Meter: Common Meter (86 86)
Text: © 2025
Tune: DUNFERMLINE 🔊
Music: Scottish Psalter, 1615
The righteousness that’s good and true
God thus reveals to us:
Not in His Law but through the Word
Of what Christ did for us.
There is no will nor work of man
That does the Law of God;
The best and noblest things man do
Are just man’s war with God.
If deeds or thoughts or words done well,
Could wash away sin’s stain,
Or righteousness were through the Law,
Then Christ has died in vain.
God’s Holy Law through human works
Receives the worst abuse,
When any heart, soul, mind, or strength,
Thinks thus of its true use:
“God gave a Law that I can do,
And thus I strive for love—
Imperfect, yes, but yet enough—
To grant some grace above.”
But God gave not His Holy Law
For such a lowly use;
It speaks His holiness and not
That evil, twisted ruse.
God’s Law reveals His righteousness,
Unleashing wrath on us.
Since He is holy, we are not,
He justly condemns us!
But now God’s righteousness bursts forth
Apart from works or Law—
The righteousness of faith in Christ,
Which has no lack nor flaw.
For Christ lived not His life in vain,
Nor shed His blood for naught.
He lived a holy life for us;
Our life from sin He bought.
The righteous live by faith in Christ,
And thus they’re whole and pure;
With sin forgiv’n and peace with God
They hell shall ne’er endure.
The Law may work both guilt and shame,
And only death will give;
But all that’s done by Christ who died,
By faith in Him we live!
Thus it’s no longer we who live
But Christ who lives in us.
The life we live, we live in Him
Who gave Himself for us.
May we, O Lord, who’ve died in You
And also live through You,
Live unto You that when we die
We’ll die unto You, too.
Whether we live or die, therefore,
We’re always Yours, O Lord;
You’ve made us so; please, make us still.
Your daily help afford!
The righteousness that’s good and true
God thus reveals to us:
Not in His Law but through the Word
Of what Christ did for us.
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