Daniel Ribeiro – God of Victory

American newcomer Daniel Ribeiro serves as a worship leader in Church Alive in Lyndhurst.  He released his debut song God of Victory this year.  He is passionate about evangelism, wishing for all to be saved and none to perish (1 Timothy 2:4).

He is currently studying Pastoral Ministry & Music at Nyack College in New York City.

Source: https://www.danielribeiromsc.com/about-daniel.

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?

We were once people who lacked freedom.  We were once spiritually dead, now made alive through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  It is this grace that He offers that makes forgiveness possible, prompting us to show gratitude in song to glorify Him.  Victorious and unafraid, we will conquer our enemies, namely, powers, principalities, and spiritual forces of darkness.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song aligns with God’s inspired Word.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

You have called us
Into freedom
Bought with Your blood

That is, we are washed by the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19).  Though the lyrics do not explicitly state this, Christians will implicitly understand that our freedom is from deadness in sin, 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), confirmed in Pre-Chorus, line 4.

Shed on the cross
All for us
For You have saved us
Redeemed & Yours

Our salvation is from Jesus’ payment for our sins on the cross (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).

[Pre-Chorus]

I am chosen

God chose Ribeiro (John 6:37-44, John 15:16, Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 2:19, Colossians 3:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).

Not forsaken

God does not abandon those who are His (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:8-9, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 118:6, Lamentations 3:22-23, and Hebrews 13:5-6).

I am no orphan

That is, Ribeiro is an adopted child of God (John 1:12-13, John 14:18, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:1-8, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5-7, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:11-22, Hebrews 9:15, and 1 John 3:1-3).

I’m forgiven

Christ’s death 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).

[Chorus]

From the ashes I will rise

In much the same way that a phoenix is reborn from death, so too Ribeiro is born again after dying to self (John 3:3 and 2 Corinthians 5:17).

to give Him all the glory

Ribeiro does all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31 and 1 Corinthians 10:31).

In His Name I come alive

It is through the name of Jesus that we can be saved (John 14:6 and Romans 10:13).

to give Him all the glory

Repeats line 2.

From the loss to the triumph
I give You all the glory

Slightly modifies line 2 to express Ribeiro’s active choice to glorify God, regardless of his fate.

From beginning to the end

That is, Jesus is eternal (John 8:58, Colossians 1:13-17, and Hebrews 13:8).

You’re the God of Victory

That is, Christ is victorious over 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).

[Verse 2]

Found in Your Name
The confidence
To triumph over every single one
Of our enemies

Throughout the ministry of Jesus and His Apostles, many miracles were done in the name of Jesus (Mark 16:17, Luke 10:17, Acts 3:6, Acts 3:12-16, and Acts 4:30).  Considering Christ’s victory over death (see Chorus, line 8), we can be confident that through His name, we too may triumph (Romans 8:37), understanding that our enemy is not people, but ideas, powers, and demonic forces (Ephesians 6:12).

For You are with us
We will not fear

Given that God is with us (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5-9, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 139:7-10, Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Zephaniah 3:17, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38-39, and Revelation 3:20), there is no reason to be afraid (Genesis 15:1, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 94:19, Psalm 115:11, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 41:10-13, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 54:4, John 14:25-27, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 Peter 3:13-14, 1 Peter 5:6-7, and 1 John 4:18).

[Bridge]

By Your grace I am alive

It is by God’s undeserved favor that Ribeiro is saved (Genesis 15:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, and James 2:23 ).

Your life is now mine

That is, eternal life with God (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).

You’re the rock which we live by

That is, God is our foundation for daily living (Deuteronomy 32:4, 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 22:47, Psalm 18:31, Psalm 28:1, Psalm 62:2, Psalm 94:22, Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 7:24-27, Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, Ephesians 2:20, 2 Timothy 2:19, and 1 Peter 2:6).

You’re the anthem of our lives

God is the song on our lips (1 Chronicles 16:25, 2 Samuel 22:4, Psalm 96:4-5, Psalm 145:3, and Revelation 4:11).

Oh death where is your sting?
You lost all control of me

The sting of death no longer has its hold on Ribeiro (1 Corinthians 15:55-56).

Now in freedom we will sing

We moved 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).  In response, we sing (see line 4).

You’re the God of Victory

Repeats Chorus, line 8.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This song is thick with Christianese language that makes interpretation difficult for unbelievers without a good grasp on Christianity.  Most will know it’s a Christian song judging from its explicit mention of God, the cross, and shed blood.  The concepts of freedom from spiritual death, adoption, grace, and death’s sting require a deeper understanding, serving as a back-handed compliment.

Score: 6/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus in that His shed blood makes forgiveness possible.  We glorify God when we worship in song.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Daniel Ribeiro’s God of Victory is an excellent song for believers.  It presents a portion of the Gospel, that we become servants of Christ when we receive His forgiveness through His shed blood.  We find freedom from our past, becoming adopted children of God, bringing Him glory.  Those outside the camp of Christ will know it’s Christian, but will not comprehend its deeper concepts without further study.

I highly recommend this for corporate worship for churches that are not intentionally seeker-sensitive.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: God of Victory (listen to the song)

Artist: Daniel Ribeiro

Album: N/A

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2020

Duration: 7:12

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*Copyright © 2020, Daniel Ribeiro. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

03/23/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.