Greater Vision - Paid In Full Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1
There was a woman who met with Jesus
At a well in the heat of day
She found the Water, but left her bucket
To go and tell she'd found the Way
I'm sure the scoffers must have gathered
Ones who'd known her life before
And when they told her, "Your still a sinner"
I know she shouted out the door?she said
(Chorus:)
This world cannot accuse me of sin
It's Paid In Full Through Jesus Amen
I'm a child of God. I'm the next of kin
To the One Who's glory fills me within
I'm still amazed at what the Lord can do
How His touch of grace is gonna take me through
To a place of joy that'll have no end
Made possible for the born again
And it's Paid In Full Through Jesus Amen
Verse 2
Just like the woman, I needed Jesus
To come cleanse this heart of mine
My sinful choices had separated
Me from Holiness Divine
So when the doubters came and wondered
If this change in me would last
I boldly told them, "I've been to Calvary"
"And all my sin is in the past"
Video
Paid In Full
Meaning & Inspiration
Released in 2005 as part of the album *My Favorite Place*, Greater Vision's "Paid In Full" stands as a powerful testament to the transformative grace of Jesus Christ, deeply rooted in biblical narrative and theological truth. The song immediately draws listeners into a familiar story from Scripture, recounting the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter 4. This encounter, where the woman, after discovering the "Water" of eternal life, leaves her physical burden behind to share the news of her spiritual redemption, serves as the foundational metaphor for the song's central message. The lyrics skillfully depict the inevitable skepticism she would have faced from those who knew her past, highlighting the radical nature of her newfound faith.
The chorus then pivots from this ancient narrative to a contemporary declaration of freedom and belonging: "This world cannot accuse me of sin / It's Paid In Full Through Jesus Amen." This is the heart of the song's theological weight, echoing the profound truth of salvation through Christ's sacrifice. The concept of being "Paid In Full" directly references the finished work of Christ on the cross, as described in Ephesians 1:7, which states, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." The song emphasizes this complete absolution, asserting a new identity as a "child of God" and "the next of kin," signifying our adoption into God's family through Christ. This adoption is made possible by His "touch of grace," leading to a joy that "will have no end," a promise of eternal life for the "born again," a concept Jesus Himself explained to Nicodemus in John 3:3: "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
The second verse personalizes this message, drawing a direct parallel between the Samaritan woman's experience and the singer's own need for redemption. The acknowledgment of "sinful choices" that had "separated" the individual from "Holiness Divine" is a raw and honest confession of humanity's fallen state, aligning with Romans 3:23: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The song then revisits the theme of doubt, mirroring the reaction to the woman at the well. The bold declaration, "I've been to Calvary / And all my sin is in the past," is a powerful proclamation of victory over sin and death, a victory secured by Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection. This assurance stems from the understanding that our sins have been imputed to Christ, and His righteousness is imputed to us, as Paul eloquently explains in 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him." "Paid In Full" is more than just a song; it's an inspiring anthem of liberation, reminding believers that their past is forgiven, their present is secure in Christ, and their future is one of unending joy because of His perfect and complete sacrifice.