I’ve been exploring some of the very modern worship songs as an old guy😀. But now, I’ve decided to alternate between very modern hymns, old hymns, and in-between hymns, namely the worship songs from the 60s to the 90s that feature in hymnbooks such as Mission Praise. Today it’s the turn of the in-between hymns.
Today’s song is For God So Love the World from the 1970s.
I do remember this one from my early years as a Christian. I probably haven’t heard it in the 21st Century. It’s tough trying to find versions of the song on YouTube because many other hymns and songs are based on that verse, which summarizes the basic message of the gospel.
I first heard John 3:16 in an Irish song when I was in my mid teens. An Irish folk gospel singer, Larry Hogan, had a song that featured the verse, but I can’t find any trace of it now. It’s around 50 years ago, so, maybe someone else recorded it, and I assumed it was Larry Hogan, but I’m pretty sure that it was him. I can still vividly remember the chorus. Larry Hogan was a charismatic Roman Catholic. I remember him hosting a show of gospel songs on Irish radio back around 1980, which is when I committed my life to Christ. Larry Hogan, was actually from Limerick, which is where I live nowadays, although I lived in Cork back in 1980. I see a few of his albums on YouTube, but I still can’t find the song 😀.
Anyway, as always, I’ll let the song speak for itself, but here’s the verse on which it’s based:
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
And here’s a range of songs based on the verse:
Hibernia Gospel 