Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!

"Rock of Ages" is a classic hymn with a powerful message. The song recognizes that our only hope for salvation is to depend fully on the grace of God poured out through the cross. We have no excuses, nothing we have done or could ever do can erase our sin and gain us entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.

There are a lot of people in this world who call themselves christians and appear to be "very good people" who don't really understand this song. Too many of us, even those who attend church regularly, believe that the way to salvation is to "be a good person" or "don't kill anybody" or (here's my favorite) "do more good than bad so that the good will outweigh the bad on judgement day and God will have to let you into Heaven"

All of these beliefs have one thing in common which dooms their believers to destruction: The thing that they are based on is pride. It is pride that says "I don't need God for salvation, I can do it myself." It is pride that says "I can pull myself up by my own bootstraps" It is pride that keeps us looking at ourselves and what we can do rather than what God has done for us.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

When it's all said and done, I believe pride is the ultimate sin. It is pride that keeps us from recognizing our total dependence on God for everything we have and for everything we do and for the salvation that the Blood of Christ purchased for us on the cross.

"Rock of Ages" lyrics:

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.
let me hide myself in thee.

Hymn Statistics:

Text: Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778
Music: Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872

Artists who have recorded "Rock of Ages":