This Reformation hymn, penned by Martin Luther's colleague Paul Speratus, is one of the richest, most comforting, and sublimely beautiful hymns ever written. Instead of writing my thoughts about this hymn, I urge you to spend some time reading it thoughtfully and consider the incredible grace God has lavished on us in Jesus Christ. Happy Reformation Day! Soli Deo Gloria!
Salvation unto us has come
By God’s free grace and favor;
Good works cannot avert our doom,
They help and save us never.
Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone,
Who did for all the world atone;
He is our one Redeemer.
What God did in His Law demand
And none to Him could render
Caused wrath and woe on ev’ry hand
For man, the vile offender.
Our flesh has not those pure desires
The spirit of the Law requires,
And lost is our condition.
It was a false, misleading dream
That God His Law had given
That sinners might themselves redeem
And by their works gain heaven.
The Law is but a mirror bright
To bring the inbred sin to light
That lurks within our nature.
From sin our flesh could not abstain,
Sin held its sway unceasing;
The task was useless and in vain,
Our guilt was e’er increasing.
None can remove sin’s poisoned dart
Or purify our guileful heart—
So deep is our corruption.
Yet as the Law must be fulfilled
Or we must die despairing,
Christ came and hath God’s anger stilled,
Our human nature sharing.
He hath for us the Law obeyed
And thus the Father’s vengeance stayed
Which over us impended.
Since Christ hath full atonement made
And brought to us salvation,
Each Christian therefore may be glad
And build on this foundation.
Thy grace alone, dear Lord, I plead,
Thy death is now my life indeed,
For Thou hast paid my ransom.
Let me not doubt, but trust in Thee,
Thy Word cannot be broken;
Thy call rings out, “Come unto Me!”
No falsehood hast Thou spoken.
Baptized into Thy precious name,
My faith cannot be put to shame,
And I shall never perish.
The only righteous in God’s sight
Are they this faith possessing;
But faith shines forth with heav’nly light,
Itself by works professing.
Though faith is all that God requires,
Thy love the neighbor’s good desires
If God hath truly borne Thee.
The Law reveals the guilt of sin
And makes men conscience-stricken;
The Gospel then doth enter in
The sinful soul to quicken.
Come to the cross, trust Christ, and live;
The Law no peace can ever give,
No comfort and no blessing.
Faith clings to Jesus’ cross alone
And rests in Him unceasing;
And by its fruits true faith is known,
With love and hope increasing.
Yet faith alone doth justify,
Works serve the neighbor and supply
The proof that faith is living.
Hope waits in patience for that time
When God will show His power.
When to expect this joy sublime,
God sets for us no hour.
He knows full well when best to aid;
Though help may often be delayed,
In this we all must trust Him.
If His goodwill be hid in night,
Dismiss this fear unbidden.
To those in whom is His delight,
His love is often hidden.
His Word shall take away thy doubt,
And if thy flesh its “No” should shout,
Still cast from thee all terror.
May glory, laud, with highest praise,
For this, our God’s salvation,
To Father, Spirit, Son be raised,
Who’ll bring unto completion
The work He hath in us begun,
That glory may for Him be won.
For this His name be hallowed.
His kingdom come, His will on earth
Be done as ’tis in heaven.
Of daily bread be there no dearth,
And be our sins forgiven
As we do them who owe us aught.
Into temptation lead us not,
From evil free us. Amen.
#hymnody #Lutheran #theology