God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Words: C. Bishop, in Great Gospel Songs, edited by Haldor Lillenas et al. (Kansas City, Missouri: Nazarene Publishing House, 1929), number 3.
Music: Robert Harkness (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know Bishop’s full name, or where to get a good photo of him (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
That God should love a sinner such as I,
Should yearn to change my sorrow into bliss,
Nor rest till He had planned to bring me nigh,
How wonderful is love like this!
Refrain
Such love, such wondrous love,
Such love (such love), such wondrous love,
That God should love a sinner such as I,
How wonderful is love like this!
That Christ should join so freely in the scheme,
Although it meant His death on Calvary,
Did ever human tongue find nobler theme
Than love divine that ransomed me?
Refrain
That for a willful outcast such as I,
The Father planned, the Savior bled and died;
Redemption for a worthless slave to buy,
Who long had law and grace defied.
Refrain
And now He takes me to His heart—a son,
He asks me not to fill a servant’s place;
The Far off country
wand’rings are all done,
Wide open are His arms of grace.
Refrain