“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.“ Romans 5:9
When Stuart Townend and Keith Getty wrote that wonderful song, “In Christ Alone”, they included the line, “‘Til on the cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied. ” Don’t you love that hymn? Sadly, not everyone does, or at least not with that particular line.
In 2013, the Presbyterian Church (USA) wanted to include this song in their new hymnal, but they wanted to make a change. In place of “the wrath of God was satisfied” they wanted “the love of God was magnified”. It seems they objected to the very idea of God’s wrath having anything to do with the cross. As committee chair Mary Bringle said, “The view that the cross is primarily about God’s need to assuage God’s anger would have a negative effect on the hymnal’s ability to form the faith of coming generations.”
To their credit, Townend and Getty refused to allow the change on the grounds that it would gut the song’s message and distort the gospel. Speaking later of this incident Townend said, “We believe altering the lyrics would remove an essential part of the gospel story as explained throughout Scripture. The main thread of what we see revealed throughout the Old and New Testament is the need for man to be made right with God. The provided path toward reconciliation came through Christ’s predetermined and perfect sacrifice on the cross, satisfying God’s wrath once and for all.”
And aren’t you glad these men held fast to the truth of the Gospel rather than giving in to those who would soften it’s hard edges and so subvert the message concerning what Christ accomplished on the cross? What a great example of “contending for the faith once for all delivered to the saints!”
May we hold fast to the truth and never forget what Christ has done!
Pastor Scott