Photo by Robert Eklund
Worship leader and Contemporary Christian artist Cody Carnes is well known as the husband of artist Kari Jobe and for his song The Cross Has the Final Word. He released EP’s The Lighter Side in 2009 and All He Says I Am in 2014 before starting his solo career. He released The Darker the Night The Brighter the Morning in 2017 and Run To The Father a few weeks ago.
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?
I get what Carnes attempts with this songâs title. The cross is where Christ paid the penalty for our lawbreaking and for some, the cross represents the culmination of Jesusâ death, burial, and resurrection; However, the cross is useless without the resurrection. If the cross was the final word, then Jesus becomes another dead Jew with nothing of value to offer for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). The cross does not have the final word. The empty tomb has the final word.
If the cross has the final word, then ânothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing greater, than the Name of Jesusâ would be false. Death would be strong, higher, and greater than Christ! We would have no reason to say âAll the honour, all the power, all the glory to the Name of Jesusâ. These things are true only of Jesus conquered the grave. There could be an argument made that the second coming of Christ has the final word, where death is permanently defeated (Revelation 20:14); However, the cross does not have the final word. The empty tomb has the final word.
Side Note: To those who are sensitive to massive repetition, the song’s title appears 18 times throughout this song, between six repeats of Chorus.
Score: 4/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
As mentioned in section 1, the songâs false title contradicts any otherwise Biblical statements contained within this song.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Chorus 1]
The cross has the final word
As mentioned in section 1, it is the empty tomb of Jesus that has the final word, not the cross (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, and John 20:1-10). If the cross had the final word, then Jesus did not rise from the dead. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then Christianity is history. Our faith is useless! We are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).
The cross has the final word
Repeats line 1.
Sorrow may come in the darkest night
If the cross has the final word, then we still have sorrow and must look elsewhere to remedy it.
But the cross has the final word
Essentially repeats line 1.
[Chorus 2]
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Repeats Chorus 1, line 1.
Evil may put up its strongest fight
Evil wins if the cross has the final word. It is only Christâs resurrection that defeats deathâs sting (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
But the cross has the final word
Essentially repeats Chorus 1, line 1.
[Chorus 3]
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Repeats Chorus 1, line 1.
The Saviour has come with the morning light
The Savior is nothing more but another false messiah if the cross has the final word. It is only through His death that subsides Godâs anger and His resurrection by which the joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).
The cross has the final word
Repeats Chorus 1, line 1.
[Chorus 4]
The cross has the final word
The cross has the final word
Repeats Chorus 1, line 1.
He traded death for eternal life
This âgreat exchangeâ is only true is Christ resurrected (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The cross has the final word
Repeats Chorus 1, line 1.
[Bridge]
There’s nothing stronger, nothing higher
Nothing greater, than the Name of Jesus
All the honour, all the power
All the glory to the Name of Jesus
If the cross has the final word, then death is stronger, higher, and greater than Jesus. We are still left dead in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). What reason would we have to give Jesus honor? He is powerless against the grave if He did not resurrect. The empty tomb has the final word, not the cross.
There’s nothing stronger, nothing higher
Nothing greater, than the Name of Jesus
All the honour, all the power
All the glory to the Name of Jesus
Repeats lines 1-4.
Score: 4/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
They will miss the connection between the cross and the resurrection of Christ with this message. Yes, the cross is the symbol of hope for Christians as unbelievers will understand it; However, if the cross has the final word, it is a false hope. It will communicate a wrong message to those who do not yet know Him.
Score: 0/10
4. What does this song glorify?
Given what I’ve stated earlier, it becomes obvious that this song does not glorify God.
Score: 0/10
Closing Comments
I understand what Cody Carnes attempted with The Cross Has the Final Word. He wrestled with fear, focusing on the sacrificial love of Christ on the cross. What he forgot is that if the cross had the final word, and not the empty tomb, then he is preaching a false Gospel. I have no ill will towards Carnes and I donât believe he is a false preacher; However, his intended message greatly misfires when the cross is disconnected from the resurrection by saying it has the final word, compromising his entire message.
I cannot recommend this for corporate worship.
Final Score: 2.5/10
Artist Info
Track: The Cross Has the Final Word (listen to the song)
Artist: Cody Carnes
Album: The Darker The Night / The Brighter The Morning
Genre: Rock
Release Year: 2017
Duration: 4:14
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright Š 2017 Writers Roof Publishing (BMI) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
11/02/2021 – Added an EP to Carnes’ release list.
