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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
"Amazing Grace" is Amazing
In a land that murders millions of babies each year, sanctions moral depravity in its judiciary, and encourages drunkenness in her communications media, it may surprise you to find that “Amazing Grace” is a popular secular song. No doubt the melody is appealing; and the words of praise for God’s grace provide emotional comfort. It is also interesting to discover how many secular musicians have recorded the song. From Barbra Streisand to the Statler Brothers they are using it in their concerts. Elvis sang it. Merle Haggard sings it. So do Johnny Cash and Judy Collins. It’s a big hit even in Great Britain, especially when played on the bagpipes. Everybody loves to sing of God’s amazing grace. The song was written in the 18th century by a former slave ship captain, and Amazing Grace has been in every song book I can ever remember using.
Truly, God’s grace is “amazing,” especially when we consider that it is only by grace that anyone ever has been or ever can be considered just and right in His sight. Since “all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God,” no one can claim to have been justified by his own merits, Romans 3:23. The author of the words of this beautiful song realized his sins required a sacrifice that would satisfy the justice of the One against whom his sins had been committed. That demanded the death of His “only begotten son,” John 3:16. In Titus 2:11-12 we read:
- “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
Three things must be noted in this context.
First, the grace of God has been made available to all mankind. That grace, being made available, has brought the opportunity of salvation to all people. Salvation, forgiveness of sins and redemption are there for all to receive. Does this mean all will be saved? Is there no response for man to make, nothing for man to do? The Bible answers that question.
Second, that grace that brings salvation to all, comes “teaching us” that we are to refuse some forms of behavior, and that we must live in a prescribed way.
Third, other Bible texts declare that not all are going to be saved, but rather “few,” Matthew 7:12-13. So, even though God’s grace is available to all, many will refuse the benefits of salvation and redemption.
In spite of the amazing beauty that rests in that beautiful song, God’s “Amazing Grace” can, has been and will be resisted by some, and that resistance, their disobedience, will result in their being lost, banished from the presence of God, “into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,” Matthew 25:41. What about God’s amazing grace? It’s there for the taking, but it includes some conditions of life that must be accepted and practiced.
The power and beauty of God’s grace is not diminished one whit by the previous conclusion. It is God’s amazing grace and mercy that brings salvation to all men, Titus 3:3-5. But man is obligated to live in harmony with the gospel of Christ, the instrument by which God’s amazing grace is revealed to us. We do not and can never merit God’s forgiveness, but we can “inherit” eternal life, Matthew 19:29, 1 Peter 1:4, Acts 20:32. Hebrews 9:15-17 describes the “will” or testament of Christ, and the terms of that will determine our fitness for that eternal inheritance.
I love to sing “Amazing Grace,” as many others do today. It has a beautiful, compelling melody, and an equally compelling theme: the amazing grace of God, our heavenly Father.
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The following are less familiar stanzas of “Amazing Grace,” written by John Newton but not in our book:
- The Lord has promised 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 will 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 called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified,” Acts 20:32.
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Trust the Instrument Panel
Dr. Edwin Lutzer tells the story of flying on a commercial air flight. Seated next to him was a man who used to be a commercial airline pilot, but now flies his own smaller plane. The two became engaged in a conversation about the safety of flying.
The pilot said, "Many people think these huge jets are built more safely and, therefore, are safer to fly than smaller planes. People think that because there are more crashes with smaller planes than with commercial jets.
"But," he said, "that's not true. The reason why so many lighter planes crash is not because of bad equipment. It's because of inexperienced pilots flying the little planes."
Lutzer replied, "Tell me more."
"The error in inexperienced pilots is that they refuse to believe their instruments," the pilot said. "In a storm, they trust their instincts rather than their navigation instruments. That's where they get into trouble."
"For example, they are absolutely convinced that the altitude of the plane is increasing when it's not. There is an internal mechanism that tells them the altitude. But, when the altitude is not increasing, they often choose to disbelieve the instruments and adjust the plane according to their senses. They think that the plane is turning or banking when it's actually not. When the pilot ignores his readings and adjusts the plane according to his intuition, it's sure to crash."
Then he said, "There wouldn't be as many light planes that crash if pilots would… devotedly believe their instruments panels rather than accepting what they think their senses are telling them."
OBSERVATIONS:
- A crash is inevitable when we attempt to fly by "the seat of our pants" [i.e., by emotion or intuition].
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is the way of death," Proverbs 14:12; cf. Judges 21:25; Acts 26:9).
- The instrument panel [i.e., the Word of God] is always true.
"The entirety of Your word is truth…" (Psalm 119:160a; cf. 25:5, 10; Proverbs 3:5-6; John 17:17; Romans 3:4).
- In order to arrive at our intended destination [i.e., heaven], we must pilot according to divine revelation rather than human intuition.
"You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (Psalm 73:24; cf. 119:105; Isaiah 55:8).
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