Great perspective on what the line “Art of Celebration” means.If you spend time in Christian circles you may know that the word Gospel is trending right now. If you don’t hang in those circles let me tell you, the word Gospel is trending right now. Personally I’m glad about that but we do run the risk of forgetting that word’s significance. Gospel means good news. Christians claim to know the gospel (good news).
If you are a Christian or not you may not feel like Christianity has a whole lot of good news. Sometimes Christianity seems like a belief system that requires members to avoid lots of different activities. Christians must be people who are constantly checking their thoughts, intentions, and actions. Oh yeah, we get to go to heaven some day but right now we need to perform. I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sound like good news to me. Don’t get me wrong, the idea of heaven sounds better then hell, but even heaven seems so distant.
What if we let the definition of the word Gospel measure our belief systems a bit more? The reason the Bible uses the word gospel is because Jesus really did have good news for humanity. In fact the claim of Jesus was scandalously good news. The Gospel is a way to access hope and joy today and forever. Christians have complete freedom from sin and condemnation.
The Gospel isn’t just a get out of hell free card, it is a jump into freedom ticket. It is an invitation to live a life without the burden of condemnation and guilt. Christians, if they really understand Jesus, are the freest people possible. If you don’t believe me just read chapters 5-8 in Romans. Through Jesus, God opened a door to healing, hope, and contentment.
This song is a beautiful reminder of what makes Christianity really GOOD NEWS! I want to drill into my own head the truth of this song. That is why I’ve added this song to South’s song rotation. I could ramble on about the goodness of the Gospel but I’ll let the lyrics speak for themselves. I do encourage you to watch both the videos here. The second one in particular may give you a different perspective on Christianity.
Lyrics
By grace alone somehow I stand
Where even angels fear to tread
Invited by redeeming love
Before the throne of God above
He pulls me close with nail-scarred hands
Into His everlasting arms
When condemnation grips my heart
And Satan tempts me to despair
I hear the voice that scatters fear
The Great I Am the Lord is here
Oh praise the One who fights for me
And shields my soul eternally
Boldly I approach Your throne
Blameless now I’m running home
By Your blood I come
Welcomed as Your own
Into the arms of majesty
Behold the bright and risen Son
More beauty than this world has known
I’m face to face with Love Himself
His perfect spotless righteousness
A thousand years, a thousand tongues
Are not enough to sing His praiseBoldly I approach Your throne
Blameless now I’m running home
By Your blood I come
Welcomed as Your own
Into the arms of majesty
[x2]
This is the art of celebration
Knowing we’re free from condemnation
Oh praise the One, praise the One
Who made an end to all my sin
[x2]
Boldly I approach Your throne
Blameless now I’m running home
By Your blood I come
Welcomed as Your own
Into the arms of majesty
By REND COLLECTIVE
