Modern worship songwriter, two-time Song of the Year GMA Dove Award winning artist Tim Hughes released in the U.S. his first-ever live DVD/CD, Happy Day on October 20, 2009. The high-energy, celebratory Happy Day was recorded live before a capacity crowd at the famous London venue, Shepherds Bush Empire. Opening with the brand new corporate anthem “Jesus Saves,” the recording features a combination of favorite worship songs and brand new tunes written by Hughes.

As the writer and singer of all-time classic worship songs “Here I Am To Worship,” “Beautiful One” and “Consuming Fire,” I’ve been singing Tim’s songs for many years and have always found his albums to be worshipful and uplifting. The energy of this live recording is how these songs were meant to be experienced, amongst a body of believers. The album starts off with one of four new songs, “Jesus Saves,” a great new worship anthem sure to be added to church worship services in the near future.

I got the great opportunity to interview Tim about “Jesus Saves.” You can listen to our entire interview here.

Please share the background that led you to write the song "Jesus Saves?"

The song is my attempt at trying to communicate about the ultimate hope that we all have in Jesus. There is excitement in reminding ourselves that we can have joy in celebrating our salvation from Jesus. Our debt has been repaid. How we worship in church should reflect the joy that we will have one day in heaven of singing praises, shouting and crying out to God.

Please tell me about the Bible verses you used in writing the song?

Psalm 95:1-3:

Come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

How can listeners apply that message when they listen to the song?

As the song says, even in “the storms of life and the darkest night” we still need to sing out that “Jesus saves.” When we worship, we should celebrate, honor and adore Him. That’s our challenge in worship regardless of life’s circumstances.

Here are the lyrics:

VERSE 1
Hope is here
Shout the news to everyone
It’s a new day peace has come
Jesus saves
Mercy triumphs at the cross
Love has come to rescue us
Jesus saves

CHORUS 1
Hope is here
What a joyful noise we’ll make
As we join with heaven’s song
To let all the world know that Jesus saves
Raise a shout to let all the world know
That Jesus saves

VERSE 2
Free at last
Every debt has been repaid
Broken hearts can be remade
Jesus saves
Sing above the storms of life
Sing it through the darkest night
Jesus saves

CHORUS 2
Free at last
What a joyful noise we’ll make
As we join with heaven’s song
To let all the world know that Jesus saves
Raise a shout to let all the world know
That Jesus saves

BRIDGE
You save You heal
Restore, reveal, Your Father’s heart to us
You rose to raise us from the grave
Your Spirit lives in us

CHORUS 3
Sing it out
To let all the world know that Jesus saves
Raise a shout
To let all the world know that Jesus saves

Tim’s song “Jesus Saves” is a great song of praise and worship in the style of his great songs “Happy Day,” “Beautiful One” and “Here I Am To Worship.” As we start preparing our hearts for Easter, this song has a great celebratory chorus that we can lift up to our Risen Savior to celebrate the gift of salvation in Christ. Our worship should be Christ centered. This song also celebrates the trinity in the bridge “restore, reveal Your Father’s heart to us, You rose to raise us from the grave, Your spirit lives in us.” What a great way to honor the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! “Raise a shout to let all the world know that Jesus saves!”