Chris Tomlin - Great Forgiver Lyrics
Lyrics
You are the great, great forgiver
Nobody else gonna take my trouble
Nobody else gonna take my shame
There is no story You can’t change
No broken heart that You can’t save
I needed someone who
Could do what I could not do myself
Wash my sin away
‘Cause You are the great, great forgiver
Nobody else gonna take my trouble
Nobody else gonna take my shame
I need You, I need You, I need You, I need You, I need You
You are the great, great forgiver
You say I never have to hide
Your love for me is ocean wide
For all the things that You’ve done
All the battles that You’ve won
For me
I’m thankful all the time
I’m home, I’m free
I belong to the great forgiver
No chains on me
I’m Yours forever
Video
Chris Tomlin - Great Forgiver (Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Chris Tomlin’s “Great Forgiver,” released as part of his 2022 album *Always*, stands as a powerful testament to the boundless mercy and redemptive power of God. This track isn't just a collection of melodies; it’s an invitation to experience a profound truth: that in our deepest struggles and most profound shame, there is a divine intervention ready to transform our narrative. The song’s essence lies in its unapologetic declaration of God’s unique capacity to bear our burdens and cleanse our sins, a concept deeply rooted in scripture. Tomlin articulates a need that resonates with the human condition, a realization that we are incapable of achieving righteousness or erasing our past failures on our own. This echoes the Apostle Paul's sentiments in Romans 3:23, which states, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The song directly addresses this inherent human failing, acknowledging the necessity of an external force, the “Great Forgiver,” to bridge the gap created by our imperfections.
The core message of "Great Forgiver" is the unparalleled ability of God to offer complete absolution and to rewrite the stories of those who are broken. The lyrics powerfully convey this, emphasizing that no other entity possesses the power to alter destinies or mend shattered hearts. This theological stance is powerfully supported by biblical narratives. Consider the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32, where the father's unwavering forgiveness, demonstrated by his immediate embrace of his wayward son, mirrors the boundless mercy of the "Great Forgiver." Furthermore, the assurance that God's love is "ocean wide," as stated in the song, directly calls to mind verses like Psalm 103:12, which says, "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." This imagery of vastness and distance speaks to the completeness of God's forgiveness, an uncrossable gulf between our sin and His grace.
"Great Forgiver" celebrates the liberation that comes with accepting this divine forgiveness. The declaration, "I'm home, I'm free, no chains on me," speaks to a spiritual emancipation that transcends earthly troubles. This freedom is not earned but bestowed, a gift received through faith. This freedom from the bondage of sin is a central theme in the New Testament, particularly in John 8:36, where Jesus declares, "So if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed." The song’s triumphant tone culminates in a declaration of eternal belonging, "I belong to the great forgiver, I'm Yours forever." This commitment finds its echo in passages like Romans 8:38-39, which reassures believers that "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Tomlin's "Great Forgiver" is, therefore, more than a song; it is a profound theological declaration set to music, a reminder of the transformative and enduring power of God’s grace that offers hope, freedom, and ultimate belonging.