Growing up in church we sang mostly hymns. What is a hymn? A dictionary definition is a religious song or poem of praise to God. Basically, it’s a song that we sang at church, accompanied by a piano or organ. Very much like we do today, slightly different. Looking back and remembering all the hymns I sang, there is a hymn, that today in my late 50’s, stands out as one of my favorites, is a hymn written by Charles Wesley, And can it be, that I should gain? It wasn’t a favorite back then. I don’t think I had a favorite hymn back then. Even way back then as a young boy, it seemed that hymns were out of date and “old-fashioned”. However, the interesting thing is how the words of these great songs seem to have been embedded in my mind. The gravity and weightiness of the words of these old hymns are beyond compare, like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” Proverbs 25:11 

Charles Wesley, often referred to as “the forgotten Wesley”, penned that song after his conversion. The interesting part about the hymn is that he thought he was born again before he was born again. Raised in a very religious home, he and his brother John Wesley (known as the founder of the Methodist Denomination), both were ordained in the Anglican church as ministers and truly felt as though they were born again because of the “holy things that they did” and the knowledge they had about God’s Word. Full of zeal, knowledge, and good works they both sailed over the ocean to be missionaries and convert the Indians in the colony of Georgia (America).  “In 1735 the brothers Wesley sailed with General Oglethorpe on his second expedition to Georgia, but even in this missionary service, the old doubts about their experience of salvation surfaced. Neither John nor Charles could find assurance that he was indeed the child of God by grace. They returned to England believing their lives and ministry had failed. John Wesley wrote of his experience in Georgia, “I went to America to convert the Indians; but, oh, who shall convert me?” Charles struggled with the thought that he needed to do more good things so that God would accept him, often doubting his eternal fate. However, in May of 1738, Charles Wesley was truly born again by grace through faith. Charles wrote the hymn, And can it be, that I should gain? to celebrate his new birth in Christ. Like the reformer Martin Luther before him, Charles came to understand through the Holy Spirit that salvation is by grace through faith, not of any good work man does.

Verse 5 of Wesley’s Hymn sums up the new life in Christ.

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.

Trying to work your way into heaven is a prideful, vain, and unworkable endeavor.

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’  Mathew 7:22-23

Trusting in Christ’s work alone (His sinless life, His death, burial, and resurrection) in faith alone answers the question, “Am I truly born again?”

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9

How exciting it is to be able to answer the question:
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
with and resounding and triumphal YES!!!

Rejoice in your salvation today! Rejoice that the Savior died for you!

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, shouldst die for me?
   • Refrain:
     Amazing love! How can it be,
     That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2. ’Tis myst’ry all: th’ Immortal dies:
   Who can explore His strange design?
   In vain the firstborn seraph tries
   To sound the depths of love divine.
   ’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
   Let angel minds inquire no more.
3. He left His Father’s throne above—
   So free, so infinite His grace—
   Emptied Himself of all but love,
   And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
   ’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
   For, O my God, it found out me!
4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
   Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
   Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray—
   I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
   My chains fell off, my heart was free,
   I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
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.