Stuart Townend & Keith Getty - The Story behind In Christ Alone
Often attributed as “one of the best modern examples of storytelling conveying the power of the gospel”, In Christ Alone was co-written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. Stuart on the lyric side and Getty focusing on the melody and music. What resulted from this new found collaboration was a song that epitomised praise and worship covering the Attributes of God, Actions of God and our response for all Christ has done.
In interview with Christian Music Today, Getty says “I struggled to understand and fully embrace my faith amid an unbelieving, universalist, and multi-religious culture (when growing up in Durham, England). It was a journey to believe in the uniqueness of Christ, the Scriptures and the gospel story. By the time I came through this, my faith was stronger, and I really wanted to write songs for the Church that brought the full, rich, life-giving story of the gospel into believers’ hearts and minds.
I then had the privilege of connecting with songwriter Stuart Townend, who had penned the hymn “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.” When we first met, there wasn’t an immediate personal connection. But we said, “Let’s write one song.” I knew I wanted the song to be story-driven, so I said, “Let’s do a song that tells the whole story of Christ coming to earth-the whole gospel story in one song. Let’s have as many verses as we want, and let’s just go for it.””
A few weeks later Getty sent Stuart some melody ideas, the first of which, penned on the back of electricity bill as a 25 year old, was a magnificent, haunting melody that Stuart loved, and he immediately started writing down some lyrical ideas on what they wanted to say, covering the life, death, resurrection of Christ and the implications of this on our lives. Throughout this process was a deep desire to dig deep into the meaning of God’s word and express it in poetic and memorable way, so that the truths of His word would remain in our minds. So that the truth about God and who we are in Him remains central to our lives as believers.
As the lyrics came to life, Stuart became all the more excited because it places our hope, our assurance, our eternal destiny in the right place—on the solid foundation of Christ. He knew in his own life he needed reminding continually not to live by his feelings or his circumstances, but by the unchanging truth of the gospel. It was an undeniable statement of the power of Christ to sustain us in this life.
They finally got together, and after some fine-tuning, In Christ Alone was born. A song abounding in biblical truths…
In Christ alone my hope is found (Straight out of John 14:6, this line expresses Jesus as the sole and only path to hope.)
He is my light, my strength, my song (All three are in Scripture in terms of our access through God and Jesus: Light – Matthew 5:14-16, Ephesians 5:8, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 1:5-7, 1 John 2:7-11. Strength – Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 118:14, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 33:2, Isaiah 40:29-31, Habakkuk 3:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 6:10, and Philippians 4:13. (New) Song – Psalm 40:3
This cornerstone, this solid ground (Christ is the chief cornerstone that is the foundation for the church (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 and Ephesians 2:19-22).)
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm (References the wise and foolish builder parable in Matthew 7:24-27.)
What heights of love, what depths of peace (Summarized in Romans 5:6-8, Christ’s love for us is expressed in sacrifice. Though Christ came the first time not to bring peace, but a sword of division (Matthew 10:34), we may attain Christ’s peace through following Him (see John 14:27, Romans 5:1, and Galatians 5:22-25).)
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease (Following Jesus leads to fearlessness, much like others who chose to follow God (see Genesis 15:1, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 94:19, Psalm 115:11, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 41:10-13, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 54:4, John 14:25-27, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 Peter 3:13-14, 1 Peter 5:6-7, and 1 John 4:18). We no longer live for ourselves, but for God, summarized eloquently in 2 Corinthians 5:15 and Galatians 2:20.)
My comforter, my all in all (See Psalm 23:4, Psalm 71:21, Psalm 119:50-52, Psalm 119:76, Psalm 119:82, Isaiah 51:3, Isaiah 57:18, Isaiah 61:2, Isaiah 66:13, Zechariah 1:17, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 11:28-30, and 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.)
Here, in the love of Christ, I stand (Philippians 2:16)
In Christ alone, who took on flesh (Summarised in John 1:14 and Philippians 2:5-7, Jesus is God who became a man.)
Fullness of God in helpless babe (Refers to Mary’s pregnancy through the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 1:21-23 and Luke 1:31).)
This gift of love and righteousness. (Both love (1 John 4:8) and righteousness (Exodus 9:27, Deuteronomy 32:4, Judges 5:11, 1 Samuel 12:7, 2 Samuel 23:3-4, Ezra 9:15, Nehemiah 9:8, Job 37:23, Psalm 7:11, Psalm 9:8, Psalm 11:7, Psalm 36:6, Psalm 35:24, Psalm 40:10, Psalm 48:10, Psalm 50:6, Psalm 65:5, Psalm 89:14, Psalm 96:13, Psalm 97:2, Psalm 97:6, Psalm 99:4, Psalm 103:6, Psalm 119:137, Psalm 71:19, Psalm 111:2-3, Psalm 119:7, Psalm 119:142, Psalm 129:4, Psalm 145:17, Isaiah 5:16, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 45:21, Isaiah 46:13, Isaiah 51:8, Jeremiah 9:24, Jeremiah 11:20, Jeremiah 12:1, Lamentations 1:18, Daniel 9:14-16, Micah 6:5, Zephaniah 3:5, Zechariah 8:8, John 17:25, 2 Timothy 4:8, and Revelation 15:3) are attributes of God. The greatest gift God could offer us is Himself.)
Scorned by the ones he came to save (Refers to the cross.)
‘Til on that cross, as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin, on him, was laid (Jesus’ death paid the penalty for our lawbreaking (see Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).)
Here, in the death of Christ, I live (It is through Jesus that we attain eternal life (see Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11 , Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).)
There in the ground, his body lay (Jesus was buried in a tomb that nobody had laid (John 19:38-42).)
Light of the world, by darkness, slain (Refers to the death of Jesus.)
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave, he rose again. (Jesus has risen (see Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, Acts 1:3, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)!)
And as he stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me (We are no longer slaves of sin, but slaves of righteousness (see Romans 6:15-23).)
For I am his and he is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ (Christ’s invaluable shed blood purchased our redemption (see Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19).)
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me (That is, we no longer face condemnation from breaking God’s Laws (see Psalm 32:1, John 3:16-18, Romans 4:7-8, Romans 5:1, Romans 8:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and Galatians 3:13).)
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny (In other words, Jesus is sovereign over creation (see Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11).
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from his hand (The gates of hell cannot prevail against us (Matthew 16:17-19). Nothing can separate us from God (see John 10:28-30 and Romans 8:35-39).)
‘Til he returns or calls me home
Here, in the power of Christ, I stand (Our eternal praise occurs regardless of when we die, or when Christ returns (see Nehemiah 9:5, Psalm 30:12, Psalm 52:9, Psalm 86:12, Psalm 89:1, Psalm 115:18, Psalm 145:1-2, Psalm 145:21, and Revelation 5:9-13).)
*With thanks to the Berean Test, analyzing lyrics in Jesus name for the associated bible verses.