'tis as the Scripture saith,
Christ through death hath conquered death,
Hallelujah!
4 Now our Paschal Lamb is he,
And by him alone we live,
Who to death upon the tree
For our sake himself did give.
Faith his blood strikes on our door,
Death dares never harm us more,
Hallelujah!
5 On this day, most blest of days,
Let us keep high festival,
For our God hath showed his grace,
And his sun hath risen on all,
And our hearts rejoice to see
Sin and night before him flee.
Hallelujah!
6 To the supper of the Lord
Gladly will we come to-day;
The word of peace is now restored,
The old leaven is put away;
Christ will be our food alone,
Faith no life but his will own.
Hallelujah!
In The Bonds Of Death He Lay Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
In The Bonds Of Death He Lay by Charles Wesley
Introduction:
In The Bonds Of Death He Lay is a Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist movement along with his brother John Wesley. This hymn celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the victory over sin and death. It is a powerful and uplifting song that proclaims the central message of Christianity.
Main Key Messages of the Song:
The main key messages of the song can be understood by analyzing the lyrics chronologically. Let's go through each line and explore the deeper meaning behind them:
1. "In the bonds of death he lay, Who for our offence was slain":
This line refers to Jesus Christ's death on the cross. It acknowledges that he was bound by the chains of death, but it also emphasizes that his death was for our sins. Jesus willingly sacrificed himself to atone for our offenses and bring salvation.
2. "But the Lord is risen today, Christ hath brought us life again":
Here, the song declares the glorious truth of Jesus' resurrection. It proclaims that the Lord is risen and that He has conquered death. Through His resurrection, Jesus has brought new life to humanity, offering us the hope of eternal life.
3. "Wherefore let us all rejoice, Singing loud with cheerful voice, Hallelujah!":
This line encourages believers to rejoice and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It calls for joyful singing and praising God with a cheerful voice, expressing gratitude and awe for the victory won by Christ.
4. "Jesus Christ, God's only Son, Came at last our foe to smite":
In this verse, the focus shifts to Jesus' purpose in coming to earth. It highlights that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came to defeat our ultimate enemy, which is sin and its consequences. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and bring salvation to all who believe in Him.
5. "All our sins away hath done, Done away death's power and right":
Here, the song emphasizes the significance of Jesus' work on the cross. It states that Jesus has completely dealt with our sins, removing their power and authority over us. Furthermore, His victory over death has broken its hold and granted us eternal life.
6. "'Twas a wondrous war I trow, Life and death together fought":
This line portrays the cosmic battle between life and death. It acknowledges the incredible nature of this spiritual conflict, where Jesus, through His death and resurrection, engaged in a wondrous war against death itself. This battle ultimately resulted in victory for life.
7. "But life hath triumphed o'er his foe, Death is mocked, and set at nought":
Continuing the theme of victory, this verse declares that life has triumphed over death. Jesus' resurrection mocks death, rendering it powerless and insignificant. Death has been defeated, and its attempts to hold humanity captive have been rendered futile.
8. "Yea, 'tis as the Scripture saith, Christ through death hath conquered death":
This line reinforces the truth of Jesus' victory over death by referring to the Scriptures. It affirms that Jesus fulfilled the prophetic promises of the Bible by conquering death through His own death and resurrection. The Scriptures testify to the redemptive work of Christ.
9. "Now our Paschal Lamb is he, And by him alone we live":
The song draws a parallel between Jesus and the Paschal Lamb of the Old Testament. Just as the Israelites were saved from death by the blood of the lamb during the Passover, Jesus is now our ultimate Paschal Lamb. Through Him alone, we receive spiritual life and salvation.
10. "On this day, most blest of days, Let us keep high festival":
This verse acknowledges the significance of the day of Jesus' resurrection. It encourages believers to celebrate and keep a high festival in remembrance of this blessed day. It is a call to commemorate and rejoice in the victory of Christ.
11. "For our God hath showed his grace, And his sun hath risen on all":
The final lines of the hymn highlight the grace of God manifested in the resurrection of Jesus. It proclaims that God's grace has been revealed through Jesus' victory over death. The rising of the sun symbolizes the new dawn of salvation that has come to all humanity through Christ.
Meaning and Inspiration:
The song In The Bonds Of Death He Lay is inspired by the biblical account of Jesus' death and resurrection. It celebrates the central event of Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the hope and new life it brings to believers. The hymn encourages joyful worship and gratitude for God's redemptive work through His Son.
Critically Analyzing the Biblical Accuracy:
The song aligns with biblical teachings and accurately portrays the theological significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. It emphasizes the core doctrines of Christianity, such as Jesus' sacrificial death for our sins, His victory over death, and the hope of eternal life through faith in Him.
Biblical References:
The lyrics of the song draw heavily from biblical narratives and teachings. Some relevant biblical references include:
1. Romans 4:25 - "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."
2. 1 Corinthians 15:55 - "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
3. 1 Peter 1:3 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
These verses, among others, affirm the themes and messages conveyed in the song.
Conclusion:
In The Bonds Of Death He Lay is a powerful hymn that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the victory over sin and death. It proclaims the central message of Christianity and encourages believers to rejoice in the redemptive work of Christ. The song aligns with biblical teachings and accurately portrays the theological significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. Through its lyrics, it inspires worship, gratitude, and faith in the risen Savior.
