Because He Lives

Words: Gloria Gaither (b. March 4, 1942)
Music: William James Gaither (b. March 28, 1936)

Note: The Cyber Hymnal has brief notes on Bill and Gloria Gaither, but none of their songs, at this point.

(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)

The word “because” is a conjunction that shows us the reason for something. For example: He was late for work because his car had a flat. Centuries ago, it was written “bi cause”–by this cause something is true, since this happened here is the result.

You’ll find the word “because” many times in the Word of God. Some are particularly relevant to Gloria Gaither’s theme. Before He when to Calvary, the Lord Jesus declared to His followers, “Because I live, you will live also” (Jn. 14:19).

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus;
He came to love, heal, and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives.

Because He lives I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

This theme is pursued relentlessly in the resurrection chapter, First Corinthians 15, where the Christian’s future resurrection is tied to that of the Lord Jesus. Says Paul, “If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (vs. 17). “But now Christ is risen from the dead” (vs. 20). And “since [or because] by man [Adam] came death, by Man [Christ] also came the resurrection of the dead” (vs. 21).

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that [because, since] while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Rom. 5:8

These are not truths discernible by human beings on their own. They are given to us by divine revelation, and illuminated to us by the Holy Spirit. “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (I Cor. 2:14).

When we’re saved, we experience a spiritual birth, and are indwelt by the Spirit of God. As those who belong to the family of God, we have a sense of our relationship to God, and a heart that’s in tune with His heart. “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Gal. 4:6).

As we walk in the Spirit, day by day, we grow and develop as Christians. As Paul says to the Thessalonian believers, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other” (II Thess. 1:3).

“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For [because] whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:28-29).

And we are also equipped for service, and called to serve the Lord. Paul’s testimony was, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (I Tim. 1:12).

All of that and more is made possible “because He lives”!

Questions:

1. What are a few of the things that would not be true today, if Christ were still in the grave?
2. What are some of the things that are certainties for the Christian, because Christ is risen?

Links:

• 4 March 1942 – Gloria Gaither Born
• William James Gaither (The Cyber Hymnal)
• Gloria Lee Sickal Gaither (The Cyber Hymnal)