Grace Greater than Our Sin

"Grace Greater than Our Sin" is one of the most enduring gospel hymns on the theme of God’s forgiving grace. Written in 1911 by Julia H. Johnston, a Sunday school teacher, missionary leader, and prolific hymn writer from Illinois, the text offers a rich poetic meditation on the overwhelming abundance of divine grace in contrast to the depths of human sin. Johnston was deeply committed to Christian education and missions, and her hymns often reflect her desire to make theological truths both memorable and deeply personal.

The hymn opens with vivid imagery — “marvelous grace of our loving Lord” — and continues to weave together descriptions of grace as infinite, matchless, and freely offered to all who believe. The second verse draws attention to the hopelessness of sin without God’s intervention, while the refrain triumphantly declares that God’s grace is “greater than all our sin.” This refrain functions like a creed, reinforcing the believer’s confidence in God’s saving power.

The music was composed by Daniel Brink Towner (1850–1919), a noted American gospel song leader and music educator who served as director of music at Moody Bible Institute. Towner’s tune, Moody, carries a warm, flowing melody that is both reflective and uplifting, perfectly matching the text’s message of hope and assurance. Its gentle yet confident progression invites congregations to sing with both gratitude and conviction.

Since its publication, the hymn has been a staple in revival meetings, church services, and personal devotion. Its theological depth, rooted in Scripture, and its memorable melody have made it a treasured anthem of the Christian faith, continuing to remind believers across generations that no sin is too great for God’s redeeming grace.