Lyrics
Verse 1
Sinners, believe the gospel word,
Jesus is come your souls to save
Jesus is come, your common Lord;
Pardon ye all through him may have,
May now be saved, whoever will;
This man receiveth sinners still.
Verse 2
See where the lame, the halt, the blind,
The deaf, the dumb, the sick, the poor,
Flock to the friend of human kind,
And freely all accept their cure;
To whom did he his help deny?
Whom in his days of flesh pass by?
Verse 3
Did not his word the fiends expel,
The lepers cleanse, and raise the dead?
Did he not all their sickness heal,
And satisfy their every need?
Did he reject his helpless clay,
Or send them sorrowful away?
Verse 4
Nay, but his bowels yearned to see
The people hungry, scattered, faint;
Nay, but he uttered over thee,
Jerusalem, a true complaint;
Jerusalem, who shedd'st his blood,
That, with his tears, for thee hath flowed.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Sinners, Believe The Gospel Word is a hymn that invites sinners to trust the good news that Jesus has come to save. The first stanza says that He is the common Lord, that pardon is available to all, and that whoever will may be saved, because this man receives sinners still. The second stanza pictures the lame, blind, deaf, dumb, sick and poor flocking to the friend of humankind and freely receiving their cure, asking whom He ever refused.
The third stanza recalls the casting out of fiends, the cleansing of lepers and the raising of the dead, and asks whether any helpless person was rejected or sent away sorrowful. The last stanza says His heart was moved by hungry and scattered people and recalls His lament over Jerusalem. The themes follow Luke 15:2, Matthew 9:36 and Luke 19:41. The series of questions gives the hymn an earnest, persuasive tone that suits an invitation to come to Christ.
Related Scripture
- Luke 15:2 The Pharisees complain that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them.
- Matthew 9:36 Jesus has compassion on the crowds who are harassed and helpless.
- Luke 19:41 Jesus weeps over Jerusalem.