Worship Matters

This past May I had the joy of leading the singing at the Next conference in Baltimore, MD, along with three different bands. One of them was Zelos, led by Judah Groveman. We introduced one of Judah’s songs, By This We Know Love. It’s a simple ballad that communicates the profound truth of 1 John 3:16: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us.” Here are the lyrics:

God of all Creation, Lord of heaven’s light
Descended into evil’s darkest night
Infinitely Holy, Your perfections know no end
Selflessly You died my rightful death

By this we know love that He laid down His life
God’s very own Son came from Heaven to die
Suspended He hung as He shed His own blood
What grace in His pardon, by this we know love

Forsaken man of sorrows, hated by all men
You willingly surrendered for my sin
Scornfully derided, yet in silence stumbling on
Bearing wrath for all that I’ve done wrong
© 2009 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)

We sang the song twice, once with a string section and once with a choir. This version is from the session with the choir.

By This We Know Love is one of the 13 songs on the Next Live 2009 digital download album that also includes All I Have is Christ and God Over All, by the Na Band. You can get it for only 5 bucks from the Sovereign Grace store. Check it out.