Casting Crowns – The Power of the Cross

Starting as a student worship band, lyricist and youth pastor Mark Hall began what is now a 20+ year journey.

Casting Crowns released several albums and one EP, including:

• Casting Crowns (2001)
• What If the Whole World Prayed (2002)
• Casting Crowns (2003)
• Live from Atlanta (2004)
• Lifesong (2005)
• Lifesong Live (2006)
• The Altar and the Door (2007)
• Peace on Earth (2008)
• The Altar and the Door Live (2008)
• Until the Whole World Hears (2009)
• Until the Whole World Hears… Live (2010)
• Come to the Well (2011)
• The Acoustic Sessions: Volume One (2013)
• Thrive (2014)
• A Live Worship Experience (2015)
• Glorious Day: Hymns of Faith (2015)
• The Very Next Thing (2016)
• It’s Finally Christmas (EP, 2017)
• Only Jesus (2018)
• Voice of Truth: The Ultimate Collection (2019)
• New York Sessions (2019)
• Scars in Heaven (2021)
• Healer (2022)

Also, check out my reviews of Oh My Soul, Praise You In This Storm, Nobody, What This World Needs, and If We Are The Body.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

The main thrust of this song’s message describes Casting Crowns’ former life of lawbreaking transformed to their present life with Jesus.  They were once sorrowfully dead in their sin, but now they are joyfully alive in Christ, showing how much He loves them.  Grateful, they tell others about Jesus hoping that their recipients receive Him.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

This song completely aligns with Scripture.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

The past that held regret
Over my head is gone
These chains are ashes now
That once were rusted on
I was a runaway
Now I am finally home

This is explained more clearly in Verse 2.

[Verse 2]

My mind was a ghost town
Haunted by yesterday
Until Your hand reached down
Pulled me out of my grave
Into the freedom found
Only in Jesus’ Name

Contrasts Casting Crowns’ former slavery to sin, now made alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Chorus (1)]

I am forgiven
No longer lost
Now I am living
In the power of the Cross

Jesus’ sacrifice makes forgiveness of sins possible (Matthew 26:28, Act 2:38, Act 5:31, Act 10:43, Romans 4:7, Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:13-14, James 5:15, James 5:19-20, 1 John 2:1-2, and 1 John 2:12), enabling Casting Crowns to live like Jesus did (Matthew 5:16 and 1 Peter 2:12).

[Verse 3]

The Father gave His Son
So I could be set free

Essentially summarizes John 3:16.

And now the scales are gone
My eyes can finally see

Casting Crowns borrows from Paul’s experience in Acts 9:18, that there were once spiritually blind, but now they see (2 Kings 6:17, Luke 24:31, John 3:3, John 9:39, Acts 26:12-18, 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, and Ephesians 1:18).

I’ll tell the world of all
Jesus has done for me

Casting Crowns obeys the Great Commission, making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).

[Chorus (2)]

I am forgiven
No longer lost
Now I am living
In the power of the Cross

Repeats Chorus (1), lines 1-4.

Goodbye to sorrow
Welcome, my joy

Casting Crowns’ former life of sin brought fourth eternal death (Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Romans 6:23, Jude 1:7, and Revelation 14:11 ).  Now, they have inherited joy that comes with eternal life (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).

Now I am living
In the power of the Cross

Repeats Chorus (1), lines 3 and 4.

[Bridge]

And on that Cross, His love held true
Through sacrifice, the old made new

It was because Jesus loved Casting Crowns that compelled Him to the cross, amid their sins (Romans 5:6-8).  Also, see commentary on Verse 2.

This life I live, I live in faith
Now in Jesus’ Name

Casting Crowns trusts Jesus (1 Corinthians 16:13, 2 Corinthians 1:24, Ephesians 6:11, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:1, Colossians 1:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 6:11, Hebrews 10:23, and 1 Peter 5:9).

[Outro]

Thank You
Oh God, I thank You
Jesus, I thank You
Thank You for the Cross
Praise You
Oh God, I praise You
Jesus, I praise You
Praise You for the Cross

Casting Crowns shows gratitude for Jesus’ crucifixion (1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 7:17, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 35:18, Psalm 95:1-3, Psalm 100:4, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 118:1, Jeremiah 33:11, Jonah 2:9, 2 Corinthians 4:15, 2 Corinthians 9:11-12, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 3:15-17, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 1 Timothy 4:4-5, and Hebrews 12:28-29).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will easily see this song is Christian, given the number of times Casting Crowns mentions Jesus and the cross.  They will conclude that Casting Crowns found forgiveness in Jesus for their past errors, made possible by the power of the cross.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus that Casting Crowns tells other people about how Jesus changed them through the cross.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Casting Crowns’ The Power of the Cross is powerful.  They were once formerly sinners, destined for eternal separation from God for their lawbreaking.  Now, they are transformed, made alive in Christ because Jesus paid for their error.  They show gratitude by praising Him and telling others.  Unbelievers should have little to no issues interpreting it.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: The Power of the Cross (listen to the song)

Artist: Casting Crowns

Album: Healer

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2022

Duration: 4:03

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