Hymn 371 - Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness

This week we study the hymn "Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness" (Hymn 371 in The Lutheran Hymnal), written by Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf in 1739. While Zinzendorf was a prolific hymn writer, penning over 2,000 hymns, we only have two of his hymns in The Lutheran Hymnal (this hymn and hymn 410). This is by far the greatest hymn that he wrote.

In this hymn, Zinzendorf points us to the all-sufficient work of Jesus which is for ALL people. This hymn originally had 33 verses, and was cut down to 24 verses when it was translated into English by John Wesley. The seven verses that we have in our hymnal are theologically rich presentations on the Atonement of Jesus for sinners, and the doctrine of Universal Justification (God declared all people not guilty through the work of Jesus). This doctrine of Universal Justification is in contrast to the false teaching of Limited Atonement, which teaches that Jesus only died for the sins of SOME people, not ALL people. The Apostle Paul clearly teaches Universal Justification writing: "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:19 see also 2 Peter 2:1). 

Throughout this hymn Zinzendorf points the sinner not to him or herself, but to Jesus, about whom Peter proclaims: "you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God" (1 Peter 1:18-21). Thanks be to God!

May the LORD bless your worship this weekend!