In this series of hymn studies, we need to include not only the great hymns of past ages, but also some of the newer hymns currently being composed. Every period of church history includes new waves of hymnody that focus on themes particularly important for that time. The doctrines of grace seem to be one of the most prominent themes at present. Our “vocabulary” of praise needs to be wide enough to include both old and new, the best of both. In other studies, we will occasionally consider some of the these fresh hymns coming from the pens of people like Keith & Kristyn Getty, Stuart Townend, Bob Kauflin, and Kevin Twit.
His Robes for Mine is certainly one of the best of our generation. It expresses some of the richest, deepest, highest, and most essential and profound doctrinal and devotional truths of the gospel. It is based on the vision recorded in Zechariah 3. Joshua, as high priest, represented the people of God. Whatever was true of him was true of them. Whatever happened to him would happen to them. In the vision, he was clothed in filthy garments, symbolizing the sin and guilt of the nation. Satan was accusing him in heaven’s courtroom.
Then the Angel of the LORD (a theophany, Jesus appearing in human form before the incarnation) stepped forward as Joshua’s advocate, ordering Satan to be silent. He commanded that Joshua’s filthy garments be taken off and that clean robes be placed on him. The LORD has given us here one of the best pictures of justification in the entire Bible! When we trust Jesus, He takes our filthy robes of unrighteousness to the cross where He suffers the Father’s wrath in our place, paying our debt, and gives us His robes of righteousness to accept us as if we had lived perfectly. Our sin has been imputed to Jesus, and His righteousness has been imputed to us.
This hymn brings all of this theology together magnificently and has quickly won a place in the hymnody of churches across the nation. Chris Anderson (who wrote the words) is pastor and Greg Habegger (who wrote the music) is director of music, serving together at Killian Hill Baptist Church in Lilburn, Georgia. Every phrase of their hymn has direct connection to a specific passage of Scripture. With hymns of past generations, we are on our own to interpret what the authors intended. But in this instance, we have the unique benefit of hearing from the composers themselves. Here is Chris Anderson’s own description of the text, as posted on the internet.
The 4 verses focus on 4 major themes included in the doctrine of justification.
Verse 1 addresses the hymn’s overriding theme of “The Great Exchange.” Jesus Christ was made sin for us in order that we might be declared righteous in Him. The great doctrine of imputed righteousness and unrighteousness grows out of a number of wondrous texts (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:19-4:8; Philippians 3:9) and is often pictured in Scripture by the exchange of garments (Isaiah 61:10; Zechariah 3; Matthew 22:1-14; Revelation 7:9-14). Hence, the theme of the song.
Verse 2 focuses on Christ’s active obedience—the fact that He mastered God’s Law in the place of sinners who could not, thus earning righteousness on our behalf. It was added essentially at the recommendation of my teacher and friend Michael Barrett, who has done a great deal to assist me in my understanding of justification. The key lesson here is that the righteousness imputed to me was Christ’s earned righteousness which He acquired by perfect obedience to God’s Law, not the inherent righteousness which He has eternally possessed by virtue of His deity. The great truth of Christ’s perfect obedience to the Father’s will and the imputation of that righteousness to repentant sinners is taught in Matthew 3:15; John 8:29; 1 John 2:1; Romans 1:17; 2:13; 3:22; 4:4-6, 11b; 5:17-19; 1 Corinthians 1:30, et al.
Verse 3 focuses on the grand doctrine of propitiation, the fact that God’s wrath was not merely deflected from us by Christ, but was rather absorbed by Him in our place. Jesus Christ bore the infinite wrath of God against sin, satisfying God’s wrath and enabling sinners to be forgiven—and justly so. Isaiah 53:10-11 describes it this way: God looks on the travail of Christ’s soul and is satisfied by it. His wrath has been exhausted on Christ. The doctrine of propitiation is taught in Isaiah 53, Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10, et al.
Verse 4 summarizes the hymn by describing the results of the Great Exchange—Christ forsaken and the sinner embraced by God. The role change of the sinner and Christ is amazing: the beloved Son of God was forsaken (Matthew 27:46) in order that the cursed enemy of God might be beloved (Romans 5:1-2; Hebrews 10:19-22; 1 John 4:9-14). Though I understand this doctrine biblically, I certainly cannot fathom it. It is astounding. It is wonderful.
Finally, we added a refrain which expresses our wonder at the cost of our salvation, then responds to Christ’s love with worship and consecration (Romans 6:19-20; Romans 12:1-2; Acts 20:28b). Thus, the song doesn’t really progress from verse 1 to verse 4, but instead moves toward and peaks at the refrain after each of the four meditations. Greg expresses the heartbeat of the refrain wonderfully with a gorgeous melodic line, and I trust that your congregation will delight to lift your voices and proclaim: “I cling to Christ and marvel at the cost!
As with other projects, our greatest delight would be for the Lord to use this song to point people toward Christ. I pray that it will help you mine the infinite riches of the salvation won for us when Christ donned our filthy garments of sin and provided for us the robes of His own righteousness! What a Savior the Lord Jesus is! To Him be all glory, honor, and praise!
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What a marvelous tool we have in this hymn to be equipped to sing the glorious doctrines of justification, imputation, and propitiation. Our worship will be enriched, our adoration will be elevated, and Christ’s honor will be exalted as we do so.
HIS ROBES FOR MINE
1. His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange!
Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.
Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified.
In Christ I live, for in my place He died.
Chorus:
I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost:
Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God.
Bought by such love, my life is not my own.
My praise—my all—shall be for Christ alone.
2. His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread?
God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead.
Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine,
Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life.
3. His robes for mine: God’s justice is appeased.
Jesus is crushed, and thus the Father’s pleased.
Christ drank God’s wrath on sin, then cried,
“’Tis done!” Sin’s wage is paid; propitiation won.
4. His robes for mine: such anguish none can know.
Christ, God’s beloved, condemned as though His foe.
He, as though I, accursed and left alone;
I, as though He, embraced and welcomed home!