God’s Amazing Grace

The hymn, Amazing Grace, is one of the most popular songs of all time. It is sung or played at funerals and even at secular concerts. The text was written by John Newton in 1772. Before his conversion to the Christian faith, he was a slave trader, during which time he had such a low point in his life that he was considered a “wretch,” the definition of which is a despicable or contemptible person, hence the phrase, “he saved a wretch like me.”’ This, and other phrases in the words, are a reflection of his life. There were also several occasions where God spared his soul in life or death situations. Even though most people are not “wretches” we are all sinners in need of God’s saving grace.

The Creation of “Amazing Grace” | Library of Congress (loc.gov)

What is so amazing about God’s grace is that God accepts each person just as they are, even the evilest person imaginable! Romans 5:8 says, “Even while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” He doesn’t wait for a person to, as the saying goes, “clean up their act.”

Even the most righteous person is a sinner in need of God’s grace. This is because sin is not only openly evil or immoral actions, but also a separation from God, and rebellion toward his ways of living righteously, expressed in thoughts, motives, and attitudes. So, a lot of sin is not visible to others, but God knows the heart. And there are “secret sins” that no one knows but God. I cringe when I hear people sing, “Amazing Grace” at times, especially at secular concerts. I wonder how many are singing it just because it is so popular, without realizing what God’s grace is all about. If anyone believes they are righteous enough to not need to admit their sin and accept God’s grace, that person has been deceived (First John 1:8)!

What is even more incredible about God’s grace is that once a person admits they are a sinner and accepts Jesus as their Savior, he or she is not only saved by grace, but also justified by faith, and declared righteous by God (Romans 5:1), no matter their past. God’s grace does not depend upon what a person has done, but on what Jesus has already done (1 Peter 2:24). And there is nothing no one can do to earn the grace of God. It is a free gift as expressed in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” A person who accepts the free gift of grace will begin a change from the inside. A destructive way of living can be transformed. Man-made religion will become a relationship with the living God.

Billy Graham always ended his crusades with the hymn, Just As I Am. He wanted people to respond to God’s grace just the way they were. You can too! There is no person so bad who doesn’t deserve God’s grace, or no person so good to deserve it.