Travis Cottrell - I Will Sing of My Redeemer - You Set Me Free Lyrics
Lyrics
I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered, From the curse to set me free.
Chorus
Sing, oh sing, of my Redeemer,
With His blood, He purchased me.
On the cross, He sealed my pardon, Paid the debt, and made me free.
I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In His boundless love and mercy, He the ransom freely gave.
(REPEAT CHORUS)
RESPONSE
You set me free
My ransomed soul free
The darkness is over
Beholding I see a living Redeemer
Love healing me
Forever forgiven
This love song I bring
You set me free
I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant power I'll tell,
How the victory He giveth
Over sin, and death, and hell.
Chorus
(RESPONSE 2x)
Video
I Will Sing of My Redeemer / With You Set Me Free (Live)
Meaning & Inspiration
Travis Cottrell’s stirring rendition of "I Will Sing of My Redeemer - You Set Me Free," released on June 27, 2018, is far more than a simple musical offering; it stands as a profound declaration of faith and an anthem of liberation. This powerful recording masterfully combines the timeless hymn "I Will Sing of My Redeemer" by Philip P. Bliss with a contemporary, deeply personal response crafted by Cottrell himself, "You Set Me Free." The genius of this arrangement lies in its ability to bridge generations of worship, allowing a classic statement of biblical truth to culminate in an intimate, modern testimonial. At its core, the song celebrates the boundless love of God demonstrated through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, proclaiming the freedom and new life found in His redemptive work. It’s a call to remember, reflect, and rejoice in the foundational truths of Christian faith, compelling individuals to actively participate in the story of salvation through praise.
The initial verses of "I Will Sing of My Redeemer" immediately anchor the message in the sacrificial act of Christ. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the suffering endured on the "cruel cross" not as an end, but as the means by which humanity is delivered "from the curse to set me free." This echoes the powerful declaration in Galatians 3:13, which states, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us." It brings into sharp focus the divine exchange where perfect innocence bore the weight of human sin, all out of a love so profound that, as Romans 5:8 reminds us, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This opening serves not just as a historical recounting but as an invitation to grasp the personal significance of that ancient event.
The chorus, a fervent cry to "Sing, oh sing, of my Redeemer," solidifies the depth of Christ's work, emphasizing that "With His blood, He purchased me." This language directly references the biblical concept of redemption, where a price is paid to liberate. First Peter 1:18-19 beautifully articulates this, explaining that believers "were redeemed... not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." The song further declares, "On the cross, He sealed my pardon, Paid the debt, and made me free." This speaks to the complete forgiveness offered through Christ, canceling the record of debt that stood against us, as described in Colossians 2:13-14: "He canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." Every phrase in this chorus is a theological cornerstone, underscoring the absolute efficacy and finality of Christ's work on Calvary.
The hymn then progresses to "tell the wondrous story, How my lost estate to save, In His boundless love and mercy, He the ransom freely gave." This segment magnifies the divine initiative in salvation, highlighting God’s immeasurable love as the driving force behind His Son’s sacrifice. It’s a direct allusion to the foundational truth of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son," and Mark 10:45, where Jesus himself stated, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." The narrative is not just about human rescue but about the extraordinary, unmerited grace of a loving God. The final verses of the original hymn proclaim praise for "His triumphant power," telling "How the victory He giveth Over sin, and death, and hell." This culminates in a celebration of Christ’s ultimate triumph, echoing the victorious shouts of 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, which declares death swallowed up in victory, and Hebrews 2:14-15, where Christ destroyed him who held the power of death and freed those enslaved by its fear.
Following this powerful exposition of Christ's redemptive work, Cottrell's modern "Response," "You Set Me Free," dramatically shifts the perspective from a grand, historical narrative to an intensely personal testament. The repeated affirmation, "You set me free, My ransomed soul free," is a direct, experiential echo of Jesus’s promise in John 8:36: "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." This is not merely an intellectual assent to doctrine but a joyous proclamation of a lived reality. The lines "The darkness is over, Beholding I see a living Redeemer" speak of a spiritual awakening, a transition from blindness to sight, a profound understanding that the grave could not hold Him. This mirrors the transformation described in 2 Corinthians 4:6, where God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, made His light shine in our hearts, coupled with the Revelation 1:18 declaration of Jesus: "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!" This move from darkness to light and the beholding of a "living Redeemer" transforms faith into tangible encounter.
The personal narrative deepens with "Love healing me, Forever forgiven." This speaks to the holistic transformation that salvation brings, touching both emotional and spiritual wounds. It's a testament to the comprehensive grace of God, who, as Psalm 103:2-3 reminds us, "forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases." The assurance of being "forever forgiven" speaks to the permanence of Christ's pardon, a truth celebrated in Ephesians 1:7: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." The song then resolves into a simple, profound act of worship: "This love song I bring." This phrase beautifully encapsulates the very essence of human response to divine grace—a spontaneous, grateful offering of praise from a heart made new, fulfilling the call to continually offer "a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name" as urged in Hebrews 13:15. This combined work stands as a deeply impactful worship piece, designed to ignite a spirit of joyful adoration and unwavering gratitude in all who engage with its timeless, life-giving message.