Chris Tomlin - 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
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
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 (down)
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
I owe all to You I owe all to You Jesus
Video
Chris Tomlin - At The Cross (Love Ran Red) (Lyrics & Chords)
Meaning & Inspiration
Chris Tomlin’s "Love Ran Red," released in 2014 as part of the deluxe edition of his album of the same name, is a powerful anthem that delves into the profound and transformative nature of God’s love. The song’s core message centers on the overwhelming, sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, particularly as depicted in His crucifixion, where His blood was shed for humanity. This imagery immediately calls to mind verses like 1 John 4:10, which states, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” The title itself, "Love Ran Red," is a visceral metaphor for the blood of Jesus, a central theme in Christian theology representing redemption and purification. It echoes the imagery found in Revelation 1:5, where Christ is described as one “who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,” and more directly, the prophecy in Isaiah 1:18, which proclaims, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” This promise of cleansing is at the heart of the song’s encouraging message.
The song doesn't just present the act of sacrifice; it emphasizes the *cost* and the *immeasurable depth* of this divine love. It's a love that doesn't wait for us to be worthy but pursues us relentlessly, a concept powerfully illustrated in Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This unwavering, proactive love is what the song celebrates, urging listeners to grasp the magnitude of a love that would willingly embrace suffering for the sake of reconciliation. The lyrical exploration of this sacrifice serves as a reminder of our spiritual debt and the astonishing grace by which it has been paid. The narrative of the song is rooted in the gospel itself, the good news that through Christ's shed blood, forgiveness and eternal life are made accessible, as affirmed 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.” By focusing on this foundational act of love, "Love Ran Red" inspires a sense of awe and gratitude, inviting individuals to respond with their own devotion and a life lived in recognition of such an incredible gift.