# Reigning Grace explained — Olney Hymns

> Chapter companion for Olney Hymns by John Newton.

## What happens

The hymn celebrates the sovereign and reigning grace of God, which pardons sins, transforms hearts, and secures the salvation of the elect. It emphasizes that grace is the theme of heavenly worship and the sustaining power from the beginning of faith to its final consummation in heaven.

## Themes in this chapter

### Grace and Unmerited Favor

The entire hymn is a celebration of God's sovereign, reigning grace that pardons sins, melts hearts, and secures believers.

### Hope of Heaven and Eternal Life

The hymn looks forward to the life after this changing life, where believers will see God's face and praise and love him forever.

## Character check-ins

### The Lord

The Lord is the one who reveals his face and teaches believers to sing of his reigning grace.

### The Redeemer

The redeemed are those who praise grace upon the throne, joining with angels in worship.

### Angels

Angels join in solemn chorus with the redeemed, making the theme of grace their own.

### Satan

Satan strives in vain against the chosen few, but grace's conquering reign secures their victory.

## Key lines

> Now may the Lord reveal his face, And teach our stammering tongues To make his sovereign, reigning grace, The subject of our songs!

May God show himself to us and help our inadequate words to sing about his powerful, ruling grace.

_The opening stanza asks for divine revelation and enablement to praise grace._

> Grace reigns, to pardon crimson sins, To melt the hardest hearts; And from the work it once begins It never more departs:

Grace rules in order to forgive even the worst sins and to soften the most stubborn hearts, and once it starts its work, it never stops.

_This stanza emphasizes the sovereignty and perseverance of grace._

> Grace tills the soil, and sows the seeds. Provides the sun and rain, Till from the tender blade proceeds The ripen'd harvest grain.

Grace prepares the heart, plants the gospel, and provides all that is needed for spiritual growth, leading to maturity.

_Agricultural imagery illustrates the process of sanctification by grace._

> Lord, when this changing life is past, If we may see thy face, How shall we praise and love at last, And sing the reign of grace.

Lord, when this mortal life ends, if we are allowed to see you, we will praise and love you perfectly and sing about your grace forever.

_The final stanza expresses the hope of eternal worship._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/86-reigning-grace
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters