Only a Sinner

Naught have I gotten but what I received

Author: James M. Gray
Tune: [Naught have I gotten but what I received]
Published in 98 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Representative Text

1 Naught have I gotten but what I received;
Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed;
Boasting excluded, pride I abase;
I’m only a sinner, saved by grace!

Refrain:
Only a sinner saved by grace!
Only a sinner saved by grace!
This is my story, to God be the glory—-
I’m only a sinner saved by grace!

2 Once I was foolish, and sin ruled my heart,
Causing my footsteps from God to depart;
Jesus hath found me, happy my case;
I now am a sinner, saved by grace! (Refrain)

3 Tears unavailing, no merit had I;
Mercy had saved me, or else I must die;
Sin had alarmed me, fearing God’s face;
But now I’m a sinner saved by grace! (Refrain)

4 Suffer a sinner whose heart overflows,
Loving his Saviour to tell what he knows;
Once more to tell it would I embrace--
I’m only a sinner saved by grace! (Refrain)

Source: Worship and Service Hymnal: For Church, School, and Home #271

Author: James M. Gray

Born: May 11, 1851, New York City. Died: September 21, 1935, Passavant Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, New York City. Gray accepted Christ at age 22. He was educated at Bates College, Lewiston, Maine (Doctor of Divinity), and the University of Des Moines, Iowa (Doctor of Laws). In 1879 he became Rector of the First Reformed Episcopal Church in Boston, Massachusetts, where he served 14 years. He then became dean (1904-25) and president (1925-34) of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois, and directed publication of four editions (1921-28) of the Voice of Thanksgiving, official hymnal of the Institute. A conservative theologian, Gray was one of seven editors of the popular Scofield Reference Bible. He was… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Naught have I gotten but what I received
Title: Only a Sinner
Author: James M. Gray
Meter: 10.10.9.9 with refrain
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Only a sinner saved by grace!
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #5216
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)
TextPage Scan

Hymns of Faith #257

Page Scan

Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #295

Page Scan

Rejoice Hymns #356

TextPage Scan

Sing Joyfully #333

Audio

Small Church Music #654

Page Scan

Soul-stirring Songs and Hymns (Rev. ed.) #207

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #5216

TextPage Scan

Worship and Service Hymnal #271

Include 90 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us