03/23/2021 â Updated per repetition announcement. I moved my commentary on repetition to a side note and slightly raised section 1’s score, increasing my overall rating from 2/10 to 2.5/10.
04/19/2020 – Commenter Jen helped me with my gender confusion, reminding me that Cody is Kari’s husband and not her wife as I originally and erroneously stated.
Comments
menofvalorscc
Is not the cross the symbol of our entire faith? Should we remove it from our churches and replace it with an empty tomb?
I totally understand the literalism used in this review and for agree with most of your reviews. There is a reason I continue to visit this site. (I am probably more challenged to wrestle with my faith on the lyrics we disagree on.)
However, to me, the song’s inclusion of Jesus arising in the morning light, his trading death for eternal life and the power of his name tie together the entire Gospel which for 2000 years has been signified by a cross.
David Brancecum
all good comments I see the problems. But we do focus on the the cross. think about this. it was His sacrifice on the cross that saved us. So nothing but the blood would be blasphemy according to this article. When Jesus Died he said his death “finished” it. So Saying Final word yes. An educated believer knows he is alive. But the Cross was God speaking “final word, final solution to the insufficiency of the blood sacrifice in the temple. His Blood was once and for all. So lets not forget, His death on the Cross was the whole point of the old covenant blood sacrifice, the Passover death angel, the blood on the doorway. HIS death on the cross DID save us. Just as Passover foreshadowed the blood saved the Israelites. We are washed in the blood of the lamb.
We are washed by the blood. Even Jesus focuses on the Blood and body at the last super. He does not say do his to remember my resurrection, he said do this to remember the cross and what I will do for humanity.
Resurrection did not save us per se, it Proved His power, and showed us death had no power over us. the empty tomb was proof of His Authority over death to us, the witnesses and others without which we would not have paul, the upper room and the explosion of Christianity.
Peace.
Rick Mauderer
If you wanted to get right down to it, our hymnals would be pretty thin if we removed every one that is picked apart for their theology!
Vince Wright
Rick Mauderer,
Thank you for your comment!
I went to my Song Review Index page and sorted by genre to find out how many Hymn’s I reviewed. As of this comment, I reviewed 37 songs that are tagged with the genre “Hymn”. Of them, only two of them were shown to be unbiblical. Namely, The Battle Hymn of the Republic and Bringing In the Sheaves. The other 35 (which includes Jesus Loves Me, Amazing Grace, and It Is Well With My Soul) received passing to glowing reviews.
I’m not sure why you believe “our hymnals would be pretty thin” by examining hymnals for their theology, but it’s not based on my reviews.
-Vince Wright
Rick Mauderer
Your alleged “Berean Test” is arrogantly off. Yes, without the empty tomb, the crucifixion means little. However, Colossians 2:13-15 is still in the Bible: “having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15Â And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” It does not say triumphing over them by the empty tomb. The song is a great song, and I will continue to use it in my worship sets at church. The cross did have the final word. It declares that we are forgiven. The condemnation that many feel from the world’s disastrous impact upon them, leaving them with shame and condemnation can be done away with through the cross. Thank you Jesus for the empty tomb. And thank you that the cross you died on, and where you spilled your precious blood, does indeed proclaim forgiveness, and ultimate victory over the darkness of the world – making a public spectacle of the satan, all of His demons, and all of our sin. And as the ESV puts it, “…put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”
I have a personal policy that I always rebuke in private and praise in public. This is an exception in that this was a public post, so I am responding to it. This post should never have happened in a public forum. I used to work with Cody and Kari at Gateway both before and after they were married. He has a good heart as does his wife Kari. Kari’s dad – Mark – is also a pastor there. They are scripturally sound – trust me!
If there was no cross, there is no tomb! All academics aside for a moment…Many people struggle with the satanic lie that their sin is too big to be forgiven. Yet, Col. 2 says they were all triumphed over – at the cross. God used Cody to write this song that brings comfort to those people. Proverbs says a wise man has healing in his words. I think that might be a better goal for a site than to use it to publicly criticize. Where is the healing in that?? Anyone who knows their theology knows you can’t have one without the other. Paul says in Philippians. “I want to know Christâyes, to know the power of his resurrection AND participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” His sufferings happened both before AND ON the cross. Jesus didn’t say if we want to follow after Him to take up His Resurrection and follow Him, He said to take up our CROSS.
