Travis Cottrell - Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise) Lyrics
Lyrics
This is my revelation
Christ Jesus crucified
Salvation through repentance
At the cross on which He died
Now hear my absolution
Forgiveness for my sin
And I sink beneath the waters
That Christ was buried in
I will rise, I will rise
As Christ was raised to life
Now in Him, now in Him
I live
I stand a new creation
Baptized in blood and fire
No fear of condemnation
By faith I'm justified
I will rise, I will rise
As Christ was raised to life
Now in Him, now in Him
I live
I rise as You are risen
Declare Your rule and reign
My life confess Your Lordship
And glorify Your Name
Your Word it stands eternal
Your Kingdom knows no end
Your praise goes on forever
An on and on again
No power can stand against You
No curse assault Your throne
No one can steal Your glory
For it is Yours alone
I stand to sing Your praises
I stand to testify
For I was dead in my sin
But now I rise, I will rise
As Christ was raised to life
Now in Him, now in Him
I live
I will rise, I will rise
As Christ was raised to life
Now in Him, now in Him
I live
Video
Beneath the Waters (I Will Rise)
Meaning & Inspiration
Travis Cottrell's "Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise)," released in 2014 as part of the album *I'm Living Proof*, is a powerful anthem deeply rooted in the transformative experience of Christian baptism and redemption. The song's narrative unfolds as a personal testimony, tracing a journey from sin and spiritual death to a new, resurrected life in Christ. The opening lines, "This is my revelation, Christ Jesus crucified, Salvation through repentance, At the cross on which He died," immediately establish the foundational truth of the Gospel: salvation is found not through personal merit, but through faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice. This declaration is echoed in Ephesians 2:8-9, which reminds us that "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." The act of "sinking beneath the waters that Christ was buried in" serves as a potent metaphor for the believer’s identification with Christ’s death and burial through baptism, a symbolic death to the old self and its sinful nature.
The central refrain, "I will rise, I will rise, As Christ was raised to life, Now in Him, now in Him, I live," is the song's undeniable core, drawing a direct parallel between Jesus' resurrection and the believer's spiritual rebirth. This profound truth is proclaimed throughout Scripture, particularly in Romans 6:4, where we are told, "We were therefore buried with him by baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." The verse "I stand a new creation, Baptized in blood and fire, No fear of condemnation, By faith I'm justified" further elaborates on this renewed identity. The "blood and fire" likely alludes to the cleansing power of Christ's blood and the purifying presence of the Holy Spirit, as seen in Hebrews 9:14, "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Justification by faith, a cornerstone of Protestant theology, finds its scriptural basis in Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
As the song progresses, the tone shifts from personal testimony to a declaration of Christ's sovereignty and the believer's active participation in His reign. "I rise as You are risen, Declare Your rule and reign, My life confess Your Lordship, And glorify Your Name" signifies a life fully surrendered to Christ's authority. This commitment is a response to the transformative grace received, moving from passive reception to active proclamation, a sentiment captured in Philippians 2:10-11: "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." The enduring nature of God's Word and Kingdom is celebrated in the lines, "Your Word it stands eternal, Your Kingdom knows no end." This resonates with Isaiah 40:8, which states, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." The final verses powerfully affirm God's unassailable power and singular glory, asserting that "No power can stand against You, No curse assault Your throne, No one can steal Your glory, For it is Yours alone." This absolute authority is the very essence of God's majesty as described in Psalm 97:9: "For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods." The song concludes with an unwavering resolve to praise and testify, born from the profound realization of being "dead in my sin, But now I rise." "Beneath The Waters (I Will Rise)" is thus an inspiring and biblically rich declaration of the Christian faith, moving from the profound moment of redemption to a life lived in confident assertion of Christ's victory and everlasting reign.