Imagine Christians singing the old hymn as if it said, “My hope is built on nothing MORE than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” If the hymn were changed to that, it would be losing more than the rhyme from the original. You see, someone who hasn’t fully trusted in Christ for salvation will add something More that they put their hope in, in addition to Christ. “You have faith in Christ? Good. I have that and my baptism.” Or “I have faith and my works.” or “I have faith and my religious heritage/tradition.” or “I have faith and I keep the sabbath by worshipping Saturday.” Or, or, or….

The very scriptural hymn, though, reminds us that those adding more are actually placing their faith in LESS, not more, than the saved person is. Anything you add to faith alone in Christ alone is a subtraction–actually a complete negation–of the cross of Christ. (See Galatians 5:2)

Putting your faith in nothing more than Christ and His sacrifice for you is actually putting your faith in nothing less than the One thing it takes to save you. And there is no salvation to be found in Christ plus anything–only in Christ alone.

So here’s the hymn as it was rightly written. Sing it out if you know the tune, and put some emphasis on the word “less” as you celebrate the fact that nothing less than the infinite grace of God has saved you forever.

“My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

All other ground is sinking sand.”