If you personally confront an error with a person, and they don’t give an explanation or repent, THEN bring some other witnesses. If they still persist, THEN go public. It is my view that this site itself does not pass the Berean test. (Even though the Bereans never had a “test” per se, they simply went home and examined if Paul’s words were truly scriptural…).
Neal Cruco
Rick,
You typed a lot of words in that comment, but what you didn’t type is anything that refutes Vince’s argument against this song. Colossians 2:13-15 speaks of how Jesus took away our sin debt through His work on the cross. It does not contradict 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, on which Vince bases his argument. If the cross had the final word – if Jesus’ story ended there – then all of Christianity falls and shatters at the grave of yet another charismatic preacher who got himself killed. We are pitiful beings with no hope and no remedy for our sin problem.
Thank God, Jesus’ story did not end there! The cross did not have the final word! Jesus’ death gave us forgiveness, but His resurrection gave us eternal life! Without the empty tomb, Christianity has no more value than any other religion on earth, and we worship a God who is either a liar or a sham. That is why the saying “the cross has the final word” is so fatally flawed.
“But tell me thisâsince we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about Godâfor we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that canât be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” – 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
I cannot know your heart, but I will theorize that you saw a highly critical review of a song written by an artist you love, and you took it as a personal attack on Carnes. It is not. As Vince wrote, “I have no ill will towards Carnes and I donât believe he is a false preacher; However, his intended message greatly misfires when the cross is disconnected from the resurrection by saying it has the final word, compromising his entire message.”
Vince Wright
Rick Mauderer,
Thank you for your comments!
First, arrogance defined by Merriam-Webster is “an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions”. Nowhere in this review have I claimed superiority nor have I been presumptuous in my claims or assumptions. I examined the lyrics and compared them to Scripture, concluding that the empty tomb has the final word and not the cross. If you have a disagreement that’s fine, but to call my review “arrogant” is incorrect.
Second, some of Colossians 2:15’s translations indeed say “triumphing over them by the cross” (or similar); however, other translate it as “having triumphed over them through Him” (or similar). Do you see how the object is different in each translation? Is it through the cross or through Jesus? I went back to the Koine Greek to see what it had to say. The Koine Greek word used here is “autos” which means “self”, used as a personal pronoun (he, she it, etc.), or “the same”. I’m not sure why some translators concluded that it meant “the cross”, but it doesn’t seem to bear out from the Greek.
Third, while Cody and Kari may be scripturally sound in their theology and it sounds like you have a good relationship with them personally, that doesn’t mean the song is right.
Fourth, yes it’s true that without the cross, there would be no resurrection and that some believe their sins are too big to be forgiven; However, that doesn’t mean that the cross has the final word (as opposed to the empty tomb).
Fifth, you are correct in saying that His suffering happened before and ON the cross, as do we suffer when we daily carry our cross. But, just like Christ, death is not the final word for us. There will be a glorious day, when Christ returns (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, and Revelation 16:15) and we will experience the final resurrection (Luke 20:34-38, Acts 24:15-16, Romans 6:1-5, Romans 8:11-13, 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 1 Corinthians 15:50-56, 2 Corinthians 4:13-14, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Yet, none of this tells us that the cross had the “final word”.
Sixth, I don’t understand your last paragraph and its relevance to this review. The three-fold process you described comes from Matthew 18:15-18, which is about church discipline. It’s a process used to correct sinful behavior. Am I sinning?
Seventh, to judge the entire site by stating “it is my view that this site itself does not pass the Berean test” may be committing a logical fallacy called hasty generalization. I’m not sure how many reviews you’ve examined and disagree with, but disagreeing with a single review is not a good sample size to declare that “this site itself does not pass the Berean test”.
Finally, You’re entitled to your opinion about the site and this review, and I appreciate your attempts to correct me, but my mind remains unchanged.
