Lord, 'Tis Not that I did Choose Thee
Lord, 'tis not that I did choose Thee
The hymn expounds the Lutheran and Reformed doctrine of election, affirming God's sovereign choice of believers before the foundation of the world as the basis for assurance and perseverance in faith. It emphasizes the paradox of divine predestination and human will, central to Lutheran understanding of justification by grace through faith.
History & Background
Josiah Conder, an English Congregationalist minister and hymnodist, wrote this hymn in 1824 for his hymn collection. The text appears in various hymnals throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, becoming particularly valued in Lutheran hymnody for its clear exposition of election theology.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 641
- Lutheran Service Book — 573
- Lutheran Worship — 378
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 37
Bulletin Note
Josiah Conder (1789–1855) wrote this hymn in 1824, drawing on Reformed theology of election while giving it warmth and pastoral comfort. It has anchored Protestant worship for two centuries.
Preaching Connection
This hymn powerfully articulates the Lutheran doctrine of election by grace alone, moving hearers from awareness of their own powerlessness (the Law) to the liberating certainty of God's predestined grace (the Gospel), making it an ideal response to proclamation of unconditional election.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Second Article (Concerning Redemption) Small Catechism — The Apostles' Creed
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From conviction of sin and burden (Law) to confidence in Christ's hearing and answering (Gospel) to assurance of complete provision (Gospel) to commitment in pilgrimage (Gospel)
Themes
Divine election and grace Predestination The believer's assurance God's sovereign choice Christian perseverance