Chris Tomlin – Jesus Loves Me

It’s difficult to believe that famed Contemporary Christian artist Chris Tomlin started in 1993 (as opposed to, say, 1973).  Yet, in these last 27 years, Tomlin continues to be a staple in CCM music today.

He released fifteen albums, including:

• Inside Your Love (1995)
• Authentic (1998)
• Too Much Free Time (1998)
• The Noise We Make (2001)
• Not to Us (2002)
• Arriving (2004)
• See the Morning (2006)
• Hello Love (2008)
• And If Our God Is for Us… (2010)
• Burning Lights (2013)
• Love Ran Red (2014)
• Adore: Christmas Songs Of Worship (2015)
• Never Lose Sight (2016)
• Holy Roar (2018)
• Chris Tomlin & Friends (2020)

Also, check out Chris Tomlin’s Home, At The Cross (Love Ran Red), Our God, Wonderful Maker, and My Deliverer.

NOTE: Tomlin’s Jesus Loves Me is not the same as Anna Bartlett Warner’s Jesus Loves Me that many of us know and love.

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?

This song expresses Tomlin’s transformation from deadness in his lawbreaking to alive in Jesus.  He was once lost, held in bondage to sin, ashamed of his life.  Yet, Jesus died for him, showing how much He loves for Tomlin through sacrifice.  Tomlin cannot outrun Christ, embracing His warmth and surrendering his life to Him.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song is consistent with God’s inspired Word.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

I was lost
I was in chains
The world had a hold of me
My heart was a stone
I was covered in shame
When He came for me

Tomlin describes his condition before Jesus found him.  he was broken, dead in sin (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Proverbs 21:16, Luke 15:11-24, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13, and 1 Timothy 5:6).  He uses an example from Scripture, that his heart was hard as stone before Christ transforms it (Ezekiel 11:19 and Ezekiel 36:26).

[Pre-Chorus]

I couldn’t run, couldn’t run from His presence
I couldn’t run, couldn’t run from His arms

Tomlin cannot hide from God (Psalm 139:7-12).

[Chorus]

Jesus, He loves me, He loves me, He is for me
Jesus, how can it be, He loves me, He is for me

How does God love us?  Bridge tells us.

[Verse 2]

And it was a fire
Deep in my soul
I’ll never be the same
I stepped out of the dark
And into the light
When He called my name

Tomlin migrated from deadness in sin to alive in Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Bridge]

He holds the stars and He holds my heart

That is, the same God who rules over the universe (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11) is also sovereign over Tomlin’s heart.  This requires Tomlin to surrender (Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).

With healing hands that bear the scars
The rugged cross where He died for me

God shows He loves us by dying for our sins (John 3:16 and Romans 5:6-8).  He still retains the scar marks (John 20:27) whose hands heal Tomlin, transforming him from death to life (see Verse 2).

My only hope, my everything

There is no other name by which Tomlin can be saved then Jesus (Acts 4:12).

[Outro]

He loves me
He loves me
He loves me
He loves me
He is for me
He loves me
My God is amazing
Jesus loves me

Repeats a portion of Chorus, including a general “God is amazing” summary statement.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Tomlin makes his message clear to unbelievers.  His language uses minimal use of Christianese, opting to use everyday wording to express his Christianity.  Unbelievers should find interpretation easy to comprehend.  I cannot think of a single thing that could be reasonably misinterpreted.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as Tomlin’s Rescuer, Lord, and Ruler.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Chris Tomlin’s Jesus Loves Me is an excellent song.  It covers the basic principles of sanctification: admitting that we’ve done wrong by God, stuck in self-pity when left to our own devices, rescued by Christ, liberated from our lawbreaking, and surrendered to God as different people.  This brings glory to God.  Those who do not yet follow Jesus will find Tomlin’s message easy to understand.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Jesus Loves Me (listen to the song)

Artist: Chris Tomlin

Album: Love Ran Red

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2014

Duration: 3:31

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*Copyright © 2014 Hillsong Music Publishing (APRA) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) / Worship Together Music (BMI) sixsteps Songs (BMI) S.D.G. Publishing (BMI) Ariose Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

03/23/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.

12/01/2020 – I added “Adore: Christmas Songs Of Worship (2015)” as an album that Tomlin released prior to this review.