-Vince Wright
Albireo
The fact that Jesus rose from the grave speaks to his all powerful nature. He who created the universe and fashioned every single atom and quark contained therein, can certainly raise life from the dead. However, the fact that Jesus gave up his life on the Cross speaks to his all loving nature. As a Christian, my focus needs to be on The Cross, this is where I am sanctified daily by the Blood of the Lamb. His Love is what gets me thru this life and gives me joy and his Sacrifice is what guarantees my salvation. I fear that the worst evil of modern Christianity is the de-emphasis of the Cross. If we don’t live each and every day at the Cross, we are not being nourished spiritually. We celebrate in His Resurrection but we are fed at His Cross. Take notice how Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was resurrected. Notice the scars and holes in his body that came about at The Cross. We represent the nails and the spear; yet he calls us to believe in Him despite our wickedness. Think about this the next time you listen to this song and I think you will see a clearer picture. The Cross does have the Final Word. It represents Jesus’ submission to The Father. Resurrection from the dead happened all throughout the Bible and will happen in the future (look at the Old Testament, look at the New Testament). The Son giving up his perfect life to redeem a dying world only happened ONCE. And it split time, it transcends time, and it points to a beautiful time to come.
Danilo KĂśrber
Please don’t get me wrong. I agree with the review, but you always repeat that the cross does not have the final word. The empty tomb has the final word. I completely understand what you mean, but in another review (Flawless, by MerciMe) you don’t criticise the “the cross has made you flawless”. Isn’t the empty tomb that made us flawless? Or is the fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sind that makes us flawless? But the death of Christ doesn’t wash my sins, the resurrection does…
racefangurl
Actually the cross gave us forgiveness and the resurrection gave eternal life. An old pastor said it that way at least.
Vince Wright
racefangurl,
Thanks! I couldn’t have said it better myself! đ
-Vince Wright
racefangurl
Thank my old pastor. I call him that because he’s a previous pastor at the church I attend, actually he was there when I first became a regular at said church.
Ted
I misheard the lyrics for this song. I thought the chorus sings “the cross has defined worth”
Annette Martin
Thank you for this review! My husband and I always shake our heads re this song–that it was written, and that our large church sings it so much.
Vince Wright
Annette,
Thank you for your compliment! I have the same problem.
-Vince Wright
Jen
“Cody Carnes is well known as the wife of artist Kari Jobe” — I think you meant husband!
Vince Wright
Jen,
Thank you for helping me with my gender confusion! I updated it.
-Vince Wright
Steve Johnston
While I understand your main point about the resurrection, I don’t think we can overlook the implications of the cross and Christ’s death. Jesus Himself said upon the cross, “It is Finished.” The resurrection was the inevitable consequence of Christ overcoming sin and death when He died as the spotless Lamb on the cross. His battle to surrender His will to the Father’s will was displayed in the garden leading up to His death, and when He atoned for the sin of all mankind, He won our victory. The death of Christ was anything but another false messiah who was put to death. The victory was WON at the cross, and it was FULLY REALIZED at the resurrection. An analogy I often use is when a team wins the Super Bowl. They win when they are ahead when time runs out, but get the trophy at the trophy ceremony. If they win the game, they WILL get the trophy. The resurrection demonstrated that Christ WON at the cross, it was not another battle He had to overcome.
Brendan Hegarty
^This! ^
Vince Wright
Steve,
Thank you for your thoughtful challenge!
We know that the resurrection is inevitable because Jesus prophecied it several times to His disciples. Of course, they didn’t understand it until after the fact. My point is that if the cross had the final word, then this would have become a false prophecy. The promised trophy would have not come to pass. The winning team would have no evidence that they won the super bowl (on second thought, the analogy starts to break down at this point). As it says twice in 1 Corinthians 15:13-19: “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless”. I would not be a Christian if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead!
Also, the literal rendering of Tetelestai is “paid in full”, not “it is finished”. It is a legal word that shows up in the backs of 1st-century legal documents indicating that a debt has been fully paid. We also see this legal terminology in Colossians 2:14, where the certificate of debt was nailed to the cross. This passage is qualified, as I explained to Brendan in my response to him, in Colossians 2:12.
The cross is an important event and is the symbol of our faith. There would be no Gospel to preach if Jesus did not die for our sins. But, it also requires the resurrection. I still maintain that the resurrection ultimately has the final word, not the cross.
-Vince Wright
Brendan
Thank you for your thoughtful reviews. Your research and thoughtful explanations are very encouraging and challenging to me as a pastor who plans music for my congregation every week.
I’d love for you to consider a few things on this song:
1) Could the statement, “The Cross has the Final Word” be more specific as in it is the final, once and for all sacrifice for sin? (Hebrews 10, especially v10,12,14 “sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”
2)There are several times in the scriptures where the writer makes statements about the cross with a sense of finality with out the need to qualify the resurrection.
