Amazing Grace

Everything about the hymn 'Amazing Grace' is amazing! Although written in 1779 by Rev. John Newton who was once an atheist, it became first choice in 'Top of the Pops' for 9 weeks in 1972!

Newton's mother died when he was seven but she had taught him Bible stories and prayed that he would become a preacher. By the age of eleven John was working on a slave ship but by seventeen he had thrown his faith overboard. A crisis came six years later during a terrible storm at sea. The thought that he might die filled him with guilty fears as he remembered his blasphemous and lustful lifestyle. He cried to God for mercy and through His amazing grace, was forgiven.

John became the captain of a slave ship but by 1764 he had given up everything to do with slavery and was ordained into the Church of England. Eventually he was preaching to vast congregations in London and it was through him that William Wilberforce came to know Christ as His Saviour in 1786. A year later, thanks to the information and good advice given by John Newton, Wilberforce stayed in politics and became the parliamentary spokesman and the spearhead of the anti-slavery movement.

So what is grace? The early Christians greeted one another in this way, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." [ Romans 1:7 ] Grace is the undeserved kindness of God that comes to us courtesy of Calvary where Jesus died to pay the penalty our sins deserve. To kick against such kindness is wickedness yet many use the name of Jesus as a swear word when they should use it as a prayer word and pray for mercy in the name of Jesus. This will bring them peace through His amazing grace!

Links:-