Hillsong Worship - Cornerstone Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I did not trust the sweetest fray
But wholly trust in Jesus name
Chorus
Christ Alone; Cornerstone
Weak made strong; In the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of All
Verse 2
When Darkness seems to hide his face
I rest on his unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil( x2)
Verse 3
Then He shall come with trumpets sound
Only then in him will I be found
Dressed in His Righteousness alone
Faultless standing before the throne
Video
Cornerstone - Live | Hillsong Worship
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on May 22, 2012, as part of the *Worship For Your Family (Yellow)* album, Hillsong Worship’s "Cornerstone" delivers a profound and enduring declaration of faith. This powerful song draws its foundational strength from the venerable 19th-century hymn "My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less" by Edward Mote, a testament to the timeless truths it conveys. Hillsong’s rendition breathes new life into these cherished words, making them resonate with contemporary believers while maintaining the hymn’s theological depth and unwavering conviction. The song’s message centers on the absolute reliability of Jesus Christ as the sole foundation for hope, salvation, and strength in all circumstances, serving as a spiritual anchor for a generation navigating a complex world.
The opening lines immediately set the tone, asserting that true hope rests exclusively on "Jesus’ blood and righteousness." This echoes the core Christian doctrine found in passages like Romans 3:23-24, which states that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory, but are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Our inability to trust in any personal merit or "sweetest fray" underscores the New Testament's emphasis on grace alone, a theme powerfully articulated in Ephesians 2:8-9, proclaiming that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. It is through Christ’s atoning sacrifice and His perfect obedience, which is imputed to believers, that we find reconciliation with God, a truth referenced in Philippians 3:9 where Paul speaks of being found in Christ, having a righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
The chorus, "Christ Alone; Cornerstone," encapsulates the song’s central theme, identifying Jesus as the pivotal and indispensable element of faith. This imagery directly references biblical declarations, such as Ephesians 2:20, where Christ Jesus Himself is the chief cornerstone, and 1 Peter 2:6, citing Isaiah 28:16, which speaks of God laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion. It acknowledges that human frailty is transformed into divine strength through the Savior’s boundless love, a concept rooted in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where God tells Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Through life’s inevitable "storms," the song affirms His unwavering sovereignty and dominion, proclaiming Him "Lord of All," a comforting reminder that even in trials, as Psalm 46:1-3 illustrates, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
As the narrative progresses, the second verse addresses moments of spiritual struggle when "Darkness seems to hide his face." In such times, the song reassures us that we can rest on God’s "unchanging grace," a truth beautifully mirrored in Hebrews 13:8, which declares Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, and James 1:17, affirming that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. The powerful imagery of an "anchor holds within the veil" speaks to a hope that is secured beyond the visible world, directly referencing Hebrews 6:19-20. This passage describes our hope as a firm and secure anchor for the soul, one that enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, our forerunner, has entered on our behalf. This signifies that our spiritual security is fixed in Christ, who has ascended to God's presence, ensuring our eternal salvation and peace.
The song culminates with an anticipatory vision of Christ's return in the third verse: "Then He shall come with trumpets sound." This evokes the glorious promise of the Second Coming, a hope central to Christian eschatology, vividly described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. On that day, the desire is to be "found in him," not relying on personal merit but "Dressed in His Righteousness alone." This profound theological statement echoes Isaiah 61:10, where the believer rejoices in the Lord, being clothed with garments of salvation and arrayed in a robe of righteousness. It signifies complete justification and sanctification through Christ, allowing one to stand "Faultless standing before the throne," a divine privilege promised to those redeemed by His grace. Jude 1:24 celebrates God's power to keep us from stumbling and to present us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy. "Cornerstone" thus becomes a comprehensive tapestry of faith, weaving together the initial act of salvation, the sustaining grace through life’s challenges, and the ultimate hope of Christ’s glorious return, all firmly rooted in the unchanging character and work of Jesus, our immovable cornerstone.