– Hebrews 10 – the sacrifice itself, His DEATH, is “once for all” and “has perfected for all time those”
– Colossians 1:20-23 – Jesus “reconciles all things” and “makes peace”…How? “by the blood of the CROSS” and “by His DEATH.”
– Colossians 2:13-15 – “…having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the CROSS.”
– Galatians 6:12-15 – “…persecuted for the CROSS of Christ…But far be it from me to boast except in the CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
– Ephesians 2:13-16 – “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the BLOOD of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the CROSS, thereby killing the hostility.”
When I first heard this song it was the Newsboys cover (less repetitive. lol) I was immediately brought to Colossians 2:15 as it is one of my favorite verses and have always seen it through that lens.
Brother, If i may encourage you to read these scripture passages carefully and reassess if maybe you were reading something into the song that wasn’t there. In one sense the cross is the final word to our need for sacrifice (Heb 10), peace with God (Col 1), our record of debt (Col 2), reconcile to God (Eph 2).
I greatly appreciate the time and care that you put into every review and comment response.
Vince Wright
Brendan,
Thank you for your response and thoughtful words! I am humbled that my words have challenged and encouraged you. Praise be to God!
I prayerfully researched the Scripture passages in context and have the following to offer as my response and would appreciate your feedback:
1) In the first chapter of Hebrews, the unknown author opens their letter explaining that in the past, God spoke through prophets. But these days, He speaks to us through His son who, “When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3b). He then goes on to tell us that suffered for our sins, that He is the new High Priest, that we can enter into His rest, and how the New Covenant is superior to the Old Covenant. The very last verse in chapter 9, Hebrews 9:28, offers the same qualification as the opening lines of this letter: “so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” So, it seems to me that the author didn’t qualify the resurrection in chapter 10 because they had already talked about it.
2) Both Colossians 1:20-23 and Colossians 2:13-15 were qualified in Colossians 2:12, where he contrasts deadness of sins to become alive in Christ. The same God who rose Jesus from the dead can also raise us from our spiritual dead-ness. It says: “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead”.
3) Paul spends the majority of Galatians explaining why the Old Testament law exists and how following it can’t save us. Rather, we are justified by faith. It also talks about, in chapter 4, our adoption as sons and daughters of the Most High. Once again, in its opening lines, the author starts by referencing the resurrection. It says in Galatians 1:1: “Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)”. This is how Paul qualifies his statements about boasting in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ at the end of his letter.
3) The qualification for this passage In Ephesians exists in Ephesians 2:1-6, where Paul once again contrasts death and life, that “you were dead in your trespasses and sins” (V. 1) and “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together [g]with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (V. 4-6).
Finally, I limit the context by which I can offer my thoughts to only the words recorded within a singular song. My evaluation is based on the words expressed in a single song and does not take into consideration the intent, theology, and other songs that exist in the same album. This can work both as a benefit and a detriment to the review process. The advantage of these letters is that there is a larger context by which these “once and for all” statements receive their qualification, namely, the resurrection of Jesus often appearing at each letter’s opening lines. However, I don’t see this qualification in these lyrics, earning it a low rating. The cross is an important event. Without Christ’s sacrifice, there would be no remission for sins. I think we both understand that and I hope my review does not minimize its significance.
I hope this makes sense. Looking forward to seeing your response!
-Vince Wright
Brendan Hegarty
I appreciate your response and can understand your passion for the necessity of the resurrection. On this we are in agreement, the resurrection is the very power by which we place our hope in our own eventual resurrection. Would you agree that there are many things that the cross does have the final word on? No more need for sacrifice, the separation between God and man and the need for a priest (thinking of the torn veil), full atonement for sin, the satisfaction of Gods wrath toward sin, our healing (Isaiah 53), etc. Iâm sure you know that no song exists in a vacuum, and has a provided context and an applied context. For example, I have used this song as a response to the truth of Colossians 2:13-15. My congregation knew when we said the final word we meant âcancelling the record of debt against us.â Perhaps that is another layer that you could add to your reviews rather than leaving each song on its own. âHear is how the song can be used appropriately and here is out the song would be inappropriate. Without context I would indeed refrain from the use of this song but in response to the glorious truths in Colossians, Galatians, and Ephesians, it provides a passionate expression of assurance and joy. Would love to hear your thoughts! Also one other thing I very humbly would love for you to consider. On this song you take a very firm stance and from what I can tell (could be wrong! Lol) havenât given much room for figurative/artistic language (ie âfinal wordâ). I do see that in other reviews such as âRaise A Hallelujahâ you are far more gracious in interpreting their words as merely figurative and rate that song extremely high. May I encourage you to examine your approach to both to see if inconsistency does exist. If you feel that is not the case, I would love to better understand the difference. All of this is above is stated in love and humility and respect! Thank you
Vince Wright
Brendan,
Thank you again for responding! I must apologize for my slow response. You asked some tough questions!
