Amazing Grace

One of the most beloved hymns amongst Christians is “Amazing Grace” which was written by John Newton.  While this song has a heartfelt meaning to every believer, it is so much more amazing when we hear Newton’s story.

When I heard John’s life story, it made me think of what Paul told the Corinthian church: there is an “immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur among pagans” (I Corinthians 5:1).  Paul’s statement described John’s life—John’s life and treatment of others was despicable and appalling even to his contemporaries.  John lived this way until he met the LORD, and then his life made an about face and was filled with regret of the life he lived.

Newton was a slave trader and it seems to me that his treatment of slaves would later haunt him—rightly so.  While there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2), we still have to live with the consequences of our actions.

I often wonder if this was also Paul’s thorn in the flesh (II Corinthians 12).  In his younger years, Saul (Paul) was on a mission to destroy the apostasy that was taking place in the Jewish religion (Acts 8:1, 9:1).  After Paul met the LORD, his life made a 180° and he confessed, that he was a “violent man” and “the worst of sinners” (I Timothy 1:13-16).  I would not be at all surprised if Paul’s persecution of the church of Jesus Christ tormented him for the rest of his life.

When we read Paul’s words, “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,” I wonder if we if we think that we should no longer feel guilty for our past actions.  I don’t think so.  I think this is called denial and if we do not acknowledge our guilt or our guilty feelings, it will probably lead to other issues in our soul.  We should leverage our past actions against our Lord’s words to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9).

This is the glory of God.  It can be said in so many different ways.  God loves us in spite of who we are, what we’ve done or what we’ve said.  We are what we are by the grace of God.  However we express it, God’s kindness is astonishing—His Grace is amazing!