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AMAZING GRACE by Fred Nowell Fred was born in Franklin, New Hampshire in 1961. He and his good wife, Pam, obeyed the gospel in 1992. He served as a deacon for the Lord’s church in Tilton, New Hampshire, which is the home of the Northern New England Lectures, directed by Carl Garner and supported by the Dripping Springs congregation. Fred and Pam have two children: 16 year old Stephen and 13 year old Staci. The Nowells were members of the Dripping Springs congregation while Fred attended the Southwest School of Bible Studies from August 1998 until his graduation in July of 2000. Fred currently preaches for the Lord’s church in York, Pennsylvania. As one reads the words of this wonderful song, feelings of great gratitude and love for God flood the mind. There are many things that amaze us, but nothing compares or even comes close to the “amazing grace” of God. “For 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). God not only gave His only Son, but Jesus was willing to give up the glory of Heaven, humble Himself to the likeness of man, and die a shameful death, even the death of the cross (Phi. 2:6-8), to be the perfect sacrifice for all (1 John 2:2; 4:10), that by the grace of God and faith in Jesus, it is possible for all to accept the gift of salvation (Eph. 2:8). No matter what condition one may be in, happy or unhappy, good or wretched, God’s “Astonishing Favor,” “Redemptive Mercy,” and “Amazing Grace” is available to save. It is God’s desire for all who are lost to be found, and for those who are blind to have their eyes opened. God is “not willing (wishing) that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9), “who would have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). Have you, or will you accept His “Amazing Grace”? The author of this beloved hymn is John Newton. John Newton lived from 1725-1807. His life was one that was quite fascinating. Before Newton died, he wrote an inscription that would be placed (and is) upon his tombstone. This inscription sums up his life, as well as gives us some insight to his great gratitude and recognition of his life that was less than God desired. It read “John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy” (Osbeck, 28). John Newton’s life was full of many hardships and trying times. His parents were Captain John and Elizabeth Newton. John feared his father. Captain Newton ran his home the same way as he did his ship. His father showed little affection, demanded silence unless addressed, and considered laughter insubordination in most cases (Pollock, 17). John’s mother Elizabeth was just the opposite of his father. She was a deeply religious woman who cared deeply for her son. She was the only friend that John wanted. John’s mother taught him that God had revealed His truth in the Bible, which must neither be doubted nor disobeyed, and that after death comes judgment. She had given him an ideal of purity and devotion which he might forget and betray but would never escape (Pollock, 20). God has told us in His word to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Pro. 22:6). This is a description of Elizabeth, and is displayed at the end of John’s life. Elizabeth’s health was failing due to tuberculosis, and prior to John’s seventh birthday, she died. Throughout John’s life there were times of trial and despair. There were times of a sincere desire to be pleasing to God as well as his share of riotous living. At age eleven, John boarded his father’s ship to begin a life as a seaman. His early years were one continuous round of rebellion and debauchery. After serving on several ships and working in Africa collecting slaves for sale, John eventually became captain of his own slave ship (Osbeck, 29). On March 10, 1748, at the age of twenty two, John was returning to England from Africa, and encountered a terrible storm that caused him to rethink his life. The way to a strong faith had been slow and hard. It now appeared that death’s sting was knocking at his door, and John now began to dwell on his past more than perhaps he ever had. Newton said of his own life, “I think I took up and laid aside a religious profession three or four times before I was sixteen years of age; but all this while my heart was insincere. I often saw a necessity of religion as a means of escaping hell; but I loved sin, and was unwilling to forsake it” (Benson, 135-136). John Newton was living a life that he knew was not right. He was doing the very things his mother taught against. Do you suppose he had visions of his mother whom he loved so much? Thoughts of her affection, her teaching, her desire for him to know God’s word and to obey it? Oh, how we owe so much to our women. Those dedicated mothers and grandmothers that understand the importance of teaching and instructing the ways of God to those in their care, the kind that Timothy was so blessed with, whom Paul praised (2 Tim. 1:5). The church of our Lord is