Yes, there are several things that the cross has the final word upon. Pastor Steve Barhydt, along with your initial comment, listed a few examples. The issue that I have is that Carnes said that the cross has the final word. Period.
I suppose you can make a case for poetic license, that the cross has the final word over the things stated previously; However, it seems too ambiguous to warrant it. It would have helped if there was more complete information (e.g.; “the cross has the final word over sin”) like there was in raise a hallelujah about the various things to which we raise a hallelujah.
If I were to name the difference between the low rating of this review and the high-scoring raise a hallelujah, I would say it’s clarity. I believe that for you, it’s clear that “the cross has the final word” is about things like its finality over sin, death, etc.; However, to say that “the cross has the final word” is incomplete. It requires a modifier. If Carnes had written something like “the cross has the final word, over the sin in my life”, then I would have been okay with it. The modifier clarifies the statement. At least, that’s how I think about it. But, as it’s stated, it seems to me incomplete at best.
I hope this makes sense. If not, then I suppose we’ll have to agree to disagree.
Either way, I really enjoyed this discussion!
-Vince Wright
Steve Barhydt
Vince,
FYI. I am not a pastor đ Just a fellow believer with a love of good worship music and theology.
I did graduate from a private ministerial college and several years ago I was a Weds night Bible teacher, these days I am a computer programmer.
Vince Wright
Steve,
Thank you for the correction! I thought you were a pastor, most likely judging by the articulate nature of your posts.
Now I know we share three loves: Christ, the examination of lyrics, and computer programming!
-Vince Wright
Neal Cruco
Vince,
That makes three of us, then. I find it very amusing that three computer programmers have just happened to meet each other through an entirely unrelated passion- the love of analyzing lyrics through the lens of Scripture. What are the odds of that?
Vince Wright
Neal,
If you think about it, much of the same analytical skillset required to program a computer is useful to critically examine song lyrics. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that some programmers who happen to be Christian would find this site. For it to be Neal Cruco and
PastorSteve Barhydt, I won’t analyze the odds of that!-Vince Wright
JM
[Disclaimer: I am not a fan of Carnes/Jobe, and am not attempting to defend them or their decisions]
You bring up some great points that I probably would have glossed over, as I think we can find good biblical examples of the phrase “the cross” being used as metonymy (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metonymy). Some examples where I think we can see “the cross” being used to encapsulate the death/burial/resurrection/atonement are:
1 Cor 1:17-18
1 Cor 2:2
Gal 6:14
Eph 2:16
Vince Wright
JM,
Thanks for your comments! Can you explain how this addresses the phrase “The cross has the final word”?
-Vince Wright
JM
I imagine that if we take Paul’s words/meaning from 1 Cor 15:3-4, and ‘insert’ them in place of “The cross” in these lines, then we arrive at something resembling the gospel message.
“3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
As to what the cross has the final word over, the song is a little vague (sorrow, evil, death), which is standard practice with many of today’s songs — keep it vague so people fill in their own situation. I agree that it could use more context to flesh out the meaning. What would you say about the use of “the cross” in the hymn “The old Rugged Cross”?
Vince Wright
JM,
Great question!
I am fine with celebrating the cross and how Christ’s sacrifice has paid the penalty for our lawbreaking, even if there’s no mention of the resurrection. This song would likely incur a high rating, judging from a cursory look. However, my issue is with the cross having the final word and how it impacts the rest of Carnes’ message.
-Vince Wright
Sandra June
Upon hearing this song for the first time yesterday during corporate worship, I immediately heard a warning bell go off. Absolutely: the cross is NOT the final wordââJesus has risen!â (as we declare each Easter).
Historically and biblically, though, references to the cross alone or the resurrection alone are synecdochic, or where a term for a part of something refers to the whole thing. Paul resolve to âknow nothing except Christ and him crucifiedâ and he only boasted in âthe cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.â
That said, Iâm still uncomfortable using the song in corporate worship, although I can think of half a dozen songs used for decades that are similar, like âThe Old Rugged Crossâ and Isaac Wattsâ âAt The Cross.â Itâs just that these donât declare itâs âthe final word.â So itâs a NOPE for me, although itâs a shame because with a little tweaking, it could have been wonderful (song writersâ lyrics should be proofread by theologians!)
