CityAlight – Jesus Is Alive

Australian Contemporary Christian band CityAlight is a church-based worship band like Hillsong, Elevation Worship, and Bethel.  Based at St Paul’s Castle Hill, all songs undergo a rigorous review process to ensure Biblical accuracy.  Reviewers include musicians, pastors, and lyricists.

CityAlight released two albums and one EP:

• Yours Alone (2014)
• Only a Holy God (2016)
• Yet Not I (EP; 2018)

Also, check out my reviews of Ancient of Days, Only a Holy God, Christ is Mine Forevermore and Yet not I but through Christ in Me.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Cityalight-jesus-is-alive-lyrics.

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.  I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

This song offers hope that cannot be found in the world.  Namely, Christ, who paid for our lawbreaking and rose again, putting away death.  Those who are weary and heavy-laden may find rest in Jesus.  Those who are condemned and broken-hearted may find freedom from sin’s enslavement.  In response, we praise and worship Christ with dance and song.

Score: 10/10

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

This song reflects sound Biblical teaching.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-4: The hope that we have is that Jesus died for our lawbreaking (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) and rose again, defeating death (Matthew 28:1-20, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-29, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).  In response, CityAlight asks us to worship.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: An appeal to the lost to find rest in Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30), whose living water can satiate our thirsty souls (Jeremiah 17:13, Zechariah 14:8-9, John 4:7-26, John 7:37-39, Acts 2:1-13, Revelation 6:9-11, Revelation 7:13-17, Revelation 21:6-7, and Revelation 22:1-5).  CityAlight combines themes in Verse 1 with His authority as a ruling King (Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:10, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6, John 12:15, John 18:37, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, Revelation 17:14, and Revelation 19:11-16) and overcame the world (John 16:33).

[Chorus]

Lines 1 and 2: Though the sorrowful night is dark, the joy of the Lord is in the morning (Psalm 30:1-5).

Lines 3 and 4: See Verse 2, lines 3 and 4.

[Verse 3]

Lines 1 and 2: The same Jesus who does not condemn the adulterous woman (John 8:11) will not condemn us who trust in Him (Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8, and John 3:16-21), rendering sin and shame powerless.

Line 3: As prophesied in Isaiah 61:1 and, according to Jesus, fulfilled in Himself (Luke 4:16-21), Christ came to set us free from our slavery to sin, alive in Him (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

Line 4: See Verse 1, line 4.

[Bridge]

Lines 1-4: 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.  In these four lines, CityAlight declares that Jesus won the fight against death (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).  Through Him, we may also overcome (Romans 8:31-39).

Lines 5-12: Repeats lines 1-4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This song contains the oft-repeated Christian message of hope in Jesus, that He died for our sins and rose again.  It appeals specifically to them, that they should follow Jesus and find everlasting satisfaction that this world cannot offer.  Even the oft-misunderstood word “sin” is equated with “shame”, better explaining what Christians mean by it.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus as our conquering Savior and King.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

CityAlight’s Jesus Is Alive is wonderful.  It calls out to unbelievers, pleading with them to forsake their darkness and cling to Jesus, who offers them hope of forgiveness and everlasting life, unavailable in worldly pursuits.  This glorifies God.

I highly recommend it for corporate worship, especially in seeker-sensitive churches.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Jesus Is Alive (listen to the song)

Artist: CityAlight

EP: Yet Not I – EP

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 4:22

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

Updates:

06/18/2022 –  Changed Introduction from “Castle Church” to “Castle Hill”.