By Grace Not Works

My works can never save me
Or pay the debt I owe
To get me into heaven
Or wash me white as snow.

Each moment’s full allegiance
Belongs to God my King
And can’t make up for past ones –
There’s nothing spare to bring.

My best attempts are tainted,
My purest thoughts are flawed,
So on my own I’m helpless
To try to get to God.

But Jesus Christ my Savior
Came down to earth for me,
Completely pure and sinless
To set the guilty free.

He took my sinful record
As if it was His own
Then died to buy my pardon,
To rescue and atone.

He paid my debt completely,
Washed all my sin away,
And rose to give me access
To God’s eternal day.

There’s nothing I can give Him
To add to what He’s done –
He did it all and gives me
The freedom that He won.

I cannot earn or merit
This gift of love divine –
By grace alone He saved me
And made His mercy mine.

Christina Joy Hommes