Theme this week: Songs of Marvelous Grace
October 8, 2021 (Friday)
The blogs this week have followed the theme of The Grace of God. What is grace? It is the undeserved and unearned love and favor of God toward us sinners. We are saved by grace through faith. Salvation is offered freely to all who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. But a gift is not a gift unless it is accepted. God gives and we receive. God offers salvation and we accept it. Jesus saves those who believe.
We have shared four songs about the grace of God this week. Today we share one more. Perhaps it is the best known hymn about the saving grace of God: “Amazing Grace.” It is sung by multitudes and instruments of all kinds play the tune. Almost everyone recognizes it whenever it is sung.
The author of the words was John Newton (1725-1807) captain of a slave ship. The music for the hymn no doubt was from songs he heard from the slaves in the decks below. Newton was saved in the same way as all Believers, by confessing his sin and asking God for forgiveness based on the vicarious death of Jesus on the Cross and His victorious resurrection.
The message of this song resonates in the hearts of the children of God wherever they may be found.
AMAZING GRACE
HOW SWEET THE SOUND
John Newton
18th Century
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found
‘Twas 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 has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead us 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 first begun.