The Gavel of Grace

For years I knew little

Of God’s history and ways
I thought that the Bible
Was a make-believe maze

But when I checked further
Really studied the book
Its message made me glad
I took the time to look

In its many pages
A story was explained
God was Lord Creator
And in control remained

All His laws were broken
By independent man
But God in his wisdom
Designed a loving plan

A Savior He promised
His own Son it would be
Through a substitute death
Sinful man could go free

The Judge of all judges
Could not look at His Son
Law’s gavel descended
Its work had to be done

When justice was complete
The Substitute lay dead
The Father’s only Son
Had paid man’s sins instead

But death was not the end
God gave to Him new life
The Savior ascended
Up away from earth’s strife

In heaven He now lives
At His Father’s right hand
Law’s gavel is finished
On the cross it did land

The Lord patiently waits
For us all to believe
To place our faith in Him
Christ’s work for us receive

The gavel that condemns
God says I’ll never face
Furthermore he’s lifted
The gavel of his grace

The verdict from His bench
Still echoes in my ear
God declared me RIGHTEOUS!
No basis now to fear

The gavel of God’s grace
Has fallen upon me
Reckoning me righteous
Justified-- pure as He!

So now I understand
The biblical worldview
No more a fairy-tale
For me I know it’s true

Refrain:

The gavel has fallen
Fallen twice by God’s grace
It fell first at the Cross
When Christ died in my place

It fell again later
At faith’s moment in time
When Judge of all judges
Made His righteousness mine

Paul W. Humphreys (July 14, 2009)