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Question #225

I disagree with you about Song #577.

I notice that in your readers comments section you have posted only comments that agree with you and your philosophy. I wonder if you have any comments that disagree with your comments. Perhaps I am the only one who disagrees. For example: We Bow Down By Twila Paris. I see this song as a way of acknowledging the Lord in our own lives. Yes, He is King of all kings and Lord of all lords, but this song is making the declaration of those facts in ones personal life. Everyone will bow down upon Jesus’ return, but this song acknowledges that the singer is bowing down now…and upon bowing down, King of all kings you will be (in my life). I do not believe that the lyrics suggest that Jesus isn’t already King of all kings. They are suggesting that the one bowing down is simply making these facts a part their personal life. The Bible teaches that Jesus is all that this songs states, but it also implies that many will not bow down and acknowledge Christ as king until they are forced to. By singing this song you are saying "You will be…"all of these things in my life now.”

The Answer:

About the only thing ThyWordIsTruth tries to correct prior to publication is spelling and grammar. If you have read much of the website you realize that that effort often falls short even in items that originate here as opposed to questions. Rest assured that comments that disagree are in fact published. In fact, if you want to read some that hotly disagree, just go to the Questions and Answers section and read some of the questions. If you are looking for the company of others who disagree you will find them there. One of the big differences between your question and some (thankfully only a few), is that you, like the majority of those who disagree, do so with disagree without being disagreeable. Your disagreement is stated with sincerity and kindness.

However, there is still disagreement, so let’s look at it. First, it is suggested that how you and I may “feel” about the song is not the standard by which we should reach a conclusion as to its meaning. If you can have your feeling and I can have mind then we are approaching, if we have not fully arrived at, subjective truth – you have your truth and I have mine. The question is “What does the song say?” Comparing your explanation of your “feeling” with the words of the song demonstrates that your “feeling” or explanation is not supported by the words of the song. The only exception to that statement relates to “we bow down.” No one questions the propriety of bowing down before the Lord. What is questioned is the assertion that we “crown [him] the King.” Your explanation is that we crown him Lord of our life and that is what the song means even though that is not what it says. Assuming that that is correct, do we really crown him as King of our lives. IT IS SUBMITTED THAT MAN HAS NEVER CROWNED JESUS AND CAN NEVER CROWN JESUS AS KING OF HIS LIFE OR OF ANYTHING ELSE. True, man placed a crown of thorns upon Jesus’ head, but it was not to make him king of anything but to mock him for having said that he was a king. If the worshipper accepts the words of the song he will in fact accept the fact that man crowns Jesus king. Furthermore, the song does not say that Christ NOW becomes king of my life – It says “King of all kings you WILL [future tense] be. That is what the song says. If Christ has not been the king of your life before you crown him then certainly he is not King of all people, much less king of all kings. In fact, your explanation admits as much – “Everyone will [future tense] bow down upon Jesus’ return, but this song acknowledges that the singer is bowing down now…and upon bowing down, King of all kings you will be (in my life).” (Comment and emphasis added.) Christ is King of all whether they bow before him or not.

Assuming that that error could be avoided by an explanation that man is not really crowning Jesus as king, but is merely acknowledging that God has made Christ King, have you ever heard the song preceded by a statement that the song does not really mean what it says followed by a statement of what it really means? Probably not. Most likely certainly not. Most worshippers may thoughtlessly assume that there is nothing wrong with the song – they just assume that the one entrusted with leading worship in song would not lead the song if it were not scriptural. The leader may have assumed that the song would not be in the book if it were not scriptural. The result is that nobody “vets” either this song or others that we sing. When either preaching or singing is treated so cavalierly, error can be easily introduced.

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God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)