Lastly, can we address the hypnotic repetition? What is with the modern songs? Can they not come up with more quality lyrics or are they trying to hypnotize the congregation?
Steve Barhydt
I have often said that the symbol of Christianity should be an open tomb instead of a cross but that would be much harder to make jewelry out of đ
I took some time to read the articles that you link to, both from Cody and his critics, and, after further thought, I would have to agree that the phrase âThe cross has the final wordâ is (unintentionally I am sure) very problematic and, therefore, not suitable for worship.
I, personally, still like the song because I recognize what Cody meant to say but I completely understand your reluctance to give this song a higher score.
Vince Wright
Steve,
Hurrah for consensus!
I admit that I was reluctant to give this song such a low rating because I like it also. I understand what Carnes attempts to accomplish and I would have given it a MUCH higher rating if it were not for this unfortunate misstep. It has huge potential to become a powerful, Christ-centered worship song. Yet, I cannot bring myself to score it any higher without good justification.
-Vince Wright
Steve Barhydt
I believe that the phrase “The Saviour has come with the morning light” does refer, howbeit indirectly, to the resurrection.
All of the gospel references (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, and John 20:1-10) point out the fact that it was very early in the morning when the women went to the tomb and found it empty.
If it does refer to the resurrection then the phrases “He traded death for eternal life” and “Nothing greater, than the Name of Jesus” are validated and the song does glorify God.
So I think your scores are a wee bit harsh.
That said, I do agree that unbelievers, particularly the unchurched, would miss his point altogether.
I also agree that a more definitive connection between the cross and the resurrection would make this a much better song.
With a Biblically educated congregation, I think this song would be okay.
Vince Wright
Steve,
As usual, thank you for your thoughtful comments!
Assuming I granted that “The Saviour has come with the morning light” indirectly refers to the resurrection, this still doesn’t address the underlying phrase “The cross has the final word”. If what I have to say is true, that the empty tomb has the final word and not the cross, then both phrases seem to contradict one another, putting me back where I started.
Do you have any comments on “The cross has the final word”?
-Vince Wright
Neal Cruco
Steve,
The problem with this song is subtle and probably entirely inadvertent. Every line in it rings joyously with biblical truth… except for the central one. If the cross is the end of the story, then every other line in the song is false. Jesus is dead and decaying like every other person who has ever claimed to be a savior, and our faith is a lie. We are lost, without hope, and more to be pitied than anyone else in the world. In short, all of Christianity crumbles if its Cornerstone fails. (If you’re wondering “now where have I heard that before?”, it’s 1 Corinthians 15:12-19.)
Given how self-contradictory this song is, I’m convinced that its fatal flaw could only come from an honest confusion of the role of Jesus’ death and His resurrection. Carnes very clearly promotes the fact that Jesus is alive and victorious over all- he just failed to word the central line of his song properly. It reminds me of a video I recently saw from Psallos about a similar blunder in “What Shall We Say, Part 3” from “Romans. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdqp2KW_iSk)
J
To add to that, it seems to me the lines “The Saviour has come with the morning light” and “He traded death for eternal life” are connected, and both describe Christ’s resurrection.
(“sorrow may come in the dark of night”, “evil may put up its strongest fight” seem to be connected as well. Inspired by Psalm 91?)
Also note the similarity with the praise of the name of Jesus in the song to Philippians 2:9-11 – which in the preceding verses (2:5-8) deals with Jesus’ death on the cross. This song is very much about the resurrection as well.
—-
As for the rest of the article, perhaps it’s useful to look at the definition of “have the final word”:
So, the cross is the arguments that ends the argument or discussion. It’s not necessarily the only thing being brought up, it’s not necessarily the only thing that matters. “Have the final word” also isn’t about being the final thing chronologically, so that it would preclude the resurrection.
Now, others have already pointed out that in Colossians 2:13-15, the cross very much has the final word: it’s what stops the entire evidence of all our sins from being used against us. Revelation 12:11 also clearly states that we have overcome satan “by the blood of the Lamb”. I think it’s reasonable to say “the cross has the final word” here – that is, has the final word when we come under attack by satan, which the lyrics (“…, but the cross has the final word”) appear to be about.