And Can it Be by Charles Wesley, 1738.

Verse 1:

And can it be that I should gain
An int’ rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Refrain:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Observe: Wesley’s great hymn begins with a question every believer has pondered. “How is it then, that I should suddenly be interested in Christ?” Regardless of how, or even if, you remember your “ah-ha” moment of conversion, you do know that one day you became curious about the claim that Jesus “died he for me.”

Jesus explains why. Knowing his disciples, who had now dwindled to a handful, were grumbling, he asked them, “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe. …This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” (John 6:62–65, ESV).

On one side of the salvation coin, Jesus says it is exclusively the Father’s work that gives anyone “an int’ rest in the Savior’s blood.” But on the other side of that coin is this truth. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37). No one can come without the Father’s call, and all who the Father calls will come to the Son, and all who do are secured by Christ.

Wesley writes, “For me, who Him, to death pursued” to explain this paradox. Jesus effectually redeems all those whose names were written in his Book of Life, mentioned in Revelation 13:8, before time began (see also Re 3:5).

And, how can it be? It’s because God predetermined it to be. Why did “He, to death pursue me?” Because Jesus cannot and will not fail to secure the gift of the bride the Father had given him before the world was created. Wesley is overcome with doxology. “Amazing love! How can it be?  That Thou, my God, should die for me!”

Verses 2-4 plumb the fathomless depths of this divine love as much as words allow. But the most encouraging words are in vs. 5. We’ll look at those tomorrow.

Blessings,

Pastor Don