For the Church: Singing Clothed in Righteousness
"Clothed in Righteousness," from Glory to the Holy One, voices praise to God for the imputation of Christ's righteousness to all who trust in Him. John Calvin described this essential doctrine as "the wondrous exchange" in which Christ, having "taken upon Himself the burden of unrighteousness with which we were oppressed....clothed us with His righteousness" (Institutes of the Christian Religion). Christ indeed hides believers' "filthy rags of sin" and dresses us in His "perfect garb both outside and within."
This double imputation is preceded by the imputation of Adam's guilt upon his descendants. Stanza 1 sets the scene in the first person plural, identifying all mankind, the "fallen race," with Adam. "Fled we naked from Thy sight" (Genesis 3:7-8). In Adam we are born corrupt, dead, and condemned (Romans 5:12). Our conduct mirrored our first parents who, guilty and ashamed, hopelessly attempted to cover the nakedness of their souls, hide from God, and cast the blame on others. Their misery intensifies in stanza 2. "Banished there from Thy pure light were Adam and his mate" (Genesis 3:22-24). In Adam, we "lost communion with God, are under His wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever" (Westminster Shorter Catechism 19).
"Clothed in Righteousness" progresses from the shameful nakedness of the first Adam to the atoning cover secured by the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). "Scarlet souls are now like snow by Thy atoning grace" (Isaiah 1:18). Christ gave Himself a ransom for many (Mark 10:45), satisfied God's wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10), removed our sin and guilt (Psalm 103:2-4), and reconciled us to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). "Your merit, Lord, is all we have."
"Clothed in Righteousness" gives the redeemed thoughtful expression to Isaiah's prophetic utterance, "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).
Lyrics
Fallen race in Eden fair
Exposed and full of shame
Fled we naked from Thy sight
Far from Thy holy Name
Refrain
Clothe us in Your righteousness
Hide filthy rags of sin
Dress us in Your perfect garb
Both outside and within
Sent from the garden in the east
Outside of Eden’s gate
Banished there from Thy pure light
Were Adam and his mate
Scarlet souls are now like snow
By Thy atoning grace
Crimson hearts become like wool
For Adam’s fallen race
Refrain
No work of ours is good enough
For evil to atone
Your merit, Lord, is all we have
It saves, and it alone
Refrain
Experience Glory to the Holy One Today
Note: If you buy the CD from Ligonier.org, we will add the digital edition to your learning library for free.
- Buy the CD ($12)
- Buy the digital album from Ligonier.org, iTunes, Amazon, or Google Play
- Buy sheet music ($2 each)
- Listen to samples of each track
- Listen to or download "The Secret Place"
- Listen in Spotify
- Watch the making of "Highland Hymn"
- Learn about their second collection of hymns and sacred music, Saints of Zion
See also:
- For the Church: Singing Glory to the Holy One
- For the Church: Singing Come, O Lamb of God
- For the Church: Singing Heavy is Our Savior's Cross
- For the Church: Singing No More the Grave
- For the Church: Singing The Secret Place
- For the Church: Singing Variant on Benedictus
- For the Church: Singing Highland Hymn
- For the Church: Singing Clothed in Righteousness
- For the Church: Singing These Great Things
- For the Church: Singing Come, Thou Savior, Spread Thy Table
- For the Church: Singing Worthy Is the Lamb
- For the Church: Singing Amen
Randall Van Meggelen is chief musician at Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Fla., and provides direction for the church's various music ministries. He is a graduate of Covenant College and Concordia University.