Chris McClarney – Hallelujah For The Cross

Chris McClarney is an American Contemporary Christian artist.  He began his career in 2006 and released four albums and to EP’s, including:

• Love Never Fails (2008)
• Defender (2010)
• Everything and Nothing Less (Live; 2015)
• Breakthrough (Live; 2018)
• Fill This Place (Live) (EP, 2019)
• Café Sessions (Live, 2020)

He is currently a worship leader with Jesus Culture.

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?

McClarney’s song is a basic formulaic testimony.  He was separated from God.  Christ rescued him through the cross.  Now, he is made alive, praising God for His undeserved favor.

Score: 10/10

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

This song agrees with the doctrines and teachings of Scripture.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

I would be hopeless without Your goodness
I would be desperate without Your love
Slave to the darkness if it wasn’t for the cross

That is, McClarney would be a slave to sin (John 8:34, Romans 6:6, Romans 6:20-22, and 1 Corinthians 6:12) and eternally separated from God (Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43, Jude 1:7, Revelation 14:11, and Revelation 20:10) without Christ’s sacrifice (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

[Verse 2]

You have won me with Your kindness

God’s kindness outlined in Verse 1, line 3, leads McClarney to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Chased me down when I was lost

King David concluded in Psalm 139:7-12 that he cannot escape God. The same is true for McClarney.

Where would I be if it wasn’t for the cross?

Verse 1 answers this rhetorical question.

[Chorus]

Hallelujah, thank You, Jesus

The word ‘Hallelujah” is a compound Hebrew phrase, with “hallelu” meaning “a joyous praise in song” and “jah” or “yah”, which refers to the Tetragrammaton YHWH. Put together, we are singing “we joyfully praise God in song” when we use this word.

I was a prisoner, now I’m not

That is, a slave to sin.  See Verse 1.

With Your blood, You bought my freedom

See commentary on Verse 1.

Hallelujah for the cross

Repeats line 1.

[Verse 3]

All my shame was met with mercy

This is the “great exchange”, where Christ takes our sin and gives us His righteousness (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

Now Your mercy will be my song

McClarney responds to God’s grace with singing (1 Chronicles 16:25, 2 Samuel 22:4, Psalm 96:4-5, Psalm 145:3, and Revelation 4:11).

And oh, the glory, oh, the power of the cross

Christ glorifies the Father through His death (John 17:1-3).

[Bridge]

And by Your stripes, I’m healed

Quotes from part of Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24.

And by Your death, I live

See Verse 3, line 1.

The power of sin is overcome

The power of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  Death was overcome by Jesus (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Hebrews 2:14).  Therefore, this statement is true.

It is finished, it is done

Quoting from John 19:30, this comes from the Koine Greek word tetelestai, meaning “paid in full”.  This was a legal term that indicated a debt was rendered complete.  Christ paid the certificate of debt, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:14).

And by Your stripes, I’m healed
And by Your death, I live
The power of sin is overcome
It is finished, it is done
And by Your stripes, I’m healed
And by Your death, I live
The power of sin is overcome
It is finished, it is done
And by Your stripes, I’m healed
And by Your death, I live
The power of sin is overcome
It is finished…

Repeats/essentially repeats lines 1-4.

[Post-Chorus]

I thank You for the cross… Jesus
(Hallelujah for the cross)
And I thank You for the cross

Personalizes Chorus, line 4, showing gratitude to the Son of God for His incredible sacrifice.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

McClarney uses a healthy mix of Christianese and everyday language, choosing words and phrases that unbelievers will instantly recognize.  The words “cross”, “sin”, and “hallelujah” point firmly to Christianity.  Verse 1 speaks of “slave to the darkness” while Verse 3 says “shame”, explaining what McClarney means by “sin”.

The only phrase that unbelievers could find difficult to comprehend is “by Your stripes, I’m healed”.  Even then, I deeply suspect that its overuse in sermons and popular culture points those outside Christianity to Christ’s death.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that McClarney shows gratitude for God’s undeserved favor and the terrible price that God paid to redeem him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Chris McClarney’s Hallelujah For The Cross is a wonderful song.  It touches on the three most important aspects of a Christ-followers testimony: life before Jesus, the conversion, and life after Jesus.  McClarney was a wicked sinner who deserved hell, found Jesus through His mercy, and presently worships his Creator.  This glorifies God.  Unbelievers will find this concept easy to comprehend, even if it’s hard to receive.

I highly recommend it for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Hallelujah For The Cross (listen to the song)

Artist: Chris McClarney

Album: Breakthrough

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 5:33

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*Copyright © 2018 Jesus Culture Music (ASCAP) Meaux Jeaux Music (SESAC) Capitol CMG Genesis (ASCAP) Ariose Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.