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"Amazing
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11/13/2004
That saved 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 relieved;
How precious did that grace
appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils,
and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me
safe thus far,
And grace will lead me 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.
John Newton
This famous hymn by John Newton, British slave trader-turned-preacher, is an expression of awe and gratitude toward the God Who offers forgiveness of sins and a home in Heaven to all who turn to Him—even “a wretch like me.”
What did Newton mean when he wrote, “I once was lost, but now am found”? The Bible teaches that God, Who is holy, requires holiness from mankind made in His image. Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” The result is that we are separated from God.
This separation leads to eternal separation from God in Hell. This is what Newton meant by “lost.” No amount of good works or religious activities can remove our guilt or commute our sentence. “For the wages of sin is death ...” (Romans 6:23). “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
The good news is that “. . . God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). On the cross, Jesus Christ, as our sinless Substitute, bore our sin and paid our penalty. “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He Who knew no sin was made to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (II Corinthians 5:21). His resurrection the third day proved His deity (Romans 1:4).
Because of Who Jesus is—God’s Son—and because of His great redemptive work on the cross, we have the opportunity to be saved and receive the forgiveness of sins and the assurance of Heaven. We must simply repent of our sin and by simple faith receive Jesus Christ as Savior. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).
My friend, if you have never done so, will you not this very moment repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior? He is standing at the door of your heart, knocking, waiting, wanting to enter—He is waiting only for you to open the door. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). Then your testimony, like that of John Newton, will be, “I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.” Will you not bow right now and in a simple prayer of faith receive the gift of God’s Son?
Adapted from
the tract, “Amazing Grace,” from Good News Publishers, 9825 W. Roosevelt
Rd., Westchester, IL 60153