CCM Edition.

October 04, 2016. Today we’ll be taking a look at “One True God” by Steven Curtis Chapman which currently sits at #9 on the K-Love top 10 Songs.

It is such a pleasure to find a song on a top 10 CCM chart that we can place in the “Approved” category. This song does a great job of filling a void in current popular CCM radio, that being the clear declaration of the Deity of Jesus, God the Son. I wish the lyric addressed repentance and the forgiveness of sin, but I’m so grateful for the clear proclamation of Jesus as God that I just didn’t feel right leaving it in the “middle ground”. Let’s listen to the song and then work through its lyrics.

Official Lyric Video

Lyrics (via K-Love)

One voice in the dark
A song that lights up the stars
One breath that gives life

One sovereign in power
Who speaks with thunder and fire
One Lord, one King

There is no other that can compare to You

You are
The One alone in greatness
The One who never changes
Jesus, You are
The One who rose in power
The One who reigns forever
Jesus, the One true God

One man on a cross
One light of the world
One Name, one Word

One Way to be saved
One Lamb that was slain
One Love above all

There is no other that can compare to You

You are
The One alone in greatness
The One who never changes
Jesus, You are
The One who rose in power
The One who reigns forever
Jesus, You’re the One true God
You’re the One true God

We have seen the glory of
The One and only Son of God
Yes, we have seen the glory
The One and only Son of God

You’re the One true God
You are the One true God

Publishing: © 2015 Who You Say Music (BMI)/Be Essential Songs (BMI) (both admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) / WorshipTogether.com Songs (ASCAP) sixsteps Music (ASCAP) Said And Done Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) / Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com, excluding the UK which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C. Cook family. Songs@integritymusic.com). / Worship Together Music (BMI) sixsteps Songs (BMI) S.D.G. Publishing (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com)
Writer(s): Steven Curtis Chapman, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin

Discussion

It’s so wonderful to have a CCM song so clearly proclaim the Deity of Jesus.

John 1:1-18 (ESV) | The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as awitness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Forthe law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 14:8-9 (ESV)

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

This song is a great example of Praising the Name of Jesus. It does it so wonderfully and without a single instance of the phrase “sing Your praises”. So, without singing about singing His praises, the song simply sings His praises. I love that.

Now, normally what I’m looking for in the lyrics of these songs in determining its disposition (approved, disapproved, middle-ground) is a clear articulation of the Gospel. This one doesn’t quite reach that directly, though it does indirectly in the lines One Way to be saved, One Lamb that was slain. The missing element in this song is the call to repentance and the forgiveness of sin. The writers of this song all tend to push a revivalist (also known as Finneyism) version of the Gospel, one that relies on an act of human will to “invite Jesus into their hearts” or “make a decision for Jesus” or “dedicate your life to Jesus”… none of which is taught in Scripture. The particularly frustrating thing here is that given the synergism in their theology, since they treat repentance as an act of their will one might think it would be readily included in CCM. It isn’t. Sin is a dirty word in CCM. But if you aren’t willing to address sin, you cannot share the comfort of the Gospel, the forgiveness of sin by the Blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for you.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (ESV) | The Full Assurance of Faith

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The song does rightly proclaim Jesus as LORD and Savior. When we understand that He is the Word made flesh, we know that to see Him we look to His Word, not our own emotions or acts of the will. It is Christ who saves us, He draws us, He grants us saving Faith according to His Word. He who promised is faithful, indeed. Alleluia!

Conclusion

This is probably the best song on either of the CCM Top charts right now. I pray we see more songs clearly proclaiming Christ and Him crucified for our sin… the Gospel of forgiveness, mercy, and Grace. Preach the Word, call all men to repent and be forgiven in Jesus’ Name.

2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Amen.
In Christ Jesus,
Jorge