“Death is swallowed up in victory. Oh death, where is your victory?
Oh death where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
Throughout Scripture, there is a consistent theme of the victorious and conquering nature of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians, Paul proclaims, “death is swallowed up in victory!” He goes on to say, “oh death where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting?” Paul is making a bold claim here that even death itself could not have victory over the permanence of the living God. As his Church, we are not waiting on victory to come – rather, we know the victory has already been won by Jesus and his redemptive work on the cross of Calvary.
In the first verse of “God Undefeatable”, the lyrics echo these themes of the conquering, victorious, yet merciful nature of God. Victorious warrior figures are not typically seen as merciful, but as Christians we have come to know a God that is both unshakeable in His holiness and perfection, yet also rich in mercy and grace towards His people through Jesus Christ. There is no end to the mercy and grace of God. In Romans chapter 8, Paul summarizes this reality:
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor
things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all of creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
This is a powerful reminder of the endless mercy and love that is found in the person of Jesus Christ!
The chorus of “God Undefeatable” carries this truth that our God is both a victorious champion and a merciful Savior. The first half of the chorus carries a triumphant and celebratory proclamation that our God is an undefeatable, unshakeable, and powerful God. The lyric, “in majesty and power You reign” alludes to the Kingship of Jesus. He is both our Lord and Savior, and rules and reigns over us.
The second half of the chorus reminds us of the equally important truth of God’s character: his undeniable, incomparable love. There is no other love like the love of God. It is matchless. Every other relationship and love can and will fail, but the love of God will not fail. It will not cease. It’s undeniably the only love that sustains and lasts.
This triumphant, corporate, proclamative chorus is important for us as a Church to sing because it reminds us that the Gospel doesn’t just tell us the story of Jesus’ life, but rather that life has been won for us. The Gospel is not meant to simply be known, but Jesus came so that His good news could be expressed through our lives. God awakened our lives so that we might actually get to live out the Gospel in Christ Jesus.
The bridge of “God Undefeatable” came from a study of the life of Jacob. God had chosen Jacob to be the heir of the promise, the heir of salvation. Yet he kept rejecting and running from God. However, regardless of his sinful intentions, the hold of God never let him go. The lyric “the hold of God is stronger than we dare to hope or dream” expresses this truth: no matter how many time we try to let go of God, He will never let us go. His love and hold is unending and relentless.
The unwavering love and hold of a victorious and unshakeable God compels His people to worship without reservation, because He is true and right. He has awakened us to life, and our response to this great God is a response of awe and wonder!
