Josh Wilson – That Was Then, This is Now

Josh Wilson is best known for his hit single Savior, Please released from Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup (2008) and Before the Morning from Life is Not a Snapshot (2009).  He won ASCAP Singer/Songwriter of the Year in 2012 and was once featured on 3 million limited edition Pepsi cans!  He is currently writing music for his sixth album release.

That was then, this is now received mixed to positive reviews after its release in 2015.  Let us see how its hit song of the same name stacks up against The Berean Test!

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

This is essentially the Gospel message.  It also includes all three basic elements of a good testimony: life before Christ (darkness), the “conversion experience” (confession) and life after Christ (forgiveness).

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

Most of it of it does, though I do have a quibble.  Lyrics posted with permission.*

We used to hide from the light
We made friends with the night
We were headed the wrong way on a one way track
Going nowhere fast

In our sinful state, we loved the darkness rather than the light, else our sinful deeds will be exposed, and who wants that?  See Proverbs 4:19, John 1:3, John 3:19-21, and John 11:10.

We got used to the dark
We thought this is who we are
And we figured that we were just too far gone
But we were wrong

Continues idea set forth in first stanza.

‘Cause love came running like a river
And we got washed in the water
Then He said you’re forgiven
Your sins are gone

See Romans 5:6-8.

NOTE: In my first reading, I thought that line 2 taught that water baptism as necessary for salvation.  In fact, the antecedent of “washed” and “water” are part of the idea in line 1, which refers to love, not literally water.

That was then, this is now

Clearly, a change has taken place.  Lines 2-4 describe what happened.

You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about

This combines two biblical concepts:

1. We are bought by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (see Leviticus 17:11, Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).
2. That this occurred through the shedding of blood, through which there is no forgiveness without (Hebrews 9:22).

That was lost, this is found

Refers to the three parables Jesus told in response to the Pharisees and Scribes grumbling saying “Jesus receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:1-2).  These are:

1. The parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7),
2. The parable of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10); and
3. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now

Direct reference to 2 Corinthians 5:17.

So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now

Continues the idea from 2 Corinthians 5:17.

NOTE: Josh could have been stronger of line 3 of this stanza, stating that which Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery: “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11).  After all, that is why John wrote his first letter (1 John 2:1).  However, since it still lines up with Scripture, I will not deduct points.

We’ve been remade by grace

Or born again, as Jesus put it in John 3:3-8.

We’ve all got new names

At least, those of us who overcome will receive a new name (see Revelation 2:17).  Josh has the right idea but the wrong tense.

And nothing we do could ever change
What He did that day

Of course, we can’t change history!

When love came running like a river
We got washed in the water

Repeated idea from earlier.

Then He said you’re forgiven

See Matthew 26:28, Act 2:38, Act 5:31, Act 10:43, Romans 4:7, Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:13-14, James 5:15, James 5:19-20, 1 John 2:1-2, and 1 John 2:12.

And you belong

That is, as an adopted child of God (see John 1:12-13, John 14:18, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:1-8, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5-7, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:11-22, Hebrews 9:15, and 1 John 3:1-3).

That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now

Repeated from earlier lines.

So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then

Repeated from earlier lines.

If we turn and confess every unrighteousness
He is faithful and just to forgive

This is where the rubber meets the road.  We need to confess our sins and receive God’s grace.  In addition to the “forgiveness” passages mentioned, see Romans 10:9-13 and 1 John 1:9.

Oh, so turn and confess every wrong and regret
And see what it means to live

Josh turns from making a declarative to drawing us into this confession described in the previous two lines.

That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now

Repeated from earlier lines.

So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now
‘Cause that was then and this is now

Repeated from earlier lines.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This song will serve as an excellent Gospel presentation to those who are not Christ followers.  Although it won’t answer all their questions (no song can do that),

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

Given that this is a basic Gospel presentation, it glorifies God.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

This Gospel presentation is biblically accurate, with a few minor errors.  It bring glory to God, especially if those who are not Christians are inspired to confess their sins and put their trust in Jesus.  This, of course, is the work of the Holy Spirit, using Josh to accomplish this end.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: That Was Then, This is Now (listen to the song)

Artist: Josh Wilson

Album: That Was Then, This is Now

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2015

Duration: 3:17

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2015 Meaux Jeaux Music (SESAC) 9t One Songs (ASCAP) Rock And A Harding Place (SESAC) Ariose Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

07/30/2020 – A little bird (Neal Cruco) told me that Merriam-Webster dictionary updated their dictionary for the word “Prodigal” Therefore, I am forced to take back my tongue-in-cheek critique of this word.  This does not affect its score.