God sent his son

Authors:
Themes:
Scriptures:
  • Genesis 21:1-7
  • Exodus 2:1-10
  • 1 Samuel 1:20-28
  • Psalms 31:15
  • Matthew 1:21
  • Matthew 1:25
  • Matthew 28:1-8
  • Mark 16:1-6
  • Luke 2:21
  • Luke 24:1-8
  • John 20:1-9
  • Acts 10:38-40
  • Acts 7:55-56
  • Romans 8:15
  • 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
  • Ephesians 1:7
  • Philippians 1:20-23
  • 1 Timothy 1:15
  • 1 Timothy 4:6-8
  • Hebrews 7:24-25
  • 1 John 4:14
Book Number:
  • 895

God sent his son;
they called him Jesus;
he came to love, heal and forgive;
he lived and died to buy my pardon;
an empty grave is there
to prove my Saviour lives.

Because he lives I can face tomorrow;
because he lives all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth the living
just because he lives.

2. How sweet to hold a new-born baby,
and feel the pride and joy he gives;
but greater still the calm assurance,
this child can face uncertain days
because he lives.

3. And then one day I’ll cross the river;
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
and then as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory
and I’ll know he lives.

© 1971 Gaither Music Company / WJG INC / Kingsway's Thankyou Music
Gloria Gaither William J Gaither

The Christian Life - Perseverance

Downloadable Items

Would you like access to our downloadable resources?

Unlock downloadable content for this hymn by subscribing today. Enjoy exclusive resources and expand your collection with our additional curated materials!

Subscribe now

If you already have a subscription, log in here to regain access to your items.

Tune

The story behind the hymn

This song is the combined work of Bill and Gloria Gaither, completed in 1971 shortly after the birth of their son Benjy. They were aware, even in that particular year, of the alarming condition of a threatening world and the great needs of a changing one. But the idea grew from a conversation as they scanned the morning headlines not long before he was born. ‘How can we face bringing a child into a world like this, Bill?’ ‘Because He lives, honey! Life is still worth the living …’ ‘You’re right, Bill … Because He lives, we can face tomorrow …’ The first 2 stzs took shape quickly, but the song remained unfinished until the death of Gloria’s father prompted the final lines. If that has a powerful relevance for many who sing it, so can stz 2 in extended or church families as well as a baby’s parents (though ‘pride’ may not be quite the word?). Even without it, the chorus has touched the hearts and emotions of most sorts and conditions of worshippers, in the same spirit as (eg) 870 and 871, the latter of which it most resembles in mood. The tune BECAUSE HE LIVES, credited to William Gaither and newly arranged here by Linda Mawson, goes with the words. The complete song was first published in the Baptist Hymnal from Nashville (1975), where the tune is named RESURRECTION, presumably from stz 3. Since then its use has rapidly grown in the USA and in Britain (including MP from 1983); some books have printed the first line ‘… they call him Jesus’. For ‘They called …’, see Matthew 1:25, Luke 2:21.

A look at the author

Gaither, Gloria (Sickal)

b Battle Creek, Michigan, USA 1942; graduated from Anderson Coll in French, English and Sociology. She met Bill (see next entry) while teaching in high school, and their joint songwriting virtually ended their educational careers. Together they have written (and performed in concert) several hundred gospel songs, many of them recorded by leading popular singers and continuing the N American tradition of this genre exemplified earlier by Bliss and Sankey. The Baptist Hymnal from N America in 1991 includes 5 of her texts; some of these have made headway in the UK, notably the one included here. No.895.