My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less emphasizes unwavering faith in Jesus’ blood and righteousness, portraying Him as the solid Rock amidst life’s uncertainties. The hymn underscores that all other ground is sinking sand, highlighting the steadfastness found solely in Christ.
VERSE 1
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.
CHORUS
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
VERSE 2
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil.
VERSE 3
His oath, his covenant, his blood,
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay.
VERSE 4
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.
Story Behind the Hymn
Edward Mote, born in London in 1797 to non-religious parents who owned a pub, had little religious upbringing. Despite this, he became a committed Christian and pursued a career as a cabinet maker. [1]
In 1834, while walking to work, Mote felt inspired to write a hymn about the “gracious experience of a Christian.” He composed the chorus, “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand,” and by day’s end, had completed four verses. [2]
The following Sunday, Mote visited a congregant’s home where the wife was gravely ill. They sang his new hymn together, marking its first use in a pastoral setting. The hymn was later published in 1836 in a collection by John Rees. [3]
Originally titled “The Immutable Basis of a Sinner’s Hope,” the hymn emphasizes unwavering faith in Jesus’ sacrifice and righteousness. It has since become a cherished hymn, reminding believers to anchor their hope in Christ alone. [4]
The Unshakable Foundation
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness” emphasizes that true security is found in Christ alone. This reflects 1 Peter 1:18-19, which declares that believers are redeemed not by perishable things but by the precious blood of Christ.
The reference to “righteousness” aligns with 2 Corinthians 5:21, which states that through Jesus, believers become the righteousness of God.
“On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand” affirms Jesus as the firm foundation, echoing Matthew 7:24-25, where Christ describes the wise man who builds his house on the rock, ensuring stability amid life’s storms.
The contrast that “all other ground is sinking sand” warns against reliance on anything apart from Jesus, reinforcing the message of Psalm 62:6 that God alone is an unshakable refuge.
“When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace” acknowledges that faith persists even when God feels distant. This reflects Hebrews 13:8, affirming that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The song is theologically rich, centering on salvation, grace, and Christ’s return. It aligns with Scripture, presenting a biblical view of faith in Christ as the only firm foundation.
Relevant Bible Verses about My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less Hymn
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24 NASB
“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11 NASB
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.” Psalm 118:22 NASB
“He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 62:6 NASB
“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:25 NASB
My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less lyrics and music by Edward Mote (1834), Public Domain