SDAH 298: I Lay My Sins on Jesus

For Worship Leaders

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Bulletin Blurb
Song Leader’s Notes
SDA Hymnal Companion
Scriptural References

Hymn Spotlight: I Lay My Sins on Jesus

Horatius Bonar’s hymn, written for his Sunday school class in the 1830s, expresses simple faith in the Lamb of God who takes away sin. Though he felt it lacked poetic finesse, its popularity endures because of its clear gospel message. Composer Allen W. Foster crafted the tune BRADLEY in 1964, and it gained recognition through evangelistic campaigns. The melody’s unexpected phrasing keeps it fresh and expressive. This hymn encourages even the youngest hearts to bring their sins to Jesus and trust in His complete forgiveness.

📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.

Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):

Three aspects of intercession discussed in the lesson (1) Praying for our own people — family members, friends, and other people or situations. God hears our prayers and can intervene. Sometimes it may take longer for a prayer to be answered, but we can rest assured that God never forgets the needs of His children. (2) Daniel’s role as intercessor and mediator for the Israelites — the prophet realizes how sinful the people have become as they transgress God’s law and refuse to hear God’s warnings. Thus, recognizing their desperate spiritual condition, Daniel prays for healing and forgiveness. But the prophet also identifies with his people. (3) Christ as our Mediator — “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21, NIV). (Lesson 10, 1st Quarter 2020 – Tuesday, The Value of Intercession, 3/3/2020)

The sinless life offered on the cross of Calvary is enough to redeems us from the death that we need to pay as a penalty for our sins. What we need to do is to repent and lay our sins on Jesus so that our sins will be forgiven and we’ll be ready to dwell with Him and with His angels in heaven someday. (Lesson 12, 2nd Quarter 2021 -Sunday, Reflections of Calvary, 6/13/2021)

Horatius Bonar (1808-1889; see SDAH 79) is considered the greatest of the Scottish hymn writers. No other has approached him in number and popularity of hymns. He was the great lover of children, and wrote these words (thought to be his first or second hymn) in order to provide something they could easily sing and understand in the divine worship service. It was written about 1834 in four-line stanzas; it was revised and published in 1843 in Bonar’s Songs for the Wilderness, in four 8-line stanzas that he titled “The Fullness of Jesus.” It was first sung by Bonar’s Sunday school class at South Leith, where he was assistant minister. The hymn text is based on John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Bonar said the hymn was good gospel but not good poetry, and he was surprised that it became so popular.

The fourth stanza in SDAH should read “I long to be like Jesus,” not “with Jesus.” (This error occurred in the first printings of SDAH.) Bonar also wrote SDAH 79, “O Love of God, How Strong and True”; SDAH 217, “The Church Has Waited Long”; and SDAH 465, “I Heard the Voice of Jesus.”

The composer, Allen W. Foster (1940- ;see SDAH 151) writes: “This hymn tune, BRADLEY, was composed in May 1964 on a Sabbath morning just prior to leaving home for church services. It is name for the street in Camden, New Jersey, where my wife, Gwendolyn, and I resided. We had been married about 11 months at that time. First performed by her during a Philadelphia evangelistic campaign with Charles D. Brooks in 1964, it has become one of his favorite songs. Recording of this hymn have been made on the Chapel label by Charles L. Brooks as a solo, and in a choral arrangement by the Ebenezer Seventh-day Adventist Church choir, where I was organist.” The melody gives a pleasant surprise in the middle of the third score. One would expect it to conclude on the high notes, but another musical phrase follows, repeating the first four notes of the preceding phrase (with different harmony) and then completing the cadence.

Foster was a member of SDAH Committee. He arrange SDAH 151, “Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley,” and composed the tunes at SDAH 203, CHALLENGE, and SDAH 417, FINALLY.

📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.

Stanza:

1 – John 1:29

Isaiah 1:18

2 – Colossians 1:19

Psalm 103:3, 4

Psalm 55:22

Matthew 11:30

3 – Luke 2:35

Text

1
I lay my sins on Jesus,
The spotless Lamb of God;
He bears them all, and frees us
From the accursed load,
From the accursed load.

2
I bring my guilt to Jesus,
To wash my crimson stains
White in His blood most precious
Till not a stain remains,
Till not a stain remains.

3
I lay my wants on Jesus,
All fullness dwells in Him;
He healeth my diseases
He doth my soul redeem,
He doth my soul redeem

4
I long to be with Jesus,
Meek, loving, lowly, mild;
I long to be like Jesus
The Father’s holy child,
The Father’s holy child.

5
I long to be with Jesus
Amid the heav’nly throng,
To sing with them His praises,
And learn the angels’ song.
And learn the angels’ song.

Hymn Info

Biblical Information
(a) John 1:29; Isa 1:18 (b) Col 1:19; Ps 103:3, 4; Ps 55:22; Matt 11:30 (c) Luke 2:35

Author
Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

Year Published
1843

Copyright Information
Music copyright 1965 by Allen W. Foster

Hymn Tune
BRADLEY

Metrical Number
7.6.7.6.

Composer
Allen W. Foster (1940-)

Year Composed
1964

Alternate Tune
ST. HILDA, SDAH 283