Easter Countdown: 5) In Christ Alone (Getty/Townend)

At number 5, another Getty/Townend collaboration (in fact the first hymn they wrote together) from 2001 and one that my wife and I included in our Marriage Service four years ago. In Christ Alone, which I mentioned earlier in the week, is a wonderful modern composition that has all the dignity of an ancient hymn. It shows such insight into the security and hope that the believer finds in Christ and His finished work. It has proved to be one of the most popular hymns written this century.

I commented earlier on the structure of King of Kings and I see similarities here, in that the second and third verses speak of the death and resurrection of Jesus, between a first and last verse that speak of the wonderful hope, power and victory that we possess through Him.

'Christ Alone' (Solus Christus) is one of the Five Solas (solae) of the Protestant Reformation under Martin Luther and proclaims that Christ is the only mediator between and God and man - "salvation is found in no one else" (Acts 4:12). Therefore the hymn opens, "In Christ alone my hope is found". None other could provide such wonderful hope and salvation, neither is any other needed when we have Christ - "of His fullness we have all received and grace upon grace" (John 1:16). That applies even to other believers - we may gain immensely from the ministry of various leaders and preachers, which is all part of a balanced Christian diet, but listening to great teaching and sermons is no substitute for personal communion with Christ. In fact that was one of the great challenges of the Reformation, the teaching that no man, no priest, no king, not even the Pope himself, was greater than Christ - their teaching was not be taken instead of Scripture (Sola Scriptura) and one could only come to salvation by faith in Him (Sola fide). For reference, the other two are Sola gratia (by faith alone) and Sola Deo Gloria (glory to God alone).

I've taken the opportunity to show one of David Wesley's amazing virtual choirs. I'm so impressed by the way he's coordinated nearly 50 singers singing their parts and compiling it all so precisely that it sounds just like a live choir. If you haven't already, check out some more of his compilations including his clever and entertaining Evolution of Worship Music! In this current situation, virtual choirs are becoming popular. It reminds me very much of Revelation where "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language" join in worship to the Lamb (Revelation 7:9). What a day it will be when we are all singing God's praises together, not over the internet but in side by side before the face of our glorious God!

(At the bottom of this post I've also added the Getty's performing the hymn at the Gospel Coalition in 2013)

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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.

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 every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live.

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.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.