In the third verse, despair is mentioned as a device used by the enemy to use our own personal doubts and fears to feel weak and hopeless. I treasure these words because they remind me there is no despair with the risen Jesus. He can and does wipe away the darkness within me.
God was moved with love to send His Son to die for us, and Ephesians mentions that we are saved by grace, but the foundation of our salvation is righteousness. Because of God's righteousness, even if He stopped loving us, or decided to withhold His grace, He is bound by His righteousness to forgive us.
We sinned, and because of God's righteousness, God could not forgive us.
He died, and because of God's righteousness, God *must* forgive us.
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, because the righteousness of God is revealed in it.
Reply to previous comments: This hymn is often sung to the tune, "sweet hour of prayer". I prefer that tune for this hymn. It is a very famous tune, I recommend you search for it on Google. It is not available on hymnal.net as far as I know.
I think that this is a great hymn, but there is another tune. Does anyone know what it is called? And please could it be played to the hymn? Thank you.