In Christ Alone by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, 2001.

Verse 1

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

Observe: There are few Christian hymns or songs that can rival the theology packed into this song overwhelms. Verse 1 describes the hope for the fallen creature that only comes through Christ. His strength is the foundation that never fails and stills all fears. In Christ alone, we stand.

Verse 2

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

God taking on flesh. Amazing. The distance from heaven to Bethlehem is beyond our comprehension. He came in infinite love, was scorned by the ones he came to save; still, he joyfully fulfilled his mission and died for sinners. While I can stand boldly before the throne of grace, I freely choose to fall on my face in thankful worship. Verse 3 offers details that help us meditate further.

Verse 3

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

John tells us, In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4–5, ESV).

The forces of darkness thought they had extinguished the Light of the world, but, out of the dark tomb, the Son burst forth brighter than the sun. Jesus stood victorious over sin, and no flag was thrown for taunting! Paul quotes Isaiah. Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Then draws this conclusion, But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15: 54–55, 57). What is the result of Christ’s resurrection?

Verse 4

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.

Guilt, fear, and uncertainty are gone. Jesus commands all destinies but takes special care of his own. As one who directly knew the heart of Jesus for his people, Peter writes, “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus cares for you, and you can rely on that truth in all life’s challenges.

Blessings, Pastor Don.