All Glory Be to Christ
One of the 94 hymns we sing together at Cornerstone Reformed Baptist Church on the Gold Coast. Browse the full hymnbook.
Lyrics
Verse 1
Should nothing of our efforts stand,
No legacy survive,
Unless the Lord does raise the house,
In vain its builders strive.
To you who boast tomorrow’s gain,
Tell me, what is your life?
A mist, it vanishes at dawn,
All glory be to Christ!
Chorus
All glory be to Christ our King,
All glory be to Christ.
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing
All glory be to Christ!
Verse 2
His will be done, His kingdom come,
On earth as is above.
Who is Himself our daily bread,
Praise Him the Lord of love.
Let living waters satisfy
The thirsty without price.
Come eat of Him, our Living Bread,
All glory be to Christ!
Verse 3
When on the day, the great I Am,
The Faithful and the True,
The Lamb who was for sinner’s slain,
Is making all things new.
Behold our God shall live with us,
And be our Steadfast Light,
And we shall e’er His people be,
All glory be to Christ!
Behind the Hymn
"All Glory Be to Christ" was written by Dustin Kensrue, the lead vocalist of the rock band Thrice, who is also a worship pastor at Mars Hill Church (now The Coram Deo Church) in the Pacific Northwest. Kensrue set his original lyrics to the traditional Scottish tune "Auld Lang Syne," which gives the hymn a hauntingly familiar feel while completely transforming the song's meaning from a nostalgic drinking song to a declaration of Christ's lordship over all of time and creation. The hymn draws from the doxological language of Revelation and the Pauline epistles, celebrating Christ as the beginning and end of all things. Kensrue has spoken about wanting to reclaim the cultural melody and fill it with gospel content — much as Martin Luther was said to have adapted barroom tunes for congregational singing. The hymn's verses trace the narrative from creation through the fall, redemption, and the hope of Christ's return. Its use of the "Auld Lang Syne" melody makes it particularly powerful at New Year's services and end-of-year worship gatherings.