mgpcpastor's blog

So, after having slaved away preaching Zechariah chapter 3 this morning one lady helpfully observed that I could have saved myself the effort if we’d simply sung ‘Jesus Thy Blood And Righteousness’ a few more times.
Fair call.
Translated by John Wesley from the german original composed by Nicholas von Zinzendorf,
this is a hymn that expresses Scriptural truth with transcendent art and clarity, in this case the truth that we are accepted as righteous before God because of the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

Here’s the lyrics from the Rejoice! hymnbook. An older set of lyrics can be found at cyberhymnal.
1.
Jesus, Your blood and righteousness
my beauty are, my glorious dress!
Mid flaming worlds, in these arrayed
with joy shall I lift up my head.
2.
Bold shall I stand in that great day,
and none condemn me, try who may:
fully absolved through Christ I am
from sin and fear, from guilt and shame.
3.
This stainless robe its beauty wears
when all else fades with passing years;
no age can change its glorious hue,
the robe of Christ is ever new.
4.
When from the dust of death I rise
to claim my mansion in the skies,
then this shall be my only plea:
that Jesus died and lives for me!
5.
O let the dead now hear Your voice,
let those once lost in sin rejoice!
Their beauty this, their glorious dress:
Jesus, Your blood and righteousness.

© Jubilate Hymns Ltd
Hymns from the Rejoice! Hymn Book, Presbyterian Church of Australia
Here’s a rendition of the tune to which we sang the hymn, Rimington.

Here’s a very tuneful modern setting by someone called Lori Sealy, also on YouTube. Her additions give no sense of being contemporary ‘tack-ons’.