Lyrics Page

His Robes for Mine

By The Holloway Men

1,476 views Oct 6, 2026 updated Redeeming Grace album Verified editorial review

Song Meaning

"His Robes for Mine" is built entirely around the doctrine of imputation, the idea that at the cross an exchange took place rather than a simple pardon. The chorus states it plainly: "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." The first verse names the exchange directly, "clothed in my sin, Christ suffered 'neath God's rage, draped in His righteousness, I'm justified," which is close to a direct restatement of 2 Corinthians 5:21, "he hath made him to be sin for us... that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

The third verse turns to the Old Testament language behind that doctrine, describing Christ as crushed so "the Father's pleased," a deliberate echo of Isaiah 53:6, "the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." The final verse completes the exchange from the other direction, "he, as though I, accursed and left alone; I, as though he, embraced and welcomed home," making clear that the hymn's whole structure is the two-way substitution scripture describes rather than a one-sided rescue.

Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team

VERSE 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.

VERSE 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.

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.

VERSE 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.

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.

VERSE 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!

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.

I do not have any rights to this amazing hymn written by Chris Anderson and composed by Greg Habegger. I truly believe this song will be sung by the church a hundred years from now, should the Lord tarry. The theology of this song is the doctrine of justification by imputation. This is known as the great exchange that took place at the cross, where the sinless Savior took on our sin and in exchange we receive His righteousness (2Cor 5:21). May the Lord use this song to build up His people and give all praise to Christ alone!

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