Stuart Townend - Grace Lyrics
Lyrics
Lord, i'm grateful,
Amazed at what You've done.
My finest efforts are filthy rags;
But I'm made righteous
By trusting in the Son:
I have God's riches at Christ's expense!
'Cause it's grace!
There's nothing I can do
To make You love me more,
To make You love me less than You do.
And by faith
I'm standing on this Stone
Of Christ and Christ alone,
Your righteousness is all that I need,
'Cause it's grace!
Called and chosen when I was far away,
You brought me into Your family.
Free, forgiven, my guilt is washed away;
Your loving kindness is life to me.
Grace loves the sinner,
Loves all I am and all I'll ever be;
Makes me a winner
Whatever lies the devil throws at me.
Freely given, but bought with priceless blood,
My life was ransomed at Calvary.
There my Jesus gave everything He could
That I might live for eternity.
Video
grace by stuart townend
Meaning & Inspiration
Stuart Townend's "Grace," featured on the 2007 album *The Best Live Worship Album...Ever!*, stands as a profound anthem of divine generosity and the transformative power of God's unmerited favor. The song delves deep into the theological bedrock of Christian faith, articulating a listener's journey from inadequacy to assurance through the lens of God's sovereign love. It opens with a stark recognition of human frailty, a sentiment echoed in Isaiah 64:6 where human righteousness is likened to "filthy rags." This humbling admission sets the stage for the central theme: that our standing before God is not earned by our own merit but is a gift, a righteousness imputed through faith in Jesus Christ, as Paul so eloquently describes in Philippians 3:9. The profound implication is that one possesses "God's riches at Christ's expense," a concept rooted in 2 Corinthians 8:9, where Christ, though rich, became poor for our sake, so that we might become rich.
The recurring refrain, "it's grace!" encapsulates the song's core message: God's love is immutable, unaffected by human actions or inactions. This unconditionality is a cornerstone of biblical theology, moving beyond a transactional relationship to one of pure, unfettered affection. The lyrics emphasize standing on "Christ and Christ alone," a direct allusion to Ephesians 2:20, which calls Christ Jesus himself the "chief cornerstone." This foundation of Christ’s finished work on the cross means that His righteousness becomes our all-sufficient covering, a truth powerfully articulated in 1 Corinthians 1:30 where Christ is made "unto us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption." The song continues by recounting the divine initiative in salvation, acknowledging being "called and chosen when I was far away," a testament to God's prevenient grace, as seen in Ephesians 1:4-5, which speaks of being chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. The washing away of guilt through forgiveness is directly tied to the blood of Jesus, as stated in 1 John 1:7, that "the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."
"Grace" further explores the character of this divine love, describing it as loving "the sinner" and embracing "all I am and all I'll ever be." This speaks to the relentless pursuit of God for His creation, a love that is not deterred by flaws or failures. It equips the believer to stand firm against adversity, suggesting a spiritual resilience that is "made a winner" by God's power, aligning with the assurance found in Romans 8:37 that "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." The lyrical journey culminates in the poignant reminder of the sacrifice at Calvary, that this freely given grace was "bought with priceless blood," a vivid illustration of the atonement made by Jesus. His offering, as detailed in Hebrews 9:12 and 9:22, is the ultimate ransoming of lives, granting the promise of eternal life, a stark contrast to the eternal separation that sin would otherwise dictate. The song, therefore, is not merely a reflection on a theological concept, but a vibrant testimony to the life-altering reality of God's grace, offering hope and unwavering assurance to all who hear.