Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34 ESV)
I have a record, said a Wesleyan missionary laboring in the West Indies, of two hundred persons, young and old, who received the most direct evidence of the forgiveness of their sins while singing "Arise, My Soul." The conversion of the greater number of these persons took place while I was a missionary abroad.
Sankey, Ira David. My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns. Harper & Brothers, 1906. p. 115.
I first heard "Arise, My Soul, Arise" at church in Louisville, KY. It's a more upbeat tune with lyrics of significant depth--speaking the life we have in Christ, where the open line of the song calls our own souls to rise from the grave of spiritual death.
Notably, this hymn was originally written by Charles Wesley; the new melody here is from Indelible Grace, and performed by modern hymn singer/writer Matthew Smith. (His music is hecka awesome--you should totally listen to him!)
Arise, My Soul, Arise is surely a gospel-centered hymn, focusing on the atoning work of Jesus Christ: how His blood appears before the throne of God for us; how His redeeming love pleads for every person's salvation; how His nail pierced wounds pours effectual prayers for our forgiveness; how Christ's Spirit speaks to the Father for our new birth in Him; and how through God's Son we have no fear but confidence to call God our Abba Father!
What an uplifting hymn this is!
May it be a classic in our churches to be sung for years to come :).
(download)
1) Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
Arise, arise, arise
Arise, my soul, arise!
Arise, arise, arise
Arise, my soul, arise!
Shake off your guilty fears and rise!
2) He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
3) Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
Forgive him, O forgive, they cry,
Forgive him, O forgive, they cry,
Nor let that ransomed sinner die!
4) The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.
5) My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And Father, Abba, Father, cry.
