Ryan Stevenson – The Gospel

American Contemporary Christian artist Ryan Stevenson started his music career in 2003.  He released five albums and three EP’s, including:

• Running to You (June 12, 2007)
• The Undiscovered (2010)
• Yesterday, Today, Forever (EP, 2011)
• Champion of the World (EP, 2012)
• Holding Nothing Back (EP, 2013)
• Fresh Start (2015)
• No Matter What (2018)
• Wildest Dreams (2020)

In 2017, Stevenson won a GMA Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (Eye of the Storm)

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1. What message does the song communicate?

The world searches in vain for salvation through works-based religion, unaware that the only way is through Jesus.  Yet, some are doubtful and will not believe.  Though he understands he deserves hell for breaking God’s laws, he trusts in Jesus to enter God’s Kingdom, returning to Christ for forgiveness.

Score: 10/10

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

All of it.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

A restless generation
We’re turning over every stone
Hoping to find salvation
In a world that’s left us cold

This speaks of a generation that seeks rescue through good works.  However, this hope is found wanting (John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 6:40, John 11:25-26, Galatians 2:21, Hebrews 7:11, and 1 Timothy 1:15-16).

[Pre-Chorus]

Can we get back to the altar?
Back to the arms of our first love

The implied answer is yes, we can return to Jesus if we repent (Revelation 2:4-5).

There’s only one way to the Father
And He’s calling out to us

That is, through Jesus (John 14:6).

[Chorus]

To the captive, it looks like freedom
To the orphan, it feels like home
To the skeptic, it might sound crazy
To believe in a God who loves

Various people respond to God’s love for us (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, and 1 John 4:9-10) differently:

• Those in bondage will be liberated (Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18) and adopted as God’s children (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).
• Skeptics will find this love difficult to believe, much like some who saw Jesus risen from the dead (Matthew 28:17).

In a world, where our hearts are breaking
And we’re lost in the mess we’ve made

That is, a world full of sinners (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Job 15:14, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, and 1 John 1:8-10).

Like a blinding light, in the dead of night
It’s the Gospel

The Gospel transfers us out of darkness and into God’s light-filled Kingdom (Colossians 1:13).

The Gospel that makes a way

Bridge explains this in more detail.

It’s the Gospel that makes a way

Essentially repeats line 9.

[Verse 2]

It’s the cure for our condition

Jesus is the Great Physician who provides the cure for our sin-filled sickness (Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, and Luke 5:31).

It’s the good news for us all

The word “Gospel” means “good news”.

It’s greater than religion

By “religion”, Stevenson means works righteousness.  See commentary on Verse 1, lines 1-4.

It’s the power of the Cross

The Gospel is about the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:23, Matthew 9:35, Matthew 24:14, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:43, and Luke 16:16) and how we may enter.  The power of the cross is within the resurrection of Jesus (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), showing that He defeated 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).

[Spoken Word]

The amazing news of the Gospel
Is not that we can receive Jesus into our lives
But that He’s already received us
Into​ His

The good news is that the Kingdom of God is made available to us, paid for with innocent blood (see commentary in Chorus, lines 1-4).  It’s not “either-or” but “both-and”.  Receiving Jesus is not the Gospel, but a response to it.

[Bridge]

In my own life, it means forgiveness
When I know I deserved the fall

References Romans 5:6-8.

It called me out of my darkness
And carried me to the Cross

See Chorus, lines 7 and 8.

In a moment, my eyes were opened
In that moment, my heart was changed

Stevenson describes their personal experience.  Much like the people on the road in Luke 24:31, his spiritual sight was restored, forever changing his heart (Ephesians 1:18).

Like a blinding light, in the dead of night
It’s the Gospel

Repeats Chorus, lines 7 and 8.

Ohh!..

References Casper the friendly ghost.

[Outro]

It’s the Gospel
The Gospel that makes a way

Repeats Chorus, lines 8 and 9.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This song is thick with Christianese language, making interpretation difficult.  Terms such as “Gospel”, “cross”, and “Jesus” point firmly to Christianity.  They will likely conclude the following:

• They are seeking salvation in this broken world
• Christians believe the only way is through Jesus
• It sounds crazy to many of them
• Christians believe God loves them, willing to forgive
• Christians think God is the light that defeats darkness
• Some might believe they are broken and Christianity provides the solution
• Christianity changed Stevenson’s life

Many probably would not understand:

• They are broken and require salvation
• How they are captive or orphaned
• The entire section of Spoken Word

Score: 7/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God by proclaiming the Gospel that saves us from eternal damnation.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Ryan Stevenson’s The Gospel is Biblical.  Though some may respond to the Gospel with hesitation or rejection, others will see its power, that it saves us from eternal separation from God.  It is the only cure that heals our sinful state, bringing glory to God.  Despite its heavy reliance on Christianese language, unbelievers will likely understand much of it, except about captives, orphans, and the finer points of the Gospel message.

This song seems more inspirational than it proclaims to God His value and worth.  Therefore, I find it difficult to recommend for corporate worship.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: The Gospel (listen to the song)

Artist: Ryan Stevenson

Album: No Matter What

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 4:15

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*Copyright © 2017 RedSwan Music (ASCAP) Musical Moodswing (SESAC) Achtober Songs (BMI) Capitol CMG Amplifier (SESAC) Songs Of Emack (ASCAP) Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publ. (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.