{"id":6608,"date":"2025-08-20T14:09:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T14:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livingtheadventure.net\/?p=6608"},"modified":"2025-09-14T14:14:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T14:14:33","slug":"favorite-hymn-and-can-it-be-that-i-should-gain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livingtheadventure.net\/?p=6608","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0Favorite Hymn:\u00a0And Can It Be That I Should Gain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It was an exciting day in May 1998, as I gathered with family for my brother\u2019s graduation from Asbury Theological Seminary. As we opened the service, the congregation, students, and platform dignitaries rose to sing a powerful Charles Wesley hymn, And Can It Be That I Should Gain.<\/em> In all my years of being in the church (all my life), I don\u2019t remember singing this song, but I quickly found a powerful song that moved my spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was just a little over one year later when I stood in Estes Chapel with returning students and new students to Asbury, that I once again witnessed the beauty, power, and majesty of And Can It Be That I Should Gain<\/em>. As we moved through the verses, the volume increased as the song moved from words on a page to a shared experience of God\u2019s work in our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Can It Be That I Should Gain, <\/em>was written soon after Charles Wesley\u2019s conversion experience. Many may not know that three days prior to John Wesley\u2019s Aldersgate experience where his \u201cheart was strangely warmed,\u201d his brother, Charles, had a similar experience of conversion and confidence in his newfound faith. Through the transformation happening within Charles, a new song bubbled out of his soul. In Psalm 40:3 we read, \u201cHe put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God<\/em>.\u201d Truly, Charles Wesley was experiencing this new song as the Holy Spirit led him to write, And Can It Be That I Should Gain.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The song reiterates the salvation we have in Jesus and how Jesus came to earth. The verses proclaim Philippians 2:5-11 and John 3:16-17. It is the third verse, though, that always brought the greatest crescendo, as we would sing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off, my heart was free
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God should die for me?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This verse serves as a declaration for each person who sings it. For some, the chains that fell off went to deeper places of addiction, demonic oppression, criminal charges, self-hate, etc. As the congregation would proclaim: \u201cMy chains fell off, my heart was free\u2026,\u201d <\/em>hands would be raised to the sky, as tears streamed down faces. The reality of Jesus\u2019 promise in John 8:36 was a deep experience. Jesus said, \u201cSo if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed<\/em>.\u201d The freedom was real, and the words were lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, And Can It Be That I Should Gain<\/em>, serves as a victory song. I realize how Jesus\u2019 sacrifice and His servant\u2019s heart makes it possible for me to experience the fullness of life. The chains are off; there is no condemnation; the freedom is experienced. His amazing love shown in His death and the hope experienced in His resurrection, make it possible for me to truly live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever sung And Can It Be That I Should Gain<\/em>? How has Jesus set you free? What chains have fell off and how is your heart free? I pray you will experience the freedom of new life that leads to the fullness of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayer: Thank you, Lord for your sacrifice and amazing love. For those who do not know the fullness of freedom and the fullness of life, speak into their hearts this truth today. Continue to use this great Charles Wesley song to speak life into bondage and despair. In Jesus\u2019 name. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was an exciting day in May 1998, as I gathered with family for my brother\u2019s graduation from Asbury Theological Seminary. As we opened the service, the congregation, students, and platform dignitaries rose to sing a powerful Charles Wesley hymn,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t