John Newton was born in London in 1725. His mother died when he was only 7. He was sailing at age 11, accompanying his sea-captain father on his journeys. During this rough life at sea Newton had a wild, profane youth of rebellion and drinking. Despite his debauchery he ended up enlisted in the British navy. He attempted to desert not long thereafter and was stripped of his rank in disgrace. Newton would then serve on the ship of slave-traders.
He got heavily invested in the odious practice of buying, selling, and transporting his fellow humans. However, in a strange turn of events he was at one point left behind by his crewmates in West Africa. There he found himself enslaved, sold to an African royal.
He was rescued some time later, but the ship taking him back home was caught in a terrible storm that began to sink just off the coast of Ireland. It was in the midst of this terrifying situation that Newton prayed to God and pleaded that he would be spared. Miraculously, some of the cargo in the lower level shifted just enough to plug up the hole in the hull. The ship made it through the remainder of the storm and Newton survived.
Taking this as a sign, Newton converted to Christianity. Years later, Newton became a priest who would actively denounce the slave trade he was once profited from. Concerning his former involvement in the slave-trade, Newton once wrote, “It will always be a subject of humiliating reflection to me, that I was once an active instrument in a business at which my heart now shudders.” Indeed, he was a profoundly different person in his latter years.
Newton would go on to write an impressive collection of around 280 hymns during his time as a priest. In 1772 he wrote the words for one you’ve probably heard and sang countless times.
Yes, John Newton was the writer of “Amazing Grace”.
Side Note: Interestingly, the song was originally more of a chant. The tune wasn’t applied to until 1835 by William Walker. Apparently, “Amazing Grace” is sung to the tune of another song called “New Britain”.
Despite being two hundred years old, the song has not diminished in popularity and it’s not difficult to see why it has endured for so long. The melody is beautiful. The lyrics are stirring.
It may be one of the most translated songs, as it has been interpreted into a multitude of languages including Spanish, German, and even Cherokee. The song was featured in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. It was later used as an anthem by African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement “to define racial equality as a moral and religious pursuit.”
Another Side Note: Harriet Beecher Stowe is credited as the writer of the last verse of the song; the line “When we’ve been there ten thousand years…” doesn’t appear in Newton’s original text. Apparently Stowe added the line when she wrote the song into “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”.
“Amazing Grace” has been featured on over 11,000 albums by a variety of artists including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, and Elvis. From 1970-1972 the two-centuries-old song even spent 68 straight weeks on the record charts, peaking at number 5 with Judy Collins’ version.
Today “Amazing Grace” is a staple of musical worship in church houses around the world. The hymn is more or less synonymous with the Gospel singing; it very well may be the quintessential song of Christian worship. It is estimated that the song is performed some 10 million times annually.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
For this lesson, I’d like to break down “Amazing Grace” verse by verse and examine its themes as they relate to Scripture and our spiritual journey.
Verse 1 – God’s Amazing Grace
“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.”
The song begins with the declaration: “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!” Certainly, it’s difficult to think of a better adjective to describe God’s grace than “amazing”.
Grace is defined as “free and unmerited favor.” Indeed, God’s grace manifests itself in so many wonderful ways! Just think of all the physical blessings he so freely gives: our homes, our families… the very air we breathe! Indeed every minute of life we enjoy reveals the grace of our Creator.
Additionally – and far more importantly – God also tends to our spiritual needs. He lifts us up when we are weak, provides us with refuge when we are afraid, and nurtures the very core of our being. It’s God’s grace that provides us with a way out of the grave we dug for ourselves through our former sinful life.
As Newton said, God’s grace “saved a wretch like me.” We don’t deserve to be saved, but God recognizes our value. He loves us so much that He was willing to send His Son to die in our place in the ultimate expression of His grace.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Through his selfless sacrifice, Jesus saved us from our sins, allowing us to be reborn. Newton alludes to this by referencing parables and miracles of Jesus. “I once was lost, but now am found” recalls the Parable of the Lost Coin, son, etc… while the line “was blind, but now I see” likely draws inspiration from Jesus’ miraculous ability to heal the blind.
Certainly, when one dedicates their life to Christ they recognize and regret all of the years they wasted wandering, spiritually directionless. But they also realize that that is all behind them now, that Jesus has opened up a door to a new, purposeful and fulfilling life full of hope.
