Passion City Church - Forgiven Lyrics
Lyrics
I'm the one who held the nail
It was cold between my fingertips
I've hidden in the garden
I've denied You with my very lips
God, I fall down to my knees
with a hammer in my hand
You look at me, arms open
Forgiven! Forgiven!
Child there is freedom from all of it
Say goodbye to every sin
You are forgiven!
I've done things I wish I hadn't done
I've seen things I wish I hadn't seen
Just the thought of Your amazing grace
And I cry "Jesus, forgive me!"
God, I fall down to my knees
with a hammer in my hand
You look at me, arms open
Forgiven! Forgiven!
Child there is freedom from all of it
Say goodbye to every sin
You are forgiven!
I could've been six feet under
I could've been lost forever
Yeah I should be in that fire
But now there's fire inside of me
Here I am a dead man walking
No grave gonna hold God's people
All the weight of all our evil
Lifted away forever free
Who could believe, who could believe?
Forgiven! Forgiven!
You love me even when I don't deserve it
Forgiven! I'm Forgiven!
Jesus Your blood makes me innocent
So I will say goodbye to every sin
I am forgiven!
Forgiven! Forgiven!
Child there is freedom from all of it
Say goodbye to every sin
I am forgiven!
I am forgiven!
Video
Forgiven to Forgive - Grant Partrick
Meaning & Inspiration
"Forgiven" by Passion City Church, a deeply resonant track from Grant Patrick's "Forgiven to Forgive" released on May 28, 2023, immediately plunges the listener into the raw, honest struggle of human sin and the overwhelming power of divine grace. The song doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable truth of our complicity in wrongdoing, opening with the stark confession, "I'm the one who held the nail," a visceral metaphor for our role in the crucifixion of Christ. This is not a gentle introduction; it's a confrontational acknowledgement of our fallen state, mirroring the prophet Isaiah's lament over Jerusalem's sin, where he cried out, "How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She who was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers!" (Isaiah 1:21). The lyrics continue to paint a picture of personal failure: hiding, denying, and the shame that accompanies these actions, evoking the disciples' scatterings and Peter's denial, as detailed in all four Gospels.
The core of "Forgiven" lies in its powerful depiction of God's unwavering love and His transformative act of forgiveness. The imagery of falling to our knees with a "hammer in our hand" symbolizes our continued attempts to fix our own brokenness, or perhaps even our guilt-laden self-condemnation, only to be met by an "arms open" God. This mirrors the prodigal son's anticipated fear of rejection, which is instead replaced by his father's embrace (Luke 15:11-32). The repeated declaration, "Forgiven! Forgiven!" is not merely a statement of fact but an anthem of liberation. The song emphasizes that this forgiveness brings "freedom from all of it" and the ability to "say goodbye to every sin." This aligns perfectly with the New Testament message of reconciliation through Christ. Paul writes to the Corinthians, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The song’s exploration of past regrets – things done and seen that bring shame – is met not with judgment, but with the "amazing grace" that compels tears of repentance and a cry for mercy. This grace is the unmerited favor of God, the very foundation of our salvation, as Ephesians 2:8-9 beautifully 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 latter half of "Forgiven" shifts from the acknowledgment of past peril – the "six feet under" and being "lost forever" – to the radical transformation that forgiveness brings. The idea of being "lost forever" and deserving of "fire" points to the stark reality of eternal separation from God due to sin, as described in passages like Matthew 25:46. Yet, the song powerfully contrasts this with a "fire inside of me," signifying the Holy Spirit’s presence and empowerment. This is the fiery passion of faith ignited by redemption, turning a "dead man walking" into a testament to God's resurrection power. The lyrics boldly proclaim, "No grave gonna hold God's people," echoing the triumph over death seen in Jesus' resurrection and our future hope. The lifting of sin's weight is presented as a complete and permanent release, a profound truth found in Hebrews 10:17, which quotes God saying, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." The sheer wonder of this complete forgiveness is captured in the question, "Who could believe, who could believe?" a sentiment that echoes the astonishment of the disciples and the world at the miraculous power of God. The concluding verses solidify the essence of the song: the assurance of love even when undeserving, and the cleansing power of Jesus' blood that renders us innocent. This leads to a resolute commitment to leave sin behind, a living out of the new identity found in Christ, making "Forgiven" a powerful declaration of faith and transformation, and a profound encouragement to anyone wrestling with guilt and seeking the liberating truth of God's boundless mercy.