What Can Wash Away My Sin? Meaning, History, and Theology
"What can wash away my sin?"
- Written
- 1876
- Category
- Hymn
- Rights
- Public domain
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Story
What Can Wash Away My Sin?, commonly known as Nothing But the Blood of Jesus, is an 1876 gospel hymn by Robert Lowry. Rooted especially in Hebrews 9:22 and 1 John 1:7, it proclaims cleansing, pardon, redemption, righteousness, and assurance through the blood of Christ.
Overview
What Can Wash Away My Sin?, more widely known as Nothing But the Blood of Jesus, is a gospel hymn centered on the sufficiency of Christ's atoning blood. Its repeated answer to the problem of sin leaves no room for self-salvation, moral achievement, or any substitute for the cross.
The hymn is pastorally powerful because it is both simple and doctrinally weighty. It teaches cleansing, pardon, atonement, righteousness, hope, and peace through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
For worship, the hymn is especially useful in services of confession, assurance of pardon, Communion, evangelistic invitation, Lent, Good Friday, and gospel-centered praise. It gives congregations a clear way to confess that forgiveness rests entirely on Christ.
Historical Background
What Can Wash Away My Sin? was written and composed by Robert Lowry and first published in Gospel Music, New York, 1876, a collection compiled by Lowry and William H. Doane. The hymn is commonly known by the refrain title Nothing But the Blood of Jesus.
The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology notes that the original first line in the 1876 printing used the word stain, though the later and widely used form begins What can wash away my sin?. Hymnary documents the hymn under that familiar first line and identifies Lowry as author and composer.
Hymnological accounts also connect the hymn with Hebrews 9:22 and with late 19th-century revival and camp-meeting song. Ira D. Sankey later reported that the hymn was introduced at a camp meeting in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, where it made a strong impression. Since the words and music were published in 1876, this hymn is public domain for normal U.S. use.
Biblical Foundations
The hymn's primary biblical foundation is Hebrews 9:22, which teaches that remission is connected with the shedding of blood. Lowry's hymn turns that doctrine into a repeated congregational confession: sin is cleansed only through the blood of Christ.
1 John 1:7 directly supports the hymn's cleansing language by teaching that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. Ephesians 1:7 and 1 Peter 1:18-19 explain the same truth in terms of redemption, forgiveness, and the precious cost of Christ's sacrifice.
Romans 3:23-25 guards the hymn from sentimental interpretation. All have sinned, and justification is freely by grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood. Isaiah 1:18 adds the biblical image of scarlet sin made white by God's gracious cleansing.
Verse Explanation
Stanza 1 asks the central question of the hymn: how can sin be washed away and the sinner made whole? The answer is the atoning blood of Jesus.
Stanza 2 applies that answer to pardon and cleansing. The singer's plea is not personal worthiness, but Christ's saving work.
Stanza 3 rejects human merit as a basis for atonement. No good work can remove sin or establish righteousness before God.
Stanza 4 gathers the hymn's gospel benefits into hope, peace, and righteousness. These blessings belong to the believer because of Christ, not because of self-achievement.
The refrain reinforces the hymn's central confession through cleansing imagery and repeated trust in the blood of Jesus. It functions as a sung assurance that Christ's sacrifice is sufficient.
Theological Reflection
This hymn teaches the doctrine of substitutionary atonement in plain gospel language. Human sin requires cleansing, pardon, and reconciliation with God, and the hymn points to Christ's blood as the only sufficient answer.
It also teaches the failure of self-righteousness. The singer confesses that personal goodness, moral effort, or religious performance cannot atone for sin. Righteousness, hope, and peace are received through Christ rather than achieved apart from him.
The hymn is therefore both humbling and assuring. It humbles the sinner by removing every ground of boasting, and it assures the believer by directing faith to the finished and sufficient work of Jesus.
Church Impact
What Can Wash Away My Sin? appears in many English-language hymnals, gospel songbooks, revival collections, and denominational hymnals. It is commonly placed under topics such as atonement, blood of Christ, salvation, pardon, confession, assurance, and the Lord's Supper.
Its continuing use comes from its doctrinal simplicity and congregational strength. The hymn gives churches a concise way to sing the exclusive sufficiency of Christ's saving work while inviting personal trust in the gospel.
Musical Notes
The tune used in this setting is PLAINFIELD, composed by Robert Lowry. Hymnary and several hymnals also identify the tune by the first line or by the title Nothing But the Blood, but PLAINFIELD is a common tune name in modern hymnals.
The meter is 7.8.7.8 with refrain. The melody has the direct, memorable character of 19th-century American gospel song, with repeated phrases that reinforce the hymn's question-and-answer structure.
A moderate and confident tempo helps the congregation sing the hymn as gospel proclamation rather than as a dirge. The refrain may be sung with strong congregational clarity, because it carries the central assurance of the text.
Application
- Use the hymn after confession of sin to direct the congregation to assurance in Christ's atoning work.
- Teach that forgiveness is received by grace through Christ, not earned by moral improvement.
- Use the hymn before or during Communion to connect the church's worship with the blood of the covenant.
- Invite believers struggling with guilt to rest in the sufficiency of Christ rather than in changing feelings.
- Pair the hymn with Scripture readings that explain redemption, cleansing, and justification through Christ.
Discussion Questions
- What repeated question and answer shape the hymn's message?
- How does the hymn's 1876 gospel-song setting help explain its direct and evangelistic style?
- How does Hebrews 9:22 clarify the hymn's emphasis on the blood of Jesus?
- What does the hymn teach about the limits of human goodness and the sufficiency of Christ?
- Where do you need to rest more fully in Christ's finished work rather than in guilt, effort, or self-defense?
Teaching Tips
- Read Hebrews 9:22 and 1 John 1:7 before singing to explain the hymn's biblical foundation.
- Teach the hymn as a question-and-answer confession of the gospel.
- Use Romans 3:23-25 to show how the hymn connects cleansing, justification, grace, and faith.
- Avoid treating the hymn's blood language as merely emotional; explain its connection to atonement, sacrifice, and redemption.
- Use the hymn after confession, before Communion, or as an invitation to trust Christ.
Sources
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Hymnary.org, text authority page for What can wash away my sin
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Hymnary.org, tune authority page for PLAINFIELD by Robert Lowry
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The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology, article for What can wash away my sin
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Hymnology Archive, Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
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The Cyber Hymnal, Nothing but the Blood, citing Gospel Music, New York, 1876
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Sankey, Ira D. My Life and the Story of the Gospel Hymns
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World English Bible, public domain text
Sheet Music
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