It’s All of Grace

The text of It’s All of Grace is perhaps the strongest and deepest text that we have ever worked with. Watts is arguably the best hymn-writer of the western world, and these verses show his mastery of poetry and theology. Many of us that have a very strong conviction about God’s sovereignty in salvation have struggled to feel the joy and tenderness in this choice. Watts takes us through the gospel story, beginning with confessing our sin, and moving through acknowledging that we are saved only by sovereign grace, in a way that is very touching.

Of particular note is the second verse (which was borrowed from another Watts hymn in the same collection) – He “fixed our standing more secure than ’twas before we fell”. We understand that to speak of the fact that since we have fallen and then been restored and are now secure in Christ, we have more hope and stability than before we (mankind) had fallen into sin. How amazing! Watts’ conclusion is powerful as well – he refers to Ezekiel 37 about the Spirit breathing life into our dry bones, then reminds us of the certainty of appearing before our Father justified.

Lyrics

(Show Historic Lyrics)

Verse 1:
Lord, we confess our many faults,
How great our guilt has been!
Our thoughts were vain and full of pride
And all our lives were sin.
But praise our God, forever praise,
Forever love His name,
Who turns our feet from dangerous ways
Of folly, sin, and shame.

Verse 2:
He raised us from the depths of sin,
The gates of gaping hell,
And fixed our standing more secure
Than 'twas before we fell.
The arms of everlasting love
Beneath our souls He placed;
And on the Rock of Ages set
Our slippery footsteps fast.

Chorus:
It's all of grace, by Your sov'reign hand,
Through His death which long before was planned
That we can come before Your throne
And in Your presence stand,
It's all of Grace.

Verse 3:
It's not by works of righteousness
Which our own hands have done;
But we are saved by sovereign grace
Abounding through His son.
It's from the mercy of our God
That all our hopes begin;
It's by the water and the blood
Our souls are washed from sin.

Verse 4:
It's through the purchase of His death
Who hung upon the cross
The Spirit is sent down to breathe
On such dry bones as us.
Raised from the dead, we live anew;
And, justified by grace
We will appear in glory too,
And see our Father's face.

Original words by Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Adaptation and new lyrics by David L. Ward.
© 2004 Hymnicity

CCLI Song #4462639

Attachments

Learner Recording

[1]
Verse 1:
E           E/G# A
Lord, we confess our many faults,
E         B
How great our guilt has been!
E        E/G#    A
Our thoughts were vain and full of pride
E/B   B    E
And all our lives were sin.
C#m7         B
But praise our God, forever praise,
F#m7 A   B
Forever love His name,
E         E/G#      A
Who turns our feet from dangerous ways
E/B  B   E      A  E  B  E
Of folly, sin, and shame.

[2]
Verse 2:
E        E/G#      A
He raised us from the depths of sin,
E      B
The gates of gaping hell,
E        E/G#   A
And fixed our standing more secure
E/B  B  E
Than 'twas before we fell.
C#m7        B
The arms of everlasting love
F#m7  A  B
Beneath our souls He placed;
E       E/G# A
And on the Rock of Ages set
E/B B     E    A  E  B  E
Our slippery footsteps fast.

[C]
Chorus:
B  A           E/B       B
It's all of grace, by Your sov'reign hand,
B/D# A/C#     E/B             B
Through His death   which long before was planned
F#m7          E/G#
That we can come before Your throne
A                Bsus4  B
And in Your presence stand,
E
It's all of Grace.

[3]
Verse 3:
E        E/G#    A
It's not by works of righteousness
E          B
Which our own hands have done;
E        E/G#      A
But we are saved by sovereign grace
E/B     B   E
Abounding through His Son.
C#m7         B
It's from the mercy of our God
F#m7  A B
That all our hopes begin;
E     E/G#    A
It's by the water and the blood
E/B    B    E  A  E  B  E
Our souls are washed from sin.

[4]
Verse 4:
E        E/G#   A
It's through the purchase of His death
E       B
Who hung upon the cross
E       E/G#    A
The Spirit is sent down to breathe
E/B   B  E
On such dry bones as us.
C#m7           B
Raised from the dead, we live anew;
F#m7 A  B
And, justified by grace
E        E/G#  A
We will appear in glory too,
E/B B    E  A  E  B  E
And see our Father's face.

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