A few months ago, I reviewed Big Daddy Weave’s Jesus I Believe. In my review of that song, I mentioned that my sister-in-law suffered three losses during three separate pregnancies and my own experience of losing a son. It was Big Daddy Weave’s Redeemed that, in part, assisted in her focus from her own situation to a Christ-centered life. Let us examine why this song has such a deep and lasting impact on her recovery to freedom.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Big-daddy-weave-redeemed-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site! Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

As the title suggests, it is about Christ’s redemptive power to transform us from a life of self-indulgence, filled with shame and regret, to one that is Christ-centered, free from the ills of a sinful lifestyle and its destructive force on our lives. Our past lives can include both sinful lifestyle choices and guilt from circumstances outside of our control. Christ’s payment for our transgressions enables us to rid ourselves of our past self and press forward to our newfound relationship with Jesus.

Although Weave could have hinted a bit more about Christ crucified, relying on implying His death and resurrection at the center of life-changing renewal rather than more explicit or implicit naming conventions, Christ followers will immediately recognize the Gospel throughout these lyrics. I offer no penalty for this opinion.

There is minimal repetition within Chorus.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All if it does.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-4: Reminiscent of the Psalms, Weave describes his own self-loathing due to his past transgressions, unable to remove the grip that weighs him down. He has become a slave to sin and believes that he cannot escape (see Romans 6:16-20 and John 8:34).

Lines 5 and 6: Although the word “you” is not capitalized, Verse 2 line 4 sets the context that it refers to God. Here Weave describes himself as a prisoner, one where God instructs him to leave his self-pity and realize that He dealt with his past. Weave expects his audience to implicitly realize that this refers to Christ’s sacrifice to pay for our sins (see Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

[Chorus]

Lines 1 and 2: Continuing the concept laid out in Verse 1, lines 5 and 6, Christ’s reminder catapults Weave out of his state of inward focus on past sin. He realizes that Christ set him free from sin’s grip. His past does not define him, turning to Jesus to remove his chains (Matthew 11:28-30).

Line 3: Christ’s sacrificial love for us creates within us a response that requires us to rid ourselves of our burdensome patterns of sin, recognizing Jesus as the One who whom makes this possible (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Line 4: points to Weave’s transformation as a new creature as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Line 5: Repeats line 1.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: Building on lines 1-4 in Verse 1, Weave adds additional detail describing his shame and regret, much like Judas Iscariot in Matthew 27:1-5. He hung himself after he betrayed Jesus, focusing on himself rather than repenting and finding forgiveness.

Lines 3 and 4: Contrasted with the previous two lines, God reminds Weave that He still has work for him to accomplish, to bear fruit in keeping with his repentance (see Matthew 5:16, John 15:1-11, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 4:1, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:13, Colossians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:17, 1 Timothy 2:10, 1 Timothy 6:18, 2 Timothy 2:21, 2 Timothy 3:17, Titus 2:7, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:1, Titus 3:8, Titus 3:14, Hebrews 10:19-25, 1 Peter 2:12, 1 John 1:7, and 1 John 2:6).

[Bridge]

Lines 1-4: Weave describes the transformative power that Christ brings to rid us of our old, sinful self, moving onto a new, Christ-centered self (see in Ezekiel 11:19, Romans 6:6, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:14-16, Colossians 3:10, and Ephesians 4:24).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Those outside the camp of Christ should immediately see the contrast between Weave’s old and new lives; one filled with shame and regret and another with freedom. While believers will immediately recognize Christ as the center of this transformative power, it becomes less clear for the uninitiated. Despite this, Weave’s lyrics will attract curiosity, perhaps enough to warrant more research into the motor that drives his metamorphosis.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God through its description of God’s transformative power.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

I hope you can see why my sister-in-law found Christ’s healing in Big Daddy Weave’s Redeemed. Its message of transformation from self to Christ has a lasting impact that reminds Christians of God’s unfailing love and will attract unbelievers to explore Jesus for the first time, bringing glory to God. While I would have liked to see more clarity on the Gospel, it takes away little from Weave’s profound impact on those who choose to listen.

In terms of church usage it is not worship music since Weave talks about himself; However, it may find usage as a testimonial.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Redeemed (listen to the song) (buy the song)

Artist: Big Daddy Weave

Album: Love Come to Life (buy the album)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2012

Duration: 4:36

Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

Updates:

01/26/2020 – Commenter Steve Barhydt has once again provided a compelling case for why the Chorus is Biblical, providing Hebrews 12 as his basis. Upon further prayer and examination, I’ve accepted his arguments and updated the score from 7/10 to 9.5/10.

11/20/2019 – Commenter Janet Giles raised a question about line 3 within the Chorus that, upon prayer and reflection, I cannot accept as Biblical. I changed the score from 9/10 to 7/10.

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