In 2005, Cross Rhythms magazine described Townend as "one of the most significant songwriters in the whole international Christian music field". Christian website Crosswalk.com commented that, "The uniqueness of Townend’s writing lies partly in its lyrical content. There is both a theological depth and poetic expression that some say is rare in today’s worship writing".
Townend, son of a Church of England vicar in West Yorkshire, was the youngest of four children. He studied literature at the University of Essex[2]. Townend started learning to play the piano aged 7. At the age of 13, he made a Christian commitment, and began songwriting aged 22.
In Christ Alone
Stuart Townend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
The lyrics of Stuart Townend's song "In Christ Alone" poetically encapsulate the power and depth of the Christian faith. The song begins with an affirmation that one's hope can be found in Christ alone. He is everything to the one who believes in Him - their light, strength, and song. The metaphor of Christ as a "Cornerstone" and "solid Ground" that remains firm through the "fiercest drought and storm" speaks eloquently of Christ's unwavering nature and steadfast love. The singer then marvels at the heights of love and depths of peace that come when one's fears and strivings are stilled in Christ, who is their Comforter and All in All, allowing them to stand confidently in His love.
Line by Line Meaning
In Christ alone my hope is found,
My hope is only found in Jesus Christ
He is my light, my strength, my song
Jesus is my everything; He illuminates, strengthens, and inspires me
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Jesus is the foundation of my life, immovable and unchanging
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
Jesus is my constant support and will remain with me even in the most difficult of times
What heights of love, what depths of peace
Jesus' love for me reaches incredible heights, and His peace is profound and unmatched
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
In the presence of Jesus, my fears are calmed and my striving ceases
My Comforter, my All in All
Jesus is my source of comfort and my everything
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
I stand in the love of Jesus Christ and will never be moved from it
In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Jesus alone, who became man,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
Is the fullness of God in a helpless human form
This gift of love and righteousness,
His sacrifice on the cross is both a gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Rejected by the very people He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
Until Jesus died on the cross
The wrath of God was satisfied
God's wrath against sin was appeased
For every sin on Him was laid
All the sins of the world were laid on Jesus at the cross
Here in the death of Christ I live.
Through the death of Christ, I have eternal life
There in the ground His body lay,
Jesus' body was buried in the ground
Light of the world by darkness slain:
The One who brought light to the world was killed by darkness
Then bursting forth in glorious day
But He rose triumphant, bursting forth in glory
Up from the grave He rose again
He rose from the dead
And as He stands in victory
Jesus is victorious over sin and death
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
The curse of sin no longer has power over me
For I am His and He is mine
I belong to Jesus, and He belongs to me
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
I was purchased with the precious blood of Jesus
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
In Jesus, I have no guilt in life and no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
The power of Jesus resides in me
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus is with me from the beginning of my life to the end
Jesus commands my destiny
Jesus is in control of my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
No power of hell or plan of mankind
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Can ever remove me from the grasp of Jesus
Till He returns or calls me home
Until Jesus returns or takes me to heaven
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
I will stand firm in the power of Jesus Christ
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnthomasfeliciano6675
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
@phredaokyere3826
The level of peace this song brings to me is immeasurable☺️ God bless the original song writer🙏🏽☺️
@welbeckdanquah1888
That's the same guy leading the song, he wrote it
@michaelcallaghan3070
I am blown away by this song /hymn. Didn't know it existed until this morning. This hit me hard. God bless. 👍🙏🇮🇪
@68HC060
I love this song - loved it from the very first time I heard it. There's a variant by Steph Macleod I really like. - Oh, and Katie M. Peters singing "All He Was" - I'm sure you'll be moved just like me! 😃
Merry Christmas!
@Mr126555
We are playing this today at the funeral of a dear sister who has just died at 54 of terminal cancer. God bless you Kathryn, Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. Praying for you , much love xxxxx
@hassemaan
God bless you! <3
@SotongzXcJunwei
Guys, I'm not Christian, but .. listening to this song moved me and gave me goosebumps .. Wonderful song ~
@geoffreyabbabawuro8196
Oh dear its wonderful to follow Jesus
@isaacsomuah
Lovely. Jesus is wonderful. He's the only one who gives your life a meaning
@sampeake4235
@Lee Jun Wei, repent and believe the gospel!