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Hillsong Church is a megachurch founded in 1983 in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia. It was formerly led by Hillsong Founder Brian Houston. Hillsong possesses a massive discography, spanning across four music ministries. These include Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Worship, Hillsong Young & Free, and Hillsong Kids.
Hillsong has won several awards within their Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Worship artist groups. As of this writing, there are no awards for Hillsong Young & Free or Hillsong Kids.
Also, check out my entire list of Hillsong reviews and Christmas songs, Seasons and Prince of Heaven.
Side Note: Although there are many versions of this song, according to https://hillsong.com/lyrics/scandal-of-grace/, the acoustic version is the “official” lyrics for this song. Therefore, I will review this version.
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?
Grace is God’s undeserved favor that is given to Hillsong based on Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. He did nothing wrong, yet, He died in their place so that they could inherit eternal life. Though incomprehensible in Hillsong’s mind, they are grateful to receive His grace, willing to give up everything to become like Him and know Him more. It is through His might that they can get through each day.
Section 2 describes the historical context that explains why this grace is scandalous.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
All of it does.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
Grace what have You done
Murdered for me on that cross
Accused in absence of wrong
My sin washed away in Your blood
Christ’s sacrifice for Hillsong’s 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 9:15-26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9) is how God brings about their undeserved favor (Luke 18:9-14, Acts 13:39, Romans 3:20-30, Romans 4:1-7, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:16, Romans 9:31-32, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 3:21, Galatians 5:2-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:3-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 6:1-2, and James 2:10-11). They are washed clean by His blood (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19).
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Too much to make sense of it all
I know that Your love breaks my fall
The scandal of grace
You died in my place
So my soul will live
This Great Exchange, where the Son of God trades Hillsong’s error for His righteousness (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24), is a great mystery.
From a historic perspective, Jesus was crucified because He claimed to be the Christ (Matthew 26:63-66, Mark 14:61-65), was accused of forbidding the Jews from paying taxes to Caesar (Luke 23:2), and for claiming to be the King of the Jews (Matthew 27:37, Mark 15:2, Mark 15:26, Luke 23:38, and John 19:19). Jesus was, from the Jewish perspective, a blasphemer, a rebel, and a usurper to Caesar’s throne (see https://onegodworship.com/was-jesus-crucified-for-claiming-to-be-god/). To a 1st-century Jew, this was certainly scandalous! Yet, it was necessary for Jesus to die for our redemption; to bring grace to sinners. Jesus was as Hillsong stated, “Accused in absence of wrong” and “Murdered for me on that cross”. This is quite offensive to many people, both back then and today! This too is the scandal of grace.
[Chorus]
Oh to be like You
Give all I have just to know You
Describes Hillsong’s surrender to Jesus (Psalm 43:5, 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) and that Christ is Hillsong’s most precious possession (Philippians 3:8-10).
Jesus there’s no-one beside You
Jesus is unique (Exodus 8:10, Exodus 9:14, Deuteronomy 3:24, Deuteronomy 33:26, Jeremiah 10:6, 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Kings 8:23, 1 Chronicles 17:20, Psalm 86:8, Psalm 89:6, Psalm 113:5-6, Jeremiah 10:7, Isaiah 40:18, and Isaiah 46:9).
Forever the hope in my heart
He is also Hillsong’s source of hope (Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 8:24-39, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, and 1 Peter 1:3-6).
[Verse 2]
Death where is your sting
Quotes from part of 1 Corinthians 15:55.
Your power is as dead as my sin
See line 1.
The cross has taught me to live
And mercy my heart now to sing
It is through the power of the cross that Hillsong has eternal life (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). It is to this end that they sing.
[Pre-Chorus 2]
The day and its troubles shall come
I know that Your strength is enough
God provides the power for Hillsong to tackle the troubles of each day (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 118:14, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 33:2, Isaiah 40:29-31, Habakkuk 3:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 6:10, and Philippians 4:13).
The scandal of grace
You died in my place
So my soul will live
Repeats Pre-Chorus 1, lines 3-5.
[Bridge]
And it’s all because of You Jesus
It’s all because of You Jesus
It’s all because of Your love
That my soul will live
Summarizes the entire song.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Unbelievers should easily conclude it’s Christian because the word Jesus shows up all over the place explicitly, alongside the cross, sin, and grace. Aside from the word “sin”, which to them is more about mere mistakes than breaking God’s laws, the entire song is written in everyday language that is easy for them to comprehend.
Score: 9/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies Jesus as the Most Prized One who rescues Hillsong from the consequences of their sins through His sacrifice on the cross.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Hillsong UNITED’s Scandal of Grace is awesome. It describes accurately that Jesus was murdered for us, that through His shed innocent blood, we may attain everlasting life. His power resides in us, which helps us push through each day. He is our most cherished possession, to whom we are willing to give up everything. These glorify God. Aside from the concept of “sin” as mere error and not lawbreaking, the entire song is easy for unbelievers to interpret similarly.
I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.
Final Score: 9.5/10
Artist Info
Track: Scandal of Grace (listen to the song)
Artist: Hillsong UNITED
Album: Zion
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2013
Duration: 4:23
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2012 Hillsong Music Publishing (APRA) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Comments
Carole
I agree with you about almost everything in this song, but I have a hard time with the first two lines. Who do you see as speaking in those lines, and to whom? It sounds to me like it’s the singer speaking to Grace, which I take as God, especially since “You” is capitalized. But even though it’s true that Jesus was murdered (Acts 7:52), *God* didn’t murder Him. People did, and only because He laid down His life voluntarily (Jn 10:18). And “what have You done” is difficult for me to sing, as well, if it’s directed at God. I would love some help in understanding this part differently!
Vince Wright
Carole,
Thank you for your comments!
To answer your questions:
1. Who is speaking? Hillsong is. The dead giveaway is the final line of Verse 1: “My sin washed away in Your blood”. It cannot be God because God doesn’t sin. Therefore, “me” and “my” refers to Hillsong.
2. To whom are they speaking? To God. Ovbiously the word “grace” is being used here as a metaphor for Jesus, since it was Him who was murdered for our lawbreaking. It does not say that God murdered Jesus. Therefore, “You” refers to God/Jesus.
I hope this helps.
-Vince Wright