As the Truth Matters ministry really begins to take flight, it is fitting, that we look at Rock of Ages as the August hymn of the month. This song, being one of the most well known and most loved hymns of the church, was born from the passionate, heated and sometimes controversial debate between Calvinist and Arminian theology, and respectively Augustus M. Toplady, and John and Charles Wesley.
It is also fitting to see what took place in Toplady’s life, to lead him to make such a passionate stand against those whom he first followed when he came to Christ, especially in light of the open testimony of our Pastor, Charles J. Paul, who began his ministry on one side of the doctrinal fence, only to be promptly moved by the hand of God to the glorious doctrines of Grace.
Shortly after his conversion, Toplady was attracted to the ministry of the Wesley’s and the Methodist movement, however, in light of his own conversion, and God’s holy Word, he was drawn toward the biblical doctrines of grace. In fact, when speaking of his own salvation, and his conversion experience, Toplady writes:
“Strange that I, who had so long sat under the means of grace in England, should be brought right with God in an obscure part of Ireland, midst a handful of people met together in a barn, and by the ministry of one who could hardly spell his own name. Surely it was the Lord’s doing and is marvelous.”
You see, when we really view the aspect of salvation, it is truly an amazing thing that the Lord has done. Our part in salvation is merely that of a thankful recipient, and this wonderful hymn goes to great lengths to express the emotion and heart cry of a broken sinner, who has been made fully aware of his falleness, his frailness, and his helplessness. Of one who, being drawn in by the effectual call of grace, from a merciful and loving heavenly Father, promptly turns and repents from his wickedness, and clings to the Cross of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as his one and only hope.
Without any further introduction, lets look at this apologetic reply, and defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ, of the sovereignty of God, and of the amazing grace involved in the salvation of sinners.
The first verse of this wonderful hymn strikes me as one of the most beautiful and simple statements about the result of salvation, and the hope that a sinful man like myself can have in the redeeming work of God. When we come to God, it is amazing to see just how we come to Him, as scripture reveals quite plainly that those who are outside of Christ, are the enemies of God. This is a frightening truth, and one that is all to frequently neglected in today’s pulpits, but as we look at this verse, notice how beautifully we are tucked safely away, into Christ, by the water and blood that He shed for us on His cross, and how His sacrifice, not only saves us from our status as enemies of God, and the punishment that comes with that status, but also goes one step further, in purifying us, both in the sense of our justification, but equally important, in our progressive sanctification. (c.f. 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.
Now this next verse is an affirmation of our helplessness in the drama of salvation, and is also a direct written response to Arminian doctrine, which teaches that a man of his own accord must realize his sins, have a remorseful and contrite heart, and repent to God for his sins. You see, the remorse we feel for the wrong we have done can never satisfy the debt we owe God. In fact, Toplady writes: “Even as England could never pay her national debt, so man through his own efforts could never satisfy the eternal justice of a holy God.” (c.f. Ephesians 2:1-9)
Not the labor of my hands, Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone; Thou must save and Thou alone.
Continuing on in this very theme of our total inability to woo over God, to impress Him, to move His heart to accept us, we come to the profound and accurate portrait of our sinful state. We have nothing, but Christ died on the cross. Our righteousness is filthy rags, but by grace we are dressed in the robes of Christ’s righteousness. We run to the salvation of God, once we see our need for cleansing, and the truth is, unless He washes us, we die. (c.f. Isaiah 64:6-7)
Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked come to Thee for dress, Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul I to the fountain fly, Wash me Savior or I die.
The final verse of this hymn truly fills me with joy. We know by faith that something amazing awaits us, but we don’t know exactly what it will be. We know that God has promised us “no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind can know what God has in store for those who love Him” and we know that when we draw our final breath that we will be with Him. We are left with Toplady, and believers all over the world, in awe and wonder, to ponder in faith and to trust in God that when the time comes for us to rise from this world, into that which Jesus has gone to prepare for us, and that when we stand before our God, who will not condemn us for our sins, but instead, will welcome and reward us for our service, we stand confident in the Rock of Ages, that we will be safe and secure, tucked away in Him and with Him, for all eternity, (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.
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