Jesus Paid It All

Here is one final hymn to conclude my series on notation in 3/4 time.  Please play it as it is written.  In the chorus, the bagpipes articulate the name, Jesus, and proclaim that “Jesus paid it all.”  I love to let my bagpipes speak like that and they can “speak” with great feeling in those words, when one is marching in step with the music.

Some may wonder what is meant by "Jesus Paid it All." It was the sacrifice by Jesus, of His life for us personally, as payment to God for our sins that separate us from God.  Many believe that everyone is assured of going to Heaven as a result; that forgiveness is automatically given to everyone.  That is not exactly what the Scripture tells us.  Individuals have to ask forgiveness personally.  Doing good things is not the answer. We would never know when we did enough.  Newness in our life comes after forgiveness.

After our pastor spoke on the subject, I understood it was for individuals that Jesus gave His life.  It wasn't difficult to understand that everyone sins sometimes in his or her life and God is so Holy that sin is an affront to Him.  It actually separates a person from God.  The pastor told us that there was a time when people sacrificed various animals to God for the sake of asking forgiveness.  An animal or bird substituted for the life of the person asking forgiveness.  Offerings were acceptable to God as if they were offerings of their own lives, because it meant the giving of a life.  Sin is so serious that our own death is the price that should be paid to God for our sinfulness.

God, in His great love, provided an even better Sacrifice for us than animals, in the person of Jesus His Son.  He was both man and God.  He took our place, paying the price for the sins of men and women of that time and even before and after that time because He was God.  He died for you and for me, but we have to acknowledge that He died in our place and thank Him for this wonderful gift.  The gift is the forgiveness of our sins and union with Him in fellowship.  It is a fellowship with the Father and the Son.  Because we have faith that our sins have been forgiven, we are able to enjoy a personal relationship with God. We can come to God any time and He will listen to us.  No longer will our sins cause God's face to be hidden from us.  We have the promise of eternal life besides.

The Bible tells us in 1 John 11:4, 5 that it is recorded that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son.  He that has the Son has life and he that doesn't have the Son of God, does not have life.  In other words, the promise of eternal life is assured to those who have accepted Jesus' gift of having paid for their unworthiness.  "Jesus Paid it All."

I hear the Saviour say, thy strength indeed is small,

Child of weakness, watch and pray; find in Me thine all in all.

For nothing good have I where-by Thy grace to claim;

I'll wash my garments white in the blood of Calvary's Lamb,

And when, before the throne, I stand in Him complete,

Jesus died my soul to save, My lips shall still repeat,

"Jesus paid it all."  All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow.

If you would like a clearer copy of the music, you may order "Wondrous Love," Vol. 7 of The Church Piper from Henderson's Imports Ltd. in Michigan.