Hillsong is a name that needs no introduction. As of this posting, I reviewed four other songs from this juggernaut, including Oceans, So Will I, What a Beautiful Name, and P E A C E. All four received highly favorable Berean Test reviews. Will Who You Say I Am join the ranks of these titans or will it fall short? Let us find out together.

I will review the live version that appears on their album There is More.

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?

It is a beautiful message, communicating the effects of salvation, transitioning from a place of darkness, blindness, and bondage to light, sight, and freedom in Christ. It came at a huge cost: Jesus had to die. While the entire Gospel is not present, it is meant to be a song of praise rather than a formulaic presentation.

My biggest gripe is the level of repetition. I counted the following phrases:

“Who the Son sets free Oh is free indeed” – 4 times “In my Father’s house There’s a place for me” – 4 times “I am chosen, not forsaken” – 6 times “You are for me, not against me” – 6 times “I’m a child of God” – 8 times “Yes I am” – 8 times “I am who You say I am” – 15 times

Examine the entire lyrics to see what I mean. While some repetition is fine, even poetic (see Psalm 150:1-6 for an excellent example), several phrases appearing 8 times or more in a single song is excessive and, perhaps, lyrically lazy. It adds extra padding without adding extra substance. Understand that this is not an example of vain repetition as described in Matthew 6:7. Vain repetition is the use of a mantra to be heard from God.

Score: 8/10

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

All the lyrics agree with Scripture.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Who am I that the highest King

Would welcome me

An adjusted version of Psalm 8:4, the “who am I that…” language (or equivalent) was once uttered (though not in English) by famous Biblical characters, including Moses (Exodus 3:11-15), David (2 Samuel 7:18, 1 Chronicles 17:16, and 1 Chronicles 29:10-14) and Job (Job 7:17; context starts in Job 6:1).

I was lost but He brought me in

Reminiscent of three parables Jesus told to the grumbling Pharisees and scribes who complained that Jesus welcomes among the most hated people in 1st century Judea: the tax collectors, along with other people whom they deemed “sinners”. These parables are the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7), the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10), and the recklessly spending son (aka the prodigal son; Luke 15:11-32).

The third is the most significant as it personalizes Jesus’ message, that the “sinners” who repent (Luke 15:24) can be welcomed into God’s heavenly kingdom, complete with a celebration (Luke 15:23). In fact, the first two parables end with Jesus’ remark about a heavenly party when one sinner repents (Luke 15:7 and Luke 15:10). Indeed, these repentant sinners were once lost, but now they are found (Luke 15:24 and Luke 15:32).

Oh His love for me

Oh His love for me

We will find out later just how great that love is.

[Chorus 1]

Who the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed

Free from what? We can answer this by examining the context by which these lines refer: John 8:36. Jesus is on the Mount of Olives (John 8:1). After the skirmish with the Pharisees regarding the woman caught in adultery and spoke many truths concerning Himself, many of the Jews started to believe Him (John 8:30), though later, they tried to kill Him after Jesus utters the oft-quoted “Before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). We will examine John 8:31-36 to answer this question.

To those who believed Him, Jesus told them that those who know the truth will be set free (John 8:31-32). This prompts these Jews to ask Jesus “What do you mean? We’ve never been slaves before!” (John 8:33). Jesus responds, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). This is the context by which Jesus says “if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). The answer is clear: we are free from the slavery of sin.

I’m a child of God

Yes I am

An adopted son and daughter of the Most High God (see John 1:12-13, John 14:18, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:1-8, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5-7, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:11-22, Hebrews 9:15, and 1 John 3:1-3).

[Verse 2]

Free at last, He has ransomed me

Connecting to Chorus 1, lines 1 and 2, this particular line speaks of a payment to release a prisoner. Given the Chorus, we can ascertain that the prisoner is enslaved by sin and was freed by a payment. This has Colossians 2:14 written all over it! This is confirmed explicitly in lines 3-5, below.

His grace runs deep

God’s unmerited favor runs so deep, a terrible price was paid. What price was that? Well…

While I was a slave to sin

Jesus died for me

Yes He died for me

That price was the death of Jesus. While other passages refer to it, including Leviticus 17:11, Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, 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, 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, these lines are more specific to Romans 5:6-10 and Colossians 2:14.

[Chorus 2]

Who the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed

I’m a child of God

Yes I am

Repeats Chorus 1.

In my Father’s house

There’s a place for me

Refers to John 14:1-3, which Jesus comforts His disciples after predicting His own death in John 13:21-38. He assures them that He will come again, that He will bring them to where He is going. Where is that? Thomas asked the same question in John 14:5. One of the most quoted Bible verses, John 14:6, is Jesus’ response to this question: He is going to the Father, and the only way we can go is through Him!

I’m a child of God

Yes I am

Repeats Chorus 1, lines 3 and 4.

[Bridge]

I am chosen, not forsaken

The first part is another reference to adoption. See Chorus 1, lines 3 and 4.

The second part quotes from Hebrews 13:5, which itself quotes from the words of God in Joshua 1:5.

I am who You say I am

Fills out the title of this track, with a declaration that what God says goes, regardless of what we might personally believe about it. Also called objective truth.

You are for me, not against me

A slight variant of Romans 8:31-32. We must understand that the context of this passage is Christ-followers.

I am who You say I am

Repeated from line 2, above.

[Chorus 3]

Who the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed

I’m a child of God

Yes I am

In my Father’s house

There’s a place for me

I’m a child of God

Yes I am

In my Father’s house

There’s a place for me

I’m a child of God

Yes I am

Repeats Chorus 2.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unless unbelievers have a criminal intent to twist these lyrics, it is near impossible for those outside the camp of Christ to interpret the message differently than those of us who follow Jesus, though perhaps without the deep analysis that is section 2. I have little doubt that it will invite curiosity about several concepts described, including ransom, slavery to sin, and chosen by God. We must avail ourselves to explanation should the opportunity arise.

Some will share my feelings about the over-repetition of lyrics. It really annoys me. It might annoy others to the point of tuning out. This would be tragic, especially given the biblical depth that exists within these lines; however, I sympathize with this rationale for rejection.

Score: 7/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as He defines who we are, not us.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Hillsong’s Who You Say I Am contains an awesome message about Christ’s great love for us. It is Biblically sound and presents hope to unbelievers for those who wish to learn more, glorifying God. Its biggest flaw is excessive repetition, a major turn-off for many of us who find it irritating.

Worship leaders may consider this song, depending on their views on repetition or if God defining who we seems self-focused. I thought it was, but changed my mind on that point.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: Who You Say I Am (Live) (listen to the song) (buy the song)

Artist: Hillsong Worship

Album: There Is More (Live) (buy the album)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 5:29

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

*Copyright © 2018 Hillsong Music Publishing (APRA) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

04/20/2020 – Inspired to hear it again by commenter Brian, I no longer saw a self-focused song. Instead, I saw as he did: God defines who we are, not us. Therefore, I increased its score from 8.5/10 to 9/10.

02/07/2020 – Added a summary to section 2 that was previously missing. Also, to keep this review in line with others, I removed my commentary on its use. This is a private matter left for worship leaders to decide and should not affect this song’s message score. This slightly increased the rating from 8/10 to 8.5/10.

07/04/2019 – Thanks to an email from Alex, to keep this review in line with other reviews, I lowered the score for section four given the centrality of self described in other sections of this review. This brings the score down from 9/10 to 8/10.

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