We love to sing new songs at Emmanuel. Especially songs about God and the gospel. Which means we’ll love this new song called Grace Alone.
Left to ourselves we would die in our sins. But God has been very gracious to us. It’s His grace, His unmerited kindness to us, which saves us and only His grace. We did nothing to deserve it. All we did was sin and yet He shows us enormous grace. This song celebrates those truths.
Each verse addresses a different Person of the Trinity and praises them for their particular role in our redemption. We were orphans whom the Father has adopted. We could never atone for our sin but the Son died for us. We were blind but the Spirit gave us eyes to see. All thanks to God’s grace.
Listen to the writer, Dustin Kensrue, explain the thinking behind the song and then hear him perform an acoustic version of the song. (When we sing it, we’re dropping the key down from G to E in case you’re struggling with the high notes and don’t have a cool raspy voice like Dustin…) Check out the lyrics and another video below too.
I was an orphan lost at the fall,
running away when I’d hear you call
but Father, you worked your will.
I had no righteousness of my own.
I had no right to draw near your throne
but Father, you loved me still.
And in love before you laid the world’s foundation,
you predestined to adopt me as your own.
You have raised me up so high above my station.
I’m a child of God by grace and grace alone.
You left your home to seek out the lost.
You knew the great and terrible cost
but Jesus, your face was set.
I worked my fingers down to the bone.
Nothing I did could ever atone
but Jesus, you paid my debt.
By your blood I have redemption and salvation.
Lord you died that I might reap what you have sown.
And you rose that I might be a new creation.
I am born again by grace and grace alone.
I was in darkness all of my life.
I never knew the day from the night
but Spirit, you made me see.
I swore I knew the way on my own.
Head full of rocks, a heart made of stone
but Spirit, you moved in me.
At your touch my sleeping spirit was awakened.
On my darkened heart, the light of Christ has shone.
Called into a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Heaven’s citizen by grace and grace alone.
So I stand in faith by grace and grace alone.
I will run the race by grace and grace alone.
I will slay my sin by grace and grace alone.
I will reach the end by grace and grace alone.
Words & Music by Dustin Kensrue
Here’s the original version with more of a beat. Looking forward to singing it together on Sunday!
