God's Amazing Grace

If you have not yet seen the movie Amazing Grace, you must absolutely see it! It is a very phenomenal movie about William Wilberforce a great man of God who was instrumental in the abolishment of the slave trade in England.

Amazing Grace can be defined as the freely given unmerited favor, love and mercy of God that is so remarkable and overwhelming that it is unbelievably astonishing. That is what John Newton (1725-1807) the author of the hymn felt of the forgiveness and love that God had shown him. He was a slave ship captain who saw God’s mercy when his ship was almost sunk during a storm. God softened his heart and transformed him and Newton became a minister a little bit after. Amazing Grace was probably written between 1760 and 1770 perhaps written for a weekly church service. Over the course of time, various people added more verses to what eventually became the most famous hymn in the world. The six stanzas below are the oldest printed version, found in the first edition of Olney Hymns printed in 1779 along with a reference for 1 Chronicles 17:16 & 17

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

That sav’d 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 reliev’d;

How precious did that grace appear,

The hour I first believ’d!



Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.



The Lord has promis’d good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.



Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease;

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.



The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call’d me here below,

Will be forever mine.

1 Chronicles 17:16 & 17 (NKJV)

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said: "Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? And yet this was a small thing in Your sight, O God; and You have also spoken of Your servant's house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

Romans 3:21-26 (NKJV)

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.