No force in Heaven above down to Hell beneath has the awesome power to change a sinner to a saint, except the grace of God.
The lyrics to "Amazing Grace" were penned by the Englishman John Newton (1725-1807).
Once the captain of a slave ship, Newton converted to Christianity after an encounter with God in a violent storm at sea.
The change in his life was radical. Not only did he become an evangelical minister for the Church of England, he also fought slavery as a social justice activist.
Not long before his death, he preached in a loud voice, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior!"
Ephesians 2:7-9 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
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“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound. — That saved a wretch like me. — I once was lost, but now am found, — Was blind, but now I see.
“'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, — And grace my fears relieved. — How precious did that grace appear. — The hour I first believed.
“Through many dangers, toils and snares — I have already come; — 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far. — And grace will lead me home.
“When we've been there ten thousand years. — Bright shining as the sun, — We've no less days to sing God's praise. — Than when we've first begun.”
John Newton, 1725-1807
Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit.
