To Your Temple, Lord, I Come
To Your temple, Lord, I come
This hymn expresses the Lutheran understanding of justification through Christ's sacrifice, emphasizing that believers approach God's presence through the merit of Christ's blood rather than their own worthiness. It reflects the Reformation confidence in direct access to God through faith, grounded in Christ's once-for-all atonement.
History & Background
This Swedish hymn was composed by Karl Mauritz Bellman, an 18th-century poet and musician known for both sacred and secular works. It was translated into English by Norwegian-American pastor George A. T. Rygh in 1909 and has appeared in major Lutheran hymnals since The Lutheran Hymnal (1941).
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Service Book — 981
- Lutheran Worship — 207
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 2
Translation
Bulletin Note
Swedish poet Karl Mauritz Bellman (1740–1795) composed this hymn during the evangelical awakening in Sweden, grounding the radical Protestant claim that faith—not works or status—grants believers direct access to God's presence.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes the Reformation breakthrough: sinners gain access to God not through their own worthiness but through Christ's atoning blood, transforming terror of judgment into confidence in grace.
Themes
Atonement and cleansing Access to God through Christ Redemption Purity and sanctification