The Lord our Righteousness

The hymn "God’s Christ, who is my righteousness" (originally "Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness") was written by Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–1760). He was a pivotal 18th-century German religious and social reformer who played a key role in the Moravian revival. History of the Author: Count Zinzendorf Background: Born in Dresden, Germany, into a noble and wealthy Austrian family, Zinzendorf was exposed to pietism through his grandmother and later education at Halle under August Hermann Francke. Conversion and Calling: Despite his upbringing, Zinzendorf felt a profound calling to a "special work" for God, dedicating himself to a life of service rather than purely secular politics. The Moravian Connection: He purchased a large estate in Saxony, which he named Herrnhut ("The Lord's Watch") and offered as a safe haven to refugees, particularly the Moravian Brethren (followers of John Hus) who were facing persecution. Missionary Zeal: He became a Moravian minister and eventually a Bishop, dedicating his life and fortune to sending missionaries to the West Indies, North America, Greenland, and Egypt. Position in Society Nobility and Wealth: Zinzendorf was a nobleman (Graf) who held a high position as a Councilor to the Elector of Saxony, but he resigned from public duties in 1731 to dedicate his life to religious endeavors. Religious Leader: He was the founder and leader of the Renewed Moravian Church. He often faced ridicule from the mainstream Lutheran church for his religious enthusiasm. Writings: He wrote over 2,000 hymns. His hymns often emphasized the "active righteousness" of Christ (his perfect life) and "passive righteousness" (his death), which are credited to the believer. Interesting Facts High Seas Composition: Zinzendorf wrote the original 33 stanzas of this hymn in 1739 while on a sea voyage to visit a mission station in Saint Thomas in the West Indies. Wesley Connection: The hymn was translated from German into English by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who was deeply influenced by the Moravians. "One Passion": His life motto was: "I have but one passion, and that is He and only He". "Singstunde": He developed the Singstunde (hour of singing), a method of worship where hymns were woven together into a continuous, spontaneous story rather than broken up by a sermon. Corrected Lyrics: In some modern hymnals (such as Hymns #295), the line "Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness" was changed to "God's Christ, who is my righteousness" to emphasize Christ himself as the righteousness rather than his work alone. God’s Christ, who is my righteousness" is a line from a hymn, often listed as Hymn #295 in certain hymnals (such as those used by Living Stream Ministry), which is an adaptation of an earlier hymn written by Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–1760). Here are the details regarding the hymn: Who wrote it: The original German hymn, "Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness" (33 stanzas), was written by Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf in 1739. The specific adapted line, "God's Christ, who is my righteousness," is used in modern adaptations to emphasize that Christ Himself is our righteousness. When was it written: The original was written in 1739. Where was it written: It was composed during or immediately after a sea voyage from Saint Thomas in the West Indies. Why it was written: Zinzendorf wrote it out of a deep appreciation for the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, desiring to express the assurance of being fully absolved from sin, fear, and guilt. How it was written: It was written as a hymn of praise and assurance, highlighting that believers are clothed in Christ's righteousness ("my glorious dress"). What Bible verse it was based on: The hymn is based on several scriptures, primarily: 1 Corinthians 1:30: "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption". Philippians 3:9: "...not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ...". Romans 5:18: Righteousness and justification. Isaiah 53:11: The righteous One serving to make many righteous. The adaptation specifically changes the emphasis from "Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness" to "God's Christ, who is my righteousness," clarifying that Christ is the person who is our righteousness.