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Amazing Grace

What have you got in common with an Old Sea Captain from the 18 th century, who transported slaves from Africa and for a time became a slave himself?

If you like the hymn amazing grace, then you have that in common, because this ex Slave-trader, John Newton, wrote that hymn , after he was converted to Christianity and became a Preacher of the Gospel in England. He wrote many wonderful hymns, but this in particular expresses his wonder in how God could give a "wretch like him", as the first verse goes, salvation from sin and shame. John Newton had been a blasphemer and broken God's commandments many times, but in an act of love God showed John that even a sinful human being like himself could be saved from God's anger on the day of judgement. Perhaps like John, you have been a mocker of religion, and certainly there were few better at ridiculing Christianity, but God showed him one stormy night at sea that Newton's life could change completely and he could live as a forgiven man, and be received into heaven when he died. Being lost and blind

The first line of John's hymn goes like this. "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." Few people who sing this know its true meaning -the meaning John gave it. John realised he was a wretch and lost in the sense that he was heading to the day of judgement with no hope of finding eternal life in God's presence. The Bible says, "All have sinned and come short of God's glory." It also says, "It is appointed that men should die and after that the judgement." Newton realised, that like all men, women and children, he was lost and wretched. He also writes that he was blind. He meant he was spiritually blind, and could not see the truth of the Bible. John realised he had to repent, or change his mind, about his sinful way of life and turn to God. Finding God But not only did John realise that he was lost and blind, but that the Bible did offer him a way back to God. He knew that Jesus Christ has said, while he was on earth: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind." He realised that Jesus was the only one who could save him from slavery to sin, lostness and blindness.

This is what he meant when John wrote "Amazing Grace How sweet the sound." Grace means God freely giving you his favour and kindness, though you do not deserve it. And while John knew that he did not deserve God's favour, he also knew that God held out to him a promise of salvation, a promise of heaven, a promise of true spiritual sight. The Bible puts it like this. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." This Son he knew was Jesus Christ. You can be cleansed of sin Jesus had come to earth 2000 years ago, lived a sinless life and was crucified and died upon an old Roman Cross in what is now Israel. But why could John Newton be saved and set free from sin and the sting of death because of Jesus? When Jesus died on the cross, he died for the sins of those who would believe in him. His death was God's punishment for the sin of other human beings, since he had no sin. And Jesus had also lived a
perfect life of moral goodness often called righteousness. John realised that God would only accept him if his sins were punished and if he had a perfect righteousness to plead before God. John understood that God said, That whoever, ° believes in Christ's death for his sin and trusts in Jesus for this.
° And who pleads Christ's righteousness or moral goodness as his own. God would look upon him as one whose sins were paid for and who now possessed eternal life. When John realised that this was a sheer gift being offered him, the gift of eternal life, how could he not write about God's amazing grace. Yes that's right. All John had to do was receive the free gift of salvation offered, by trusting that Christ's death was sufficient to pay his sin, and be credited Christ's righteousness or moral goodness.
And then God would and did declare John righteous and welcome him as a Christian possessing eternal life. It doesn't matter how bad you have been, if you have not finally rejected God's grace, you have never been bad enough to disqualify from receiving God's amazing grace. And you have never been good or righteous enough on your own to be accepted by God. But now through trusting in Christ, you too can experience God's amazing grace. Why don't you trust in JESUS CHRIST TODAY? For a home Bible Study to learn more about the Christian Faith write to the Pastor..........., or email Bible quotes in Italics, from Romans 3: 23, Hebrews 9: 27, Luke 4: 18, John 3: 16. 2

Wanganui Reformed Church

Amazing Grace tract

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