Keith & Kristyn Getty (Feat. Stuart Townend) – Forever Jesus

Keith & Kristyn Getty are modern hymnists.  Keith began his career in 1995 as a soloist.  He married Kristyn in 2004, becoming a duet act as Keith & Kristyn Getty.

The Getty’s released eighteen albums and one EP together, including:

• New Irish Hymns 3: Incarnation (2004)
• New Irish Hymns 4: Hymns for the Life of the Church (2005)
• Songs That Jesus Said (2005)
• The Apostles’ Creed (2006)
• Modern Hymns Live (2006)
• In Christ Alone (2007)
• Keswick Live (2008)
• Awaken the Dawn (2009)
• Joy – An Irish Christmas (2011)
• Hymns for the Christian Life (2012)
• Modern and Traditional Hymns: Live at the Gospel Coalition (2013)
• Facing A Task Unfinished (2016)
• The North Coast Sessions (2018)
• His Mercy Is More (2019)
• Resurrection – EP (2020)
• Evensong: A Collection of Hymns and Lullabies at Close of Day (2020)
• Sing! The Life of Christ | Quintology (2020)
• Sing! Global (Live at the Getty Music Worship Conference) (2021)
• Sing! Live in Singapore (2022)

Also, check out my reviews of Lovingkindness, The Lord is My Salvation, See What A Morning (Resurrection Hymn), My Worth Is Not in What I Own, Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, and In Christ Alone.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Keith-and-kristyn-getty-forever-jesus-live-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.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Christ is the Getty’s:

• Song of praise forever
• Solid rock amid turmoil
• Power
• Yearning
• Security
• Salvation
• Companion
• Eternal King

After they die, they will continue to praise Jesus for all eternity.

Score: 10/10

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

All of it lines up with Scripture.

[Verse 1]

Line 1: That is, their song of praise (1 Chronicles 16:23, Psalm 33:3, Psalm 96:1-2, Psalm 98:1, and Psalm 149:1).

Line 2: Christ is the foundation to which the Getty’s stand (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).

Line 3: Christ is the source of the Getty’s strength (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) and 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).

Lines 4 and 5: Jesus is with the Getty’s amid their trials and tribulation (Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38-39, and Revelation 3:20).

[Chorus (1)]

Line 1: The Getty’s song of praise in Verse 1, line 1, will continue unceasingly (Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 30:12, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 89:1, Psalm 115:18, Psalm 145:1-2, Psalm 145:21, and Revelation 5:9-13) to Christ, whose reign is also unwavering (Micah 5:2, Luke 1:32-33, and 1 Timothy 6:13-16).

Lines 2 and 3: Though not immediately clear on “saved” as “present distress” or from sins, Chorus’ final iteration (aptly named “Chorus (2)” in this review) clarifies it.  All of the Getty’s sorrows will cease post-death, when they enter God’s Kingdom that comes to earth without sorrow or pain (Revelation 21:3-4 and Revelation 22:3).

Line 4: Essentially repeats the last part of line 1.

[Verse 2]

Line 1: The Getty’s intend to live their life for Christ (Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:1, Philippians 1:27, Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, and 2 Timothy 1:9).

Lines 2-5: That is, suffering upon Himself, making a way for the Getty’s salvation through His payment for their 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 9:15-26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

[Bridge]

Line 1: The Getty’s intend their final breath on earth in their mortal body to be Christ-centered.

Lines 2-6: After the Getty’s die, although we aren’t privy to the specific details, they will eventually be led to His throne, where He will pronounce to them “good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 and Matthew 25:23).  He also calls them His friend, as the Getty’s have done what He commanded (John 15:14-15).

[Chorus (2)]

Lines 1-4: Repeats Chorus (1), lines 1-4.

Lines 5-7: These are the clarifying statements referenced in my commentary on Chorus (1), lines 2 and 3.  Also, line 5’s second half repeats Chorus (1), line 1.

Line 8: Personalized version of the second half of Chorus (1), line 1.

Lines 9 and 10: Repeats line 8.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

The song’s opening line makes it clear that this song is about praising Jesus.  The rest of the song provides rationale for the Getty’s worship using easy-to-understand Christian terminology.  Unbelievers will know that the Getty’s intend to spend their life praising God, both here on earth and after they die.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus as the source of the Getty’s allegiance, who saved them from the consequences of sin, guides them to righteousness, and will be magnified forever.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Keith & Kristyn Getty’s Forever Jesus is praiseworthy.  He is the firm foundation to which our faith stands, whose lovingkindness compels Him to pay for our lawbreaking.  He is the eternal Ruler of the universe, who will be with us amid our struggles, and will welcome the Getty’s home, alongside others who are His.  Unbelievers should find this song easy to interpret.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Forever Jesus (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Keith & Kristyn Getty (Feat. Stuart Townend)

Album: Sing! The Life of Christ | Quintology (Live)

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: 2020

Duration: 4:35

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