Greg Sykes – No Greater Love (How Marvelous)

Greg Sykes is the lead worship pastor at Central Community Church, based in NOTL, Canada.  He released one EP and one album, including:

• Reverse (EP, 2017)
• No Greater Love (2019)

He won six GMA Canada Covenant Awards, including Male Vocalist of The Year (2018), Video of The Year (Reverse, 2018), and Children’s Song of The Year (Even More, 2019).

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Greg-sykes-no-greater-love-how-marvelous-lyrics.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

“You” selflessly died for Sykes, despite his errors.  None is more powerful than “You” to save him, who rose from the dead and whose love is without explanation.  Sykes finds “Your” love difficult to believe, grateful for “Your” forgiveness.

From these acts and attributes, I can reasonably conclude that “You” is Jesus.

Score: 10/10

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

All of it is Scriptural.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1 and 2: According to Jesus, there’s no greater love than one who lays down their life for his friends (John 15:13).

Line 3: Sykes recognizes that Christ died for him while he was a sinner (Romans 5:6-8).

Line 4: Jesus’ lovingkindness and sacrifice transform Sykes from his deadness in lawbreaking to life with Christ (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Chorus]

Line 1: That is, none but the name of Jesus has the power to save us (John 14:6 and Acts 4:12).

Line 2: That is, Jesus resurrected (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).

Line 3: One of the great mysteries is the question: “Why does God love us”?  No explanation any of us could offer is sufficient to adequately address this question, including Sykes.  We know that He does and we’re grateful for that.

Lines 4 and 5: See Verse 1, lines 1 and 2.

[Verse 2]

Line 1: See commentary on Verse 1, line 4.

Line 2: None but the precious blood of Jesus could wash Sykes clean (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19).  Also, see Chorus, line 1.

Line 3: Not that Sykes disbelieves, but that he finds it incredible that an all-powerful God would condescend and disgrace Himself for him who doesn’t deserve it (see Verse 1, line 3).

Line 4: Sykes receives forgiveness for his sin (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).

[Bridge]

Lines 1-4: Sykes sings about the greatness of God’s love, describes throughout the rest of this song.

[Outro]

Lines 1-4: Repeats Chorus, lines and 4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will likely see Christianity hinted at throughout this song.  Pointers include the empty grave, laying one’s life down, unexplainable divine love, and shame that’s washed away.  Syke’s language is everyday, making it much easier for those outside Christianity to interpret similarly to section 1.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus that Sykes displays His great unexplainable love, that through His death and resurrection, forgiveness is available.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Greg Sykes’ No Greater Love (How Marvelous) is Biblical.  It expresses Christ’s great love for us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  He rose again, defeating death and offering forgiveness for our lawbreaking, bringing glory to God.  Unbelievers should have little to no issues interpreting it.

Though not my favorite song, it is appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: No Greater Love (How Marvelous) (listen to the song)

Artist: Greg Sykes

Album: No Greater Love

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2019

Duration: 2:59

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