This is hymn 40 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
HYMN 40: CHRIST IS OUR CORNER-STONE
1. Christ Is Our Corner-Stone;
On Him Alone We Build;
With His True Saints Alone
The Courts Of Heaven Are Filled;
On His Great Love
Our Hopes We Place
Of Present Grace,
And Joys Above.
2. Oh, Then, With Hymns Of Praise
These Hallow’d Courts Shall Ring:
Our Voices We Will Raise,
The Three In One To Sin;
And Thus Proclaim
In Joyful Song,
Both Loud And Long,
That Glorious Name.
3. Here, Gracious God, Do Thou
For Evermore Draw Nigh;
Accept Each Faithful Vow,
And Mark Each Suppliant Sigh;
In Copious Shower
On All Who Pray,
Each Holy Day,
Thy Blessings Pour.
4. Here May We Gain From Heaven
The Grace Which We Implore,
And May That Grace, Once Given
Be With Us Evermore;
Until That Day,
When All The Blest,
To Endless Rest Are Called Away.
CHRIST IS OUR CORNER-STONE HYMN COMMENTARY
Beloved in Christ, as we conclude this series of reflections, we come to a hymn that lays the theological and practical cornerstone for everything we have sung. “Christ Is Our Corner-Stone” is a majestic declaration of the supremacy, sufficiency, and centrality of Jesus Christ in our faith, our fellowship, and our future. It beautifully weaves together the themes of our identity as His saints, our present worship, and our eternal hope—all resting on the one, unchanging foundation.
Why Sing This Hymn
We sing this hymn to affirm the exclusive Lordship of Christ over the Church, to consecrate our corporate worship, and to pray for the abiding grace that flows from His presence. It is a hymn for the dedication of a church building, the gathering of the saints, and the daily building of a life. It reminds us that our unity, our hope, and our access to God are found in Him alone.
1. It is a Hymn of Exclusive Foundation and Glorious Fellowship (Verse 1)
The hymn begins with the absolute, non-negotiable declaration of Christ’s unique role: “Christ Is Our Corner-Stone.” In ancient architecture, the cornerstone determined the lines, strength, and stability of the entire building. Our faith, our community, and our eternal destiny are aligned and supported by Him alone: “On Him Alone We Build.” This cornerstone not only supports us but also defines our fellowship. It is “With His True Saints Alone”—those united in Him—that “The Courts Of Heaven Are Filled.” Our present hope for grace and our future joy in heaven are both placed “On His Great Love.” He is the source of everything.
2. It is a Hymn of Joyful, Corporate Proclamation (Verse 2)
From this foundation springs our primary earthly activity: worship. Because Christ is our cornerstone, our gatherings (“These Hallow’d Courts”) should resound with “hymns of praise.” We do not worship in silence, but we “raise” our voices to proclaim the Triune God. Our worship is an active, joyful announcement to the world and a declaration to our own souls of the “glorious name”upon which we stand. True worship is the natural and necessary sound of a people built on Christ.
3. It is a Hymn of Petition for God’s Abiding Presence (Verse 3)
This verse is a prayer for the reality of God’s presence in our midst. We ask the gracious God to “For Evermore Draw Nigh.” We seek His attentive ear to “Accept Each Faithful Vow, And Mark Each Suppliant Sigh.” We plead for His blessings in “Copious Shower” upon all who pray. This underscores that a church built on Christ is not a monument, but a living, breathing place of prayer, vow-making, and divine visitation. We depend on His continued grace, not just our initial foundation.
4. It is a Hymn of Sustaining Grace and Eternal Consummation (Verse 4)
The final prayer links our present need with our eternal destiny. We ask to “Gain From Heaven The Grace Which We Implore”—the daily strength to live faithfully on the cornerstone. And we pray that this grace, once given, will “Be With Us Evermore,” sustaining us through all of life. This leads us to look forward to “That Day” of final gathering when all the blessed will be called to “Endless Rest.”Our life on the cornerstone now is a pilgrimage toward perfect, eternal communion with Him.
A Word for Your Spirit Today
What are you building your life upon today? Your achievements, your relationships, your plans? This hymn calls for an inspection of your foundation. Is it Christ, and Christ alone? He is the only cornerstone that can withstand every storm of life and death.
When you gather with other believers—whether in a grand cathedral or a simple room—remember you are joining the “true saints” who fill heaven’s courts. Worship with joy, for you stand on a glorious, unshakeable foundation.
And pray earnestly for His grace to be with you evermore, from this holy day until the day you are called to your endless rest in His presence. For the building that rests on Christ the Cornerstone will stand forever.
Build on Him. Worship in His name. Pray for His grace. Look to that Day.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our only Cornerstone and Eternal Hope, Amen.
