And Can it Be by Charles Wesley, 1738. (Part two).

Vs. 5:

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Observe: Yesterday, we considered Wesley’s amazement over God’s saving grace to effectually call a bride for his Son. In verses 2-4, he poetically describes Jesus’ obedience and, while we sing Wesley’s words, our hearts are lifted best by the inspired words of Scripture. Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. …he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5–8, ESV).

Jesus’ perfect obedience, from cradle to cross, earned a perfect righteousness that God, by his grace, can justly give to those who believe. The Father is just because the Son is the justifier (Romans 3:25). By his gift of faith alone, the Father credits the righteousness of the Son to sinners. This great exchange, our sin for his righteousness, is why Wesley writes, “No condemnation now I dread.” Jesus died for sin so we can die to sin and be “alive in Him, my living Head.”

Clothed now, in this alien righteousness, a righteousness that is not our own, we can boldly “approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown through Christ, my own.” Once again, we are, along with Charles Wesley, are moved to doxology.

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

In Christ, you can boldly approach the throne of grace and pray for all you need, and thank him for all he does. Hold this truth close today.

Pastor Don