I had no righteousness to call my own No worthiness to bow before His throne Though I'd lived a life trying to do right I was still so far from perfect in God's eyes There was nothing I could do to take away my guilt and shame And justice said my death was the price I'd have to pay But mercy stepped in and stood in my place Mercy saw my need and covered me with grace An old rugged cross was the sentence I deserved Yet I was spared the penalty of sin when mercy stepped in God knows the road you've walked, He knows your heart No matter where you've been or who you are When He hears your cry, He'll draw you to His side And I know the sweet forgiveness you will find For when I was still a prisoner bound by earthly chains God in His great love came and tore them all the way When mercy stepped in and stood in my place Mercy saw my need and covered me with grace An old rugged cross was the sentence I deserved Yet I was spared the penalty of sin when mercy stepped in Someday I'll stand in heaven Just outside the pearly gates When they ask why I should enter I will say, I will say That mercy stepped in and stood in my place Mercy saw my need and covered me with grace An old rugged cross was the sentence I deserved Yet I was spared the penalty of sin when mercy stepped in An old rugged cross was the sentence I deserved Yet I was spared the penalty of sin when mercy stepped in Mercy stepped in Mercy stepped in