Verily, Verily
Words: James McGranahan (b. July 4, 1840; d. July 9, 1907)
Music: James McGranahan
Note: This lively and meaningful gospel song was first published in 1878.
(Stanza numbers in brackets below refer to the stanza number in The Cyber Hymnal. Find the link at the bottom of the article.)
Twenty-five times in John’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus is quoted as using the phrase “verily, verily” (KJV). It is intended to put special emphasis on the statement to follow, and is sometimes translated, “truly, truly” (NASB), or “I assure you most solemnly” (Amplified Bible), or “most assuredly, I say to you” (NKJV). Here are some examples of it’s use:
- “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:3; cf. Jn. 1:12-13).
- “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (Jn. 5:24).
- “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin [i.e. habitually practices sin, lives in sin] is a slave of sin” (Jn. 8:34).
- “Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM,” (Jn. 8:58; cf. Exod. 3:14).
- “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep” (Jn. 10:7).
- “Jesus answered him [boastful Peter], ‘Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times’” (Jn. 13:38).
The text on which Mr. McGranahan based his song is:
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
John 6:47
(1) Oh, what a Saviour that He died for me!
From condemnation He hath made me free;
“He that believeth on the Son,” saith He,
“Hath everlasting life.”
“Verily, verily, I say unto you;
Verily, verily,” message ever new!
“He that believeth on the Son” ’tis true!
“Hath everlasting life!”
Then, drawing from several other passages, the hymn writer drives home his point. “The Lord has laid on Him [Christ] the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6).
(2) All my iniquities on Him were laid,
All my indebtedness by Him was paid;
All who believe on Him, the Lord hath said,
“Hath everlasting life.”
When the Lord Jesus says, in John 6:37, “The one who comes to Me [i.e. in faith] I will by no means cast out,” He is using the strongest possible Greek negative. It means: not under any conditions, not under any circumstances. The Amplified Bible has: “The one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].”
And God does not save us because we are worthy; He saves us by His grace (His unmerited favour) in order to make us worthy of His eternal blessings (Eph. 2:8-9).
(4) Though all unworthy, yet I will not doubt;
For him that cometh He will not cast out:
“He that believeth,” oh, the good news shout!
“Hath everlasting life.”
Questions:
- What is the reason all are condemned by a holy God and eternally lost?
- On what is the “worthiness” of the child of God based?
Links:
- 4 July 1840 – James McGranahan Born
- Verily, Verily (The Cyber Hymnal)