Tonight as I listened to the old hymn “Jesus Paid It All,” I was reminded of the depth of God’s love and the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice. The words of this song are not just poetry—they are truth grounded in Scripture. Each verse calls us to remember what Christ has done, how it transforms our lives, and how it offers hope to the entire world.
The Debt of Sin
The hymn begins:
“Gone is all my debt of sin,
A great change is wrought within,
And to live I now begin,
Risen from the fall.”
Every person stands guilty before God because of sin. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This is not a light burden—it is a debt that demands payment. Scripture tells us the cost: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Left on our own, we could only expect judgment.
But Christ did what we could not. Colossians 2:13–14 says, “And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
That is the hymn’s refrain: “And the debt, the debt is canceled, Jesus paid it, paid it all.” We do not stand before God as debtors anymore—we stand forgiven, free, and alive because of the cross.
A Life of Gratitude
The second verse shifts our attention from forgiveness to the new life it produces:
“Oh, I hope to please Him now,
Light of joy is on my brow,
As at His dear feet I bow,
Safe within His love.”
When we truly grasp the sacrifice of Jesus, our hearts are moved to gratitude. Forgiveness is not simply a “clean slate” so we can live however we choose. Instead, it is the beginning of a new life devoted to the One who rescued us.
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:14–15, “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.”
Living in gratitude means every choice we make is shaped by Christ’s love. Our words, our actions, and our priorities all reflect a heart that longs to please Him. As Romans 12:1 urges, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
The “light of joy” on the brow, as the hymn says, comes from knowing that we are safe in His love. We no longer live under condemnation—we live under grace (Romans 8:1). And that grace fuels a joyful life of obedience.
An Invitation for All
The third verse of the hymn broadens the focus outward:
“Sinner, not for me alone
Did the Son of God atone;
Your debt, too, He made His own,
On the cruel tree.”
The cross is not just my story—it is the story of the whole world. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient for all, though it must be accepted personally through faith and obedience. Hebrews 2:9 explains, “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”
But obedience to the gospel is not simply a matter of believing—it requires a response of repentance and baptism. On the day of Pentecost, when the people were convicted of their sin, they asked Peter and the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” Peter answered clearly in Acts 2:38: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Repentance means turning away from sin and turning toward God. Baptism is the point where our sins are washed away and we are united with Christ. Acts 22:16 records the words spoken to Saul of Tarsus: “And now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name.”
Paul explains the meaning of baptism in Romans 6:3–4: “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.”
The gospel is not meant to be kept to ourselves. If Jesus paid it all, then it is our joy to tell the world that through faith, repentance, and baptism, their debt too can be forgiven.
Remembering and Longing
The refrain brings us back again and again to the cross:
“Jesus died and paid it all, yes,
On the cross of Calvary, Oh
And my stony heart was melted
At His dying, dying call.”
The cross softens even the hardest heart. Ezekiel 36:26 foretold this transformation: “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” When we remember Calvary, we are moved to love, obedience, and hope.
The hymn also reminds us that Christ’s shame and suffering were not meaningless—they were endured for us: “Oh, His heart in shame was broken / On the tree for you and me.” Hebrews 12:2 urges us to keep our eyes on this truth: “Looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Remembering leads to longing. If Jesus gave everything for us, how can we not want to be with Him? Philippians 1:23–24 captures Paul’s own longing: “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on the flesh is more necessary for your sakes.” We live faithfully here, but our hearts long for the day when faith becomes sight and we are forever in His presence.
Conclusion
“Jesus Paid It All” is not just a song—it is a confession of faith, a reminder of grace, an invitation to the lost, and a call to live in gratitude. May we let its message sink deep into our hearts:
- Our debt is paid in full.
- Our lives belong to the Savior.
- Our mission is to share the good news.
- Our hope is to be with Him forever.
Truly, Jesus paid it all.
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The Simple Gospel 