The Solid Rock

In 1834, Edward Mote wrote, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." It was titled, "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" or "The Solid Rock." The refrain:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

So true. From Edward Mote (1834) to Benny Hester (1981) to Hillsong Worship's "Cornerstone," the hymn gets repeated and respun ... a popular song with timeless lyrics. It's that first line, though, that I'm looking at. "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." Is that ... true? Sure, but, I mean, is Mote engaging in poetic license, or are "Jesus' blood and righteousness" two distinct things? I would argue, "Yes, they are two distinct things."

From the Old Testament sacrificial system to the New Testament coming of Christ, Scripture repeats this refrain of "blood" as necessary for forgiveness. Ephesians tells us "In Him we have redemption through His blood" (Eph 1:7). Jesus Himself said, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matt 20:28). At the Last Supper, He said, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins" (Matt 26:28). He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves" (Joh 6:53) Paul referred to Christ's blood as the "propitiation" -- the appeasement of an angry God (Rom 3:25). John wrote, "If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.(1 John 1:7). The author of Hebrews wrote, "Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Over and over, Scripture assures us that Jesus's blood saves, and there is no salvation without it. But ... His righteousness? We often miss this important facet. We know we need forgiveness, accomplished by His blood, but ... that's only part, isn't it? We need the slate cleared, but we need more. We need to be perfect (Matt 5:48). That is, all that stuff we didn't do right -- all that righteousness -- needs to be added to us. We can't just be cleaned. We have to be filled. So we read, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor 5:21).

It's true, then. Our only hope is Christ. Our hope is built solely on Him. An essential part of that singular hope is "Jesus' blood and righteousness." Both parts ... blood for forgiveness and righteousness for filling the requirement. Not our blood. Not our righteousness. His. Jesus paid it all. Oh, wait ... that's a different hymn. Still, it's true. All to Him we owe.