Christ Is King

By Charles Reign Scoville

Lyrics

1. Come, friends sing, of the faith that’s so dear to me,
Revealed thro’ God’s Son, in Galilee;
He brought peace on earth and good will to the sons of men,
Go tell it to the world, her King reigns again.

Chorus:
I am so happy in Jesus,
Captivity’s Captor is He;
Angels rejoice when a soul’s saved,
Some day we like Him shall be,
Sorrow and joy have the same Lord,
Valley of shadows shall sing;
Death has its life, its door opens in heaven eternally,
Christ is King.

2. Crucified, thus He suffered and bled for me,
Death and the grave won sin’s victory;
Then the sky grew dark and the temple veil rent in twain,
Rocks rent, and angels came, for He lived again.

3. At His feet, on old Olivet’s Hill, they say,
Cloud chariots halted, took Christ away;
Then the angels came and to wond’ring disciples said
He’ll come, and earth and sea shall yield up their dead.

Bible Reference

Revelation 19:16

About This Hymn

Come friends, sing of the faith that’s so dear to me introduces a hymn of heartfelt worship and awe at the kingship of Christ. Scoville invites the congregation to sing of the faith revealed through the Savior in Galilee, celebrating the peace and goodwill He brought to earth. The first stanza sets the tone of communal praise, reminding worshipers that Christ reigns again in glory and power. This opening reaches into the heart of worship by combining personal joy with proclamation.

The refrain, "I am so happy in Jesus, Captivity’s Captor is He," captures the essence of spiritual freedom through Christ. It describes how Jesus delivers souls from bondage and awakens heavenly rejoicing when someone is saved. The imagery continues with “Sorrow and joy have the same Lord,” portraying Christ’s sovereignty over both comfort and trial. The repeated refrain anchors each verse in victory and deliverance, reinforcing the believer’s identity and hope in the kingly reign of Jesus.

Subsequent verses move from the Good News of resurrection and ascension to the promise of Christ’s triumphant return. Scoville writes of the resurrection witnessed in a rending of nature’s barriers, and the Ascension in which chariots of cloud lifted Him from the earth. His coming again will signal the day when earth and sea yield up the dead. In this progression from proclamation of His rule, to resurrection, to promise of return—the hymn unfolds an arc of confidence and hope that continues to encourage generations of believers.