Hillsong UNITED - Scandal of Grace Lyrics
Lyrics
Grace, what have You done?
Murdered for me on that cross
Accused in absence of wrong
My sin washed away in Your blood
Too much to make sense of it all
I know that your love breaks my fall
The scandal of grace
You died in my place
So my soul will live
Oh to be like You
Give all i have just to know You
Jesus, there's no one beside You
Forever the hope in my heart
Death, where is your sting?
Your power is as dead as my sin
The cross has taught me to live in mercy,
My heart now to sing
The day and its troubles shall come
I know that Your strength is enough
The scandal of grace
You died in my place
So my soul will live
And it's all because of You, Jesus
It's all because of You, Jesus
It's all because of Your love that my soul will live
Video
Scandal Of Grace (I'd Be Lost) - Of Dirt And Grace (Live From The Land) - Hillsong UNITED
Meaning & Inspiration
Hillsong UNITED's "Scandal of Grace," a powerful anthem found on their 2013 album *Zion* (Deluxe Edition), doesn't just present a theological concept; it immerses the listener in the radical, life-altering reality of God's grace. The song zeroes in on the profound paradox at the heart of the Christian faith: that the ultimate act of love, the crucifixion of Jesus, was not for the righteous, but for the sinful. It confronts the human tendency to find this notion scandalous – that someone completely innocent would bear the weight of our wrongdoing. This echoes the Apostle Paul's struggle to articulate the sheer wonder of it, writing in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The lyrics boldly declare, "Accused in absence of wrong; My sin washed away in Your blood," directly referencing the atoning sacrifice of Christ, the innocent Lamb of God (John 1:29), whose blood cleanses believers from all sin, as promised in 1 John 1:7.
The central message of "Scandal of Grace" is the transformative power of this divine grace, a grace so overwhelming it's almost beyond comprehension. The phrase, "Too much to make sense of it all," captures this sentiment perfectly. It’s a grace that doesn't require earning or deserving, but is freely given. This is the essence of Ephesians 2:8-9, which states, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." The song beautifully portrays grace as the force that prevents spiritual collapse: "I know that your love breaks my fall." This is the steadfast love described in Psalm 136, which is "everlasting." The core refrain, "The scandal of grace, You died in my place, So my soul will live," serves as a potent reminder of Christ's substitutionary atonement. He took our punishment, enabling us to live eternally, a concept foundational to John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Furthermore, "Scandal of Grace" inspires a deep yearning for a Christ-like existence. The heartfelt plea, "Oh to be like You, Give all I have just to know You," speaks to a desire for conformity to Christ's character and purpose. It’s a recognition that true fulfillment comes from intimacy with Him, acknowledging Jesus as singularly unique: "Jesus, there's no one beside You." This uniqueness is highlighted throughout Scripture, particularly in Acts 4:12, where Peter boldly proclaims, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." The song then triumphantly declares victory over death, proclaiming, "Death, where is your sting? Your power is as dead as my sin." This is a direct echo of 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, which rejoices in Christ's resurrection as the ultimate defeat of death and sin. The cross, the very symbol of suffering, becomes the source of profound instruction: "The cross has taught me to live in mercy." This leads to a heart filled with song and a fearless outlook on daily challenges, trusting in God's sufficient strength, a promise echoed in 2 Corinthians 12:9: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" The concluding affirmation, "And it's all because of You, Jesus," underscores the singular source of salvation and hope, a powerful testament to the glory due to Him alone.