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He Tried?
Rapper Shai Linne gives us a great lesson in Particular Redemption
Lyrics below
Verse 1
Here’s a controversial subject that tends to divide
For years it’s had Christians lining up on both sides
By God’s grace, I’ll address this without pride
The question concerns those for whom Christ died
Was He trying to save everybody worldwide?
Was He trying to make the entire world His Bride?
Does man’s unbelief keep the Savior’s hands tied?
Biblically, each of these must be denied
It’s true, Jesus gave up His life for His Bride
But His Bride is the elect, to whom His death is applied
If on judgment day, you see that you can’t hide
And because of your sin, God’s wrath on you abides
And hell is the place you eternally reside
That means your wrath from God hasn’t been satisfied
But we believe His mission was accomplished when He died
But how the cross relates to those in hell?
Well, they be saying:
God knows He tried (8x)
Verse 2
Father, Son and Spirit: three and yet one
Working as a unit to get things done
Our salvation began in eternity past
God certainly has to bring all His purpose to pass
A triune, eternal bond no one could ever sever
When it comes to the church, peep how they work together
The Father foreknew first, the Son came to earth
To die- the Holy Spirit gives the new birth
The Father elects them, the Son pays their debt and protects them
The Spirit is the One who resurrects them
The Father chooses them, the Son gets bruised for them
The Spirit renews them and produces fruit in them
Everybody’s not elect, the Father decides
And it’s only the elect in whom the Spirit resides
The Father and the Spirit- completely unified
But when it comes to Christ and those in hell?
Well, they be saying:
God knows He tried (8x)
Verse 3
My third and final verse- here’s the situation
Just a couple more things for your consideration
If saving everybody was why Christ came in history
With so many in hell, we’d have to say He failed miserably
So many think He only came to make it possible
Let’s follow this solution to a conclusion that’s logical
What about those who were already in the grave?
The Old Testament wicked- condemned as depraved
Did He die for them? C’mon, behave
But worst of all, you’re saying the cross by itself doesn’t save
That we must do something to give the cross its power
That means, at the end of the day, the glory’s ours
That man-centered thinking is not recommended
The cross will save all for whom it was intended
Because for the elect, God’s wrath was satisfied
But still, when it comes to those in hell
Well, they be saying:
God knows He tried (8x)

Comments
All of the young rappers of the 116 Clique are amazing artists and more importantly, they are incredibly theologically precise with their lyrics.
I bought the album "13 Letters" awhile back and I have been blessed over and over by listening to them rap the epistles of Paul in a audibly pleasing and spiritually stimulating way.
Thanks for posting this!
Posted by: Jason | May 26, 2009 03:13 PM
JOHN,
I'll bring the video camera if you do the breakdancing.
Posted by: DAVID D. | May 26, 2009 07:16 PM
Nothing profound for me to add, just enjoy saying, I really appreciate his material; maybe in some weird way he would stumble on this encouragement and continue being fruitful.
Posted by: Todd L | May 26, 2009 09:21 PM
Off the hook! This is what we need more of. Love the lyrics, love the beat. Its fun, but it drives the point home. Salvation is of the Lord.
Posted by: Ben Lovelace | May 27, 2009 01:36 AM
Shai Linne and others like him (Timothy Brindle, Curtis Allen, Evangel) have been immensely edifying to me. I love their Christ-centered, reformed lyrics and enjoy their musical talent.
Posted by: Nicole | May 27, 2009 07:28 PM
This is great!
Posted by: G-Zus | May 29, 2009 01:46 PM
Great stuff! John Owen's words on this doctrine continues to have impact:
The Father imposed His wrath due unto, and the Son underwent punishment for, either:
1. All the sins of all men;
2. All the sins of some men, or;
3. Some of the sins of all men.
In which case it may be said:
1. That if the last be true, all men have some sins to answer for, and so, none are saved;
2. That if the second be true, then Christ, in their stead suffered for all the sins of all the elect in the whole world, and this is the truth;
3. But if the first be the case, why are not all men free from the punishment due unto their sins?
You answer, "Because of unbelief."
I ask, Is this unbelief a sin, or is it not? If it be, then Christ suffered the punishment due unto it, or He did not. If He did, why must that hinder them more than their other sins for which He died? If He did not, He did not die for all their sins!"
John Owen - from the Death of Death in the Death of Christ
Posted by: Anonymous | May 29, 2009 06:37 PM
I discovered Shai Linne through the Way of the Master radio broadcast a year or so ago.
I must admit, the man has better theology than the whole of the pastors of most of the churches I've sat in.
His "Atonement Q&A" is amazingly informative...
Thanks for posting this.
http://benjamindennis.wordpress.com/
Posted by: Benjamin Dennis | June 4, 2009 01:59 AM