Chris Tomlin - At The Cross (Love Ran Red) Lyrics
Lyrics
There's a place where mercy reigns and never dies
There's a place where streams of grace flow deep and wide
Where all the love I've ever found
Comes like a flood
Comes flowing down
[Chorus:]
At the cross
At the cross
I surrender my life
I'm in awe of You
I'm in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
And my sin washed white
I owe all to You
I owe all to You Jesus
There's a place where sin and shame are powerless
Where my heart has peace with God and forgiveness
Where all the love I've ever found
Comes like a flood
Comes flowing down
[Chorus]
Here my hope is found
Here on holy ground
Here I bow down
Here I bow down
Here arms open wide
Here You saved my life
Here I bow down
Here I bow...
[Chorus]
Video
Chris Tomlin - At The Cross (Love Ran Red) (Lyrics & Chords)
Meaning & Inspiration
"At The Cross (Love Ran Red)" by Chris Tomlin, released as part of the 2014 album *Love Ran Red (Deluxe Edition)*, stands as a profound meditation on the central event of Christian faith: the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The song's genesis lies in the timeless narrative of redemption, a story woven throughout Scripture from the very beginning of humanity's fall. It draws directly from the foundational Gospel message, articulating the immense sacrifice made for the reconciliation of humankind with God. The core message powerfully conveys that the cross, far from being a symbol of defeat, represents the ultimate victory of God's love, a love so potent it "ran red" with the blood of Jesus. This imagery evokes the profound act of atonement described in passages like 1 Peter 2:24, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live to righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed," and Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The song emphasizes the transformative power of this sacrifice, highlighting how through Christ's suffering, believers are freed from the bondage of sin and darkness, a concept echoed in Colossians 1:13-14: "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." The lyrical focus is not on a mournful retelling, but on the triumphant realization of divine love and the overwhelming grace extended to a fallen world. It prompts a contemplation of what that sacrificial love truly means for our lives today, urging a response of gratitude and unwavering devotion. The song’s strength lies in its ability to distill complex theological truths into a clear, accessible, and deeply moving declaration of God’s unparalleled love demonstrated through the atoning work on Calvary, reminding us that in that redemptive act, our past sins are forgiven, and a future of hope is secured, as the Apostle Paul declares in Ephesians 1:7, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace."