THERE IS ONE GOSPEL[1]
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” [2]
This hymn is a glorious celebration of the good news of Jesus. The lyrics begin with personal enthusiasm for the gospel, “my highest joy and my deepest need.”
There is one gospel on which I stand for all eternity.
It is my story, my Father’s plan, the Son has rescued me.
Oh, what a gospel, oh, what a peace: my highest joy and my deepest need.
Now and forever, he is my light.
I stand in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Then the hymn takes us to the cross, “where justice and mercy meet,” changing our lives.
There is one gospel to which I cling, all else I count as loss.
For there, where justice and mercy meet, he saved me on the cross.
No more I boast in what I can bring, no more I carry the weight of sin.
For he has brought me from death to life.
I stand in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And, having articulated our journey from death to life, we sing with glorious confidence that the empty tomb of Jesus “still speaks” – a powerful reminder that the resurrection is not just a narrative for Easter Day, because “I, too, will rise.”
There is one gospel where hope is found, the empty tomb still speaks.
For death could not keep my Savior down, he lives and I am free.
Now on my Savior I fix my eyes, my life is his and his hope is mine.
For he has promised I, too, will rise.
I stand in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Finally, we consider how gospel truth unites the church as the Holy Spirit leads us home to eternal glory, where we will continue to sing with gratitude for all that Christ has done![3]
And in this gospel, the church is one; we do not walk alone.
We have his Spirit as we press on to lead us safely home.
And when in glory still I will sing of this old story that rescued me.
Praise to my Savior, the King of life.
I stand in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is One Gospel
Lord, because we share the one true gospel, lead us as the church to love one another, serve one another, live in harmony with one another, show hospitality to one another, care for one another, be kind to one another, submit to one another, bear one another’s burdens, comfort one another, encourage one another, exhort one another, confess to one another, forgive one another, and pray for one another. Amen.[4]
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
[1] Words and music: Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson. © 2022 CityAlight Music. The Sing! Hymnal, 2025, #471.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Ro 1:16–17.
[3] The Sing! Hymnal, 2025, p. 934.
[4] A prayer of Douglas Sean O’Donnell. The Sing! Hymnal, 2025, #472.
