Title: My hope is built on nothing less
Hymn Number: SS&S 902 (Sacred songs and solo)
1 My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness ;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand ;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
2 When darkness hides His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the vail.
3 His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the ‘whelming flood ;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
4 When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh ,may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne !
About The Hymn
The hymn “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less,” numbered 902 in Sacred Songs and Solos, was written by Edward Mote in 1834. It is a powerful declaration of faith and trust in Jesus Christ as the firm foundation for salvation and eternal security. Each verse emphasizes the believer’s dependence on Christ’s righteousness and atoning sacrifice, while the refrain proclaims the unshakable confidence in Jesus as the “Solid Rock.” The hymn’s recurring theme centers on Christ as the sole basis for hope, stability, and assurance in both life and death.
Verse 1: Trust in Christ Alone
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”
The first verse sets the foundation of the hymn, declaring that the believer’s hope is based entirely on the work of Christ—His sacrificial death (“Jesus’ blood”) and His perfect righteousness. The phrase “I dare not trust the sweetest frame” suggests that no human efforts, achievements, or experiences can provide true security. Instead, the believer relies solely on the name and character of Jesus as the basis for salvation and confidence.
Refrain: The Solid Rock
“On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.”
The refrain emphasizes the central metaphor of the hymn: Jesus as the unmovable, unchangeable “Solid Rock.” This image is drawn from biblical passages such as Matthew 7:24–27 and 1 Corinthians 3:11, contrasting the stability of Christ with the instability of anything else. The repeated line “all other ground is sinking sand” underscores the futility of trusting in worldly foundations or human efforts.
Verse 2: Christ’s Unchanging Grace
“When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.”
The second verse acknowledges that believers may experience times when God seems hidden or distant (“darkness veils His lovely face”). However, even in such moments, the unchanging grace of Christ remains the believer’s source of strength and security. The imagery of the “anchor” reflects the believer’s steadfast faith, rooted in Christ’s intercession and presence “within the veil,” an allusion to Hebrews 6:19–20 and the believer’s access to God through Christ.
Verse 3: The Sufficiency of Christ’s Righteousness
“His oath, His covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood; when all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.”
This verse highlights the sufficiency of Christ’s work for the believer’s assurance. His “oath, covenant, and blood” refer to God’s promises, the new covenant established through Jesus, and His atoning sacrifice. The imagery of the “whelming flood” represents life’s trials and challenges, yet the believer finds unwavering hope and stability in Christ, even when everything else fails.
Verse 4: Anticipation of Christ’s Return
“When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh may I then in Him be found, dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.”
The final verse looks forward to Christ’s return and the believer’s ultimate hope of standing before God in glory. The reference to the “trumpet sound” draws from passages like 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:52, symbolizing the second coming of Christ. The believer’s confidence in this moment is not in their own merit but in being “dressed in His righteousness alone,” a reminder of justification through faith. This verse concludes with a triumphant vision of eternal security in Christ.
Overall Message and Significance
“My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” is a hymn of unwavering trust in Jesus Christ as the foundation for salvation and life. Each verse builds on the theme of dependence on Christ’s righteousness, grace, and sacrifice, while the refrain reinforces the imagery of Jesus as the “Solid Rock.”
The hymn reflects the believer’s journey through life’s storms, trials, and uncertainties, affirming that Christ alone provides stability and assurance. It also looks forward to the ultimate hope of standing faultless before God, clothed in Christ’s righteousness, at His return.
Through its rich theological truths and memorable refrain, this hymn inspires believers to place their trust wholly in Jesus, rejecting all other foundations as “sinking sand.” It is a timeless expression of faith that continues to strengthen and encourage Christians in their walk with God.
