Please tell me about the personal story behind recording and singing the song “One True God.”

Eddie Carswell usually writes our lyrics, but we didn’t actually write this song. The song was written by Jennie Lee Riddle, Tony Wood and Don Poythress and we wanted to record it because it sounds like one of our songs, and the song is filled with Gospel Truth. We started playing the song during Winter Jam before the album released. It was astounding to see how by the second chorus people started singing along with the chorus. The lyrics,  “When the dust has settled and this world is no more, every saint and sinner will confess that You are Lord.” are my favorite part of the song and it’s the first line of the song so it’s a great way to establish the message of the song. Those words challenge me and listeners to consider eternity. In one or two lines, we put the lyrics on the screens during Winter Jam and whether people believe it or not, it’s Truth.

Russ Lee always says before the song that t doesn’t matter what you think about God, the words of this song are true. It is a strong biblical truth and is a straight up Gospel message.
 

Please tell me about any Bible verses that connect to the message of the song.

Philippians 2:5-11 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,     in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

What do you consider to be the takeaway message of the song?  

My life verse is Psalm 119:11: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” I especially want young people to be challenged by that concept. I think it is important that people spend time in God’s Word. A lot of times musicians think about how getting into people’s hearts is through their headphones. That’s why I do what I do, but I also think it’s important that people spend time with God by reading The Bible. I love that our songs are Scripturally based. That’s our ministry as a band and this song is filled with that type of challenge.
 

 

Here’s Matthew Henry’s commentary about Psalm 119:11: “The ruin of the young is either living by no rule at all, or choosing false rules: let them walk by Scripture rules. To doubt of our own wisdom and strength, and to depend upon God, proves the purpose of holiness is sincere. God's word is treasure worth laying up. Let this be our plea with Him to teach us his statutes, that, being partakers of his holiness, we may also partake of his blessedness. And those whose hearts are fed with the bread of life, should with their lips feed many. In the way of God's commandments there is the unsearchable riches of Christ. But we do not meditate on God's precepts to good purpose, unless our good thoughts produce good works. I will not only think of thy statutes, but do them with delight. And it will be well to try the sincerity of our obedience by tracing the spring of it; the reality of our love by cheerfulness in appointed duties.”
 

I’ve followed this band since I was saved due to seeking Jesus after hearing the Gospel messages of Christian music in the mid-1990’s, for which I’m eternally grateful. Everyone has heard “The Christmas Shoes,” and my favorite NewSong album to date is Sheltering Tree. The band has undergone multiple line-up changes and Russ Lee is now back as the main lead vocalist, and keyboardist Matt Butler shares lead vocals on the title track, which is one of the stand-out songs of One True God. I love songs that are filled with biblical truth, and several stand-out tracks on the album have biblical references, especially “One True God,” “Love Is The Medicine,” “Why Worry?” and “Between The Cross And Crown.” The album is filled with catchy and inspirational adult contemporary songs. Don’t miss the amazing duet “The Way You Smile,” featuring Francesca Battistelli. If you like MercyMe, Casting Crowns and classic NewSong, One True God is their best album since Sheltering Tree.

 

What’s most amazing about our Savior Jesus is that of all the ways He could have chosen to save us, He chose to come down and be the least among us and a suffering servant.  The main message of the song is to hold on to Christ, as something better is coming. The message of the song is powerful as Butler professes the strong lyrics, “When the dust has settled and this world is no more, every saint and sinner will confess that You are Lord.”  That Truth is what really moves me and guides me in my Christian walk, which is to live everyday for Heaven.  This is an amazing song to sing at the top of our lungs “Time will only prove, That You and only You, Are the one true God.” Amen.

 

You can watch the video of “One True God” here.