Shane & Shane - That's How You Forgive Lyrics
Lyrics
Gracious
Slow to anger
Abounding in love
Good to all
All who call upon You
You will rescue and forgive
This is why I live
You lived the life I could never live
You died the death, oh, that I deserve
You rose to life and now You live
That's how You
Forgive me in Your mercy
I'm unworthy of your love
And I'm running back to
All I have in You, my gracious King
This is why I sing
You lived the life I could never live
You died the death, oh, that I deserve
You rose to life and now You live
That's how You forgive
[x2]
The measure of Your love
That You came and died for us
Let us not forget
That's how You forgive
You lived the life that I could never live
You died the death that I fully deserve
You rose to life and now I live, I live...
That's how You forgive
You lived the life I could never live
You died the death, oh, that I deserve
You rose to life and now You live
That's how You forgive
The measure of Your love
That You came and died for us
Let us not forget
That's how You forgive
[x2]
You forgive
You forgive
Video
That's How You Forgive
Meaning & Inspiration
Shane & Shane's "That's How You Forgive," from their 2013 album *Bring Your Nothing*, delves into the profound and often challenging act of forgiveness, offering a deeply resonant exploration of grace in practice. The song doesn't shy away from the difficulty of extending mercy, instead framing it as an active, deliberate choice rooted in a divine model. The core message is that true forgiveness isn't merely an emotion or a passive state; it's an embodiment of the kind of radical love Christ demonstrated for humanity. This is powerfully reflected in Jesus' own teachings, such as His command in Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." The song underscores that our capacity to forgive stems from and mirrors the forgiveness we have received through Christ, as highlighted in Ephesians 4:32: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." The meaning is anchored in understanding that the offenses we face, however grievous, pale in comparison to the magnitude of our own sinfulness and God's boundless grace. This perspective shifts the focus from the offender's inadequacy to the forgiver's abundance of mercy, a principle powerfully illustrated by Jesus' parable in Matthew 18:21-35, where the servant who was forgiven a massive debt was unwilling to forgive a small one owed to him. "That's How You Forgive" encourages listeners to move beyond the transactional or conditional and embrace a selfless, imitative forgiveness, recognizing that it is through this very act that we reflect the transformative power of the Gospel, echoing the sentiment of 1 Peter 4:8: "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." The song ultimately serves as a scriptural reminder that forgiveness is not a suggestion but a vital component of living a life surrendered to God's will, a tangible expression of the new life found in Him.