Jesus Paid It All
I hear the Savior say
This hymn embodies the central Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith alone through Christ's substitutionary atonement. It emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ's payment for sin and the believer's assurance of forgiveness, reflecting the Reformation's recovery of forensic justification.
History & Background
Written by Elvina Matilda Hall in 1865, this American hymn became widely popular in evangelical and revivalist circles. It was first published in John Robson's hymnal and has remained a beloved hymn of assurance in Protestant worship.
Hymnal Appearances
- Baptist Hymnal — 242
- Chalice Hymnal — 210
Bulletin Note
Written by Elvina Matilda Hall in 1865, this hymn became a cornerstone of nineteenth-century American evangelical hymnody, expressing the Protestant conviction that Christ's substitutionary atonement leaves nothing for sinners to add or achieve.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes justification by faith alone: the law exposes our unpayable spiritual debt, but the gospel announces that Jesus has satisfied it completely, freeing us to live in gratitude rather than fear.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Themes
Atonement Redemption through Christ Grace and forgiveness Assurance of salvation