Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ
Thy works, not mine, O Christ
Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ is a hymn text by Horatius Bonar (1861) in 8.8.8.8 meter. Found in CW21 560, CW93 401, elw 571, lsb 565. Sung to ST. CLEMENT.
The hymn articulates the Lutheran doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide) through Christ's substitutionary sacrifice, rejecting all human merit and works-righteousness. It emphasizes the imputation of Christ's righteousness and provides comforting assurance of God's grace to the penitent sinner.
History & Background
Written by Scottish pastor and hymn writer Horatius Bonar in 1861, this hymn emphasizes the substitutionary atonement and justification by faith alone. It first appeared in Bonar's hymn collection and has been a staple of Protestant hymnody since its composition.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 560
- Christian Worship — 401
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 571
- Lutheran Service Book — 565
- Lutheran Worship — 376
- Trinity Hymnal — 565
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 380
- With One Voice — 652
Bulletin Note
Written by Scottish hymnodist Horatius Bonar in 1861, this hymn distills the Reformation doctrine of justification by faith alone into verse, offering the penitent soul unflinching assurance grounded in Christ's substitutionary atonement rather than human merit.
Preaching Connection
This hymn powerfully embodies sola fide by exposing the law's indictment of our works-righteousness while proclaiming the gospel's gift of Christ's imputed righteousness—making it an ideal liturgical response to sermons on justification.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From personal evening rest in God's providence to cosmic affirmation of God's eternal kingdom, moving from individual conscience comfort to eschatological confidence
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Trinity 18 (1×)
- Trinity 6 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Holy Trinity (2×)
- Proper 17 (2×)
- Proper 22 (2×)
- Proper 23 (2×)
- Proper 9 (2×)
- Lent 5 (1×)
- Proper 25 (1×)
- Proper 6 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
A Horatius Bonar hymn built on one contrast: 'Thy… not mine.' Christ's works, not mine, give gladness and say 'all is done' (st. 1); his wounds and stripes, not mine, heal (st. 2); his cross bore the load only the incarnate God could carry (st. 3); his death paid a ransom ten thousand of my deaths could not pay (st. 4); his righteousness alone covers me (st. 5). Each stanza ends with Peter's question: 'To whom save Thee… shall I flee?' It is one of the clearest statements of Christ's substitutionary work in English hymnody, and fits Lutheran teaching on justification closely.
Central theme: Christ's works, wounds, cross, death and righteousness — not ours — are the sole ground of salvation
Structure
Five stanzas (6.6.6.6.8.8 with internal rhyme in the refrain), each beginning 'Thy… not mine' (st. 5: 'Thy righteousness… alone'), each ending 'To whom save Thee… shall I flee?'
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: implied in every 'not mine' — our works, wounds and deaths are worthless for atonement; 'ten thousand deaths like mine would have been all too few' (4). Gospel: Christ's work 'all is done'; his righteousness covers (1, 5).
Confessional Connections
AC IV: justified 'for Christ's sake, through faith,' not by 'our own strength, merits, or works.' 'The incarnate God' (st. 3) and 'ten thousand deaths… all too few' (st. 4): the infinite worth of Christ's satisfaction comes from the personal union — the one who suffered is God (FC VIII.20; FC III.56: the obedience of the whole person, God and man). 'Thy righteousness… alone can cover me' — imputed, alien righteousness (FC III.4, 11; Phil 3:9). Bonar was Presbyterian, but the text is fully at one with the Lutheran confession.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Lent; Holy Week; Reformation; confession; funerals.
Historical Notes
From Bonar's Hymns of Faith and Hope (1857). TLH's byline gives 1808-1899; Bonar died in 1889 (see TLH 652).
About the Tune
ST. JOHN (The Parish Choir, 1851).
Scripture References
Phil 3:9 John 19:30 John 6:68 Acts 4:12 Isa 53:5 1 Pet 2:24 Isa 53:6 Acts 20:28 Mark 10:45 1 Tim 2:5-6 Heb 9:12-14 Rom 3:21-22 Isa 61:10 2 Cor 5:21
Stanza by Stanza
Your works, not mine, Christ, speak gladness to this heart; they tell me that everything is done and tell my fear to leave. To whom but you, who alone can atone for sin, Lord, shall I flee?
Phil 3:9 (TLH's text): 'not having a righteousness of my own… but that which comes through faith in Christ.' 'All is done' (John 19:30). Fear departs because the work is finished, not because I have done enough. The refrain: 'To whom save Thee… shall I flee?' — Peter's 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life' (John 6:68); 'there is salvation in no one else' (Acts 4:12).
- Scripture
- Phil 3:9, John 19:30, John 6:68, Acts 4:12
- Imagery & language
- His works; fear dismissed.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ's finished works.
- Connection to previous
- His works.
Your wounds, not mine, Christ, can heal my bruised soul; your stripes, not mine, hold the balm that makes me whole. To whom but you shall I flee?
Isa 53:5: 'with his stripes we are healed'; 1 Pet 2:24. Our own wounds — penances, self-punishment — cannot heal (Ap XII on satisfactions). 'Balm' — Jer 8:22.
- Scripture
- Isa 53:5, 1 Pet 2:24, Jer 8:22, Ps 147:3
- Imagery & language
- Wounds; stripes; balm.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — healing by his wounds.
- Connection to previous
- His wounds.
Your cross, not mine, Christ, has carried the awesome load of sins that no one could bear but the incarnate God. To whom but you shall I flee?
Only God-in-the-flesh could bear the world's sin (Isa 53:6; John 1:29). 'The incarnate God' — the one who bore the cross is God (Acts 20:28: 'the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood'; FC VIII.20). ('Awe-full' is TLH's spelling.)
- Scripture
- Isa 53:6, John 1:29, Acts 20:28, Col 1:19-20
- Imagery & language
- Cross; awe-full load; incarnate God.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the God-man bears sin.
- Connection to previous
- His cross.
Your death, not mine, Christ, has paid the ransom owed; ten thousand deaths like mine would have been far too few. To whom but you shall I flee?
'A ransom for many' (Mark 10:45; 1 Tim 2:6). 'Ten thousand deaths like mine… all too few' — no human death, however many, could satisfy for sin; only the death of the Son of God has infinite worth (Heb 9:12-14).
- Scripture
- Mark 10:45, 1 Tim 2:5-6, Heb 9:12-14, Ps 49:7-8
- Imagery & language
- Ransom; ten thousand deaths.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — our deaths insufficient; Gospel — his death sufficient.
- Connection to previous
- His death.
Your righteousness, Christ, alone can cover me; no righteousness counts except what comes from you. To whom but you shall I flee?
Imputed righteousness: 'the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ' (Rom 3:21-22); 'he has covered me with the robe of righteousness' (Isa 61:10); 2 Cor 5:21. FC III: Christ's obedience is reckoned to us as righteousness.
- Scripture
- Rom 3:21-22, Isa 61:10, 2 Cor 5:21, Phil 3:9, Jer 23:6
- Imagery & language
- Covering righteousness.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — imputed righteousness.
- Connection to previous
- His righteousness.
Themes
Justification by faith Christ's substitutionary work Righteousness through Christ Grace alone Assurance of salvation