Lyrics
Verse 1
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
Chorus
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to his
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Verse 2
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Saviour He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed
Chorus
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Verse 3
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
Chorus
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing: I am free!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Verse 4
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
Chorus
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Tag
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
The lyrics are built around the refrain "Yet not I, but through Christ in me," which closes each of the four verses. The first verse names Jesus as redeemer, joy, righteousness, and freedom, and the refrain that follows says the speaker's hope is only Jesus and that life is "wholly bound" to Him.
The verses move through several situations. The second speaks of a dark night and labor in weakness, where need becomes the place where Christ's power is displayed. The third addresses dread of the future and guilt, resting on forgiveness because Jesus "bled and suffered" and was raised. The fourth looks ahead to standing before the throne, and a closing tag repeats the refrain.
The refrain echoes the wording of Galatians 2:20. The talk of weakness and power matches 2 Corinthians 12:9, and the picture of the Lord leading through a valley recalls Psalm 23:4. Each connection is an echo rather than a direct quotation.
Related Scripture
- Galatians 2:20 Paul writes that he no longer lives but Christ lives in him, the idea behind the refrain "Yet not I, but through Christ in me."
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 God's power is made perfect in weakness, matching the verse about His power displayed in need.
- Psalm 23:4 The Lord is present with the believer in the darkest valley, paralleling the line about being led through the valley.