Of course we must be sure to remember that aforementioned definition of grace – “free and unmerited favor”.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
If we got what we truly deserved, it would be death in exchange for our trespasses against God…
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But the Gospel is “unfair” in our favor: We get what we don’t deserve!
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…
This is what makes God’s grace so amazing!
Therefore, as we go about serving Christ we must be careful to remember that is nothing we can do to earn the salvation He offers; it’s all a freely given gift from God!
Verse 2 – Trusting God
The theme of the second verse seems to be one of conversion and repentance.
“”Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear,
the hour I first believed!”
It may sound odd to a nonbeliever, but the fear of God is actually a positive thing.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The kind of fear mentioned in proverbs isn’t mortal terror as one might think, but rather a deep respect for God and His authority. When we come to appreciate the scope of God’s power and humble ourselves before Him, we start to see the wisdom of His ways.
James 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
It sounds strange, but this one kind of fear can drive out all other fears. The fear of God, actually serves to embolden us! We no longer have to fear death. In submitting to Jesus we are turning over our will to the only one who can defeat death! Therefore, we no longer have to fear death nor eternal punishment. Jesus has set us free from all of that!
Pslam 56:11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
This knowledge we gain from the fear of God allows us to put our trust in Him fully. A spiritual awakening wells up within us and we start to recognize our need for forgiveness, which leads to our repentance, the renouncement of a life dedicated to sin. We turn away from that former life; humble ourselves give Jesus the power over our new life.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Verse 3 – Faith Under Fire
“Thru many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come.
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.”
Unfortunately, the journey isn’t over once we rise from the cleansing waters of baptism. It’s almost as if Satan kicks it into overdrive once we try to turn our backs on him once and for all. We left behind the sins of our former life and go forth with a clean slate, only to be met with the temptation to return. In moments of such weakness we feel despair. At other times we may find ourselves doubting, questioning our faith. And as if that weren’t enough we may face outside persecution. The world may ridicule us for our beliefs or worse.
No doubt, it is discouraging to a young Christian to experience trials of faith. But we must take heart and remember we allow the grace of God to lift us up once more.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
God’s grace not only has the power to save us, but it also has the power to restore us when we have stumbled.
Romans 3:23-24 …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…
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Verse 4 – Looking Forward to Eternity
“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.”
The final verse looks forward to a wonderful future. Just imagine: Being in Heaven, in the direct presence of almighty God, forever illuminated in His glory.
Harriet Beecher Stowe presents the idea of being in Heaven for ten thousand years and it being as if no time has passed at all. It’s a simple fact of mortality: We cannot comprehend the spectrum of eternity. We can’t understand the eternal nature of God – a being who is without beginning or end, who just simply always was and will always be.
However, consider that the Bible tells us that we are made in God’s image: Perhaps this doesn’t refer to our outward appearance as many interpret, but maybe this alludes to the true nature of our being. Mankind has always been set apart from the rest of the natural world. Blessed with intelligence, endowed with dominion over our surrounding God has given so much. But beyond all of that, God made us in His image; God has granted us the ability to become eternal beings.
However, being trapped within our flesh, we sometimes forget that the spirit that lingers within us is actually our true self and that we will linger on once this mortal life has concluded. But the Bible tells us as much; we will continue to exist beyond this plane of existence.
Having this knowledge, God allows us a choice: How will we spend eternity?
One option is to live a life devoid of meaning. We can pursue our selfish desires and grasp at the shallow pleasures this world has to offer. But this way only leads to ultimate destruction. Hell. Eternal death.
But it doesn’t have to be like this. And God doesn’t want it to be this way.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The other option is to reject the temptations of this world and look forward to a more glorious future. We can accept God’s offer to be reunited with Him forever in eternal life. We can do this by submitting to the grace of God and allowing it to work in us toward salvation!
Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life
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References:
A Final Side Note: I realize that there are several versions of this beloved hymn and that it's possible I've left out other verses found in other versions. It was not my intention to purposefully leave these verses out for any reason other than the fact that this lesson is based on the version found in our congregation's song book. Maybe one day I'll get around to commentating on those verses...
References:
“Songs of the Church” Howard Pulblishing Company, 1977.
https://www.biography.com/news/amazing-grace-story-john-newton
https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-04-30/complicated-story-behind-famous-hymn-amazing-grace
