Because He Lives
One of the 94 hymns we sing together at Cornerstone Reformed Baptist Church on the Gold Coast. Browse the full hymnbook.
Lyrics
Verse 1
God sent His son,
They called Him, Jesus;
He came to love,
Heal and forgive;
He lived and died
To buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there
To prove my Saviour lives!
Chorus
Because He lives,
I can face tomorrow!
Because He lives,
All fear is gone.
Because I know
He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
Verse 2
How sweet to hold
A newborn baby,
And feel the pride
And joy he brings;
But greater still
The calm assurance:
This child can face
Uncertain days because He Lives!
Verse 3
And then one day,
I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s fina War with pain;
And then, as death
Gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory
And I’ll know He lives!
Behind the Hymn
"Because He Lives" was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither in 1971 during a turbulent period in American history marked by the Vietnam War, social upheaval, and cultural unrest. Gloria was pregnant with their third child, Benjy, and the couple was gripped by anxiety about bringing a child into such a troubled world. Additionally, Bill was recovering from a serious bout of mononucleosis, and they were facing hurtful criticism from within their own church community. In the midst of this darkness, the Gaithers experienced a renewed sense of God's presence and the hope that comes from the resurrection of Christ. Gloria later recalled that when their son was born, they looked into his face and were overwhelmed with the confidence that "because He lives, I can face tomorrow." The hymn became one of the Gaithers' most famous compositions, recorded by hundreds of artists and translated into numerous languages. It remains a beloved Easter anthem and a powerful declaration of resurrection hope in the face of fear and uncertainty.