so richly blessed by so many wonderful women! John, soon after this event, lowered his anchor for the last time. John settled down and married his sweetheart from his youth, Mary Catlett, and became a clerk at the Port of Liverpool. He began to study God’s word with the help and influence of George Whitefield as well as the Wesley's, but he decided to stay within the established Anglican Church instead of joining with them. At the age of thirty-nine, John was ordained by the Anglican Church and began his first work in Olney, near Cambridge, England (Osbeck, 29). From his youth, John had a passion for singing. John preferred the singing of hymns that expressed the simple heartfelt messages of his preaching rather than the singing of Psalms which was practiced in the Anglican churches. So in 1779, John, along with his friend and neighbor, William Cowper, a well-known writer of classic literature, produced the famous Olney Hymns hymnal, which is considered one of the most important contributions to the field of evangelical hymnody (Osbeck, 30). Just before his death, when John Newton’s memory was almost gone, he said “I can never forget two things: first, that I was a great sinner, and second, that Jesus is a great savior.” Newton lived to be eighty two, and died December 21, 1807. He was buried beneath his church building of St. Mary Woolnoth (Benson, 139). Originally, this hymn consisted of six stanzas, and was entitled “Faith’s Review and Expectation,” It was based on 1 Chronicles 17:16-17 (Osbeck, 31). “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God” (1 Chr. 17:16-17). David knew himself, and he was continually mindful of the “Amazing Grace” which God showered upon him throughout his life. Brother Goebel Music said concerning this passage of scripture, “David had the heart of a true servant. David referred to himself ten times in reference to God as ‘thy servant,’ (vv17-19; 23-27 of 1 Chr.). He recognized the graciousness, the benevolence, of God. David truly heightened the name of God, while also humbling himself. This is one tremendously great, grand, gracious, and glorious example for all of God’s servants.” Brother Music also noted that the word “servant” is the one most frequently used to describe one who is a Christian (Music, 225). “Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!” The Bible is replete with the very fact that one is saved by the grace of God (Eph. 1:7; 2:5; Rom. 3:24; Tit. 2:11-12; 3:3-7; 1 Tim. 1:13-14; Gal. 1:15). Paul reminds the church in Ephesus “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:8-10). W.E. Vine defines grace as “that which bestows or occasions pleasure, delight, or causes favorable regard...” (277). From this verse one can plainly see that salvation is available to all. God has made salvation available by His grace combined with the faith that is also required. Faith, which is a conviction based on hearing (Vine’s, 222), is how God intended man to come to the knowledge of His grace (Rom. 10:17). One put it this way, “God gives man the capacity to believe, reveals to him the things to believe, and ample testimony to produce the faith required” (Shepard, 42-43). Yes friends, it is the “amazing grace” of God that makes salvation possible, but it is also through faith in Jesus Christ (Note: This writer highly recommends Wendell Winkler’s “Sound Doctrine For Everyday Living” series entitled “Things That Accompany Salvation” for an in depth personal study on Eph. 2:8-10). “I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.” Each one of us has our own song to sing, our own story to tell. Some are privileged to grow up with good, moral, upright examples to look to for guidance and advice, while others are not so fortunate. The life of John Newton was one that many perhaps can relate to. There comes a day when one can look at their life and know that they are lost, dead spiritually with no hope. Blind to the riches of God, though able to physically see. In Luke 18:35ff, Jesus comes nigh unto the city of Jericho when a certain blind man who was at the gate begging hears the multitude. When he is told that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, we see that this blind man actually can see better than most there! He cries “Thou son of David, have mercy on me.” Jesus asks him “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee” (V38-39)? The physically blind asked Jesus to physically restore his sight, and Jesus complies. When I read of this account, I can’t help but recall my condition prior to coming to Jesus: spiritually blind, not willing to see the salvation in Christ. I not only see myself in this blind man, but also the lives of many who are blind to the salvation found in Christ, who take those most important steps toward Him to receive sight. This wonderful song is also recognized as an early American folk melody. It was first known as a plantation melody entitled “Loving Lambs.” The earliest known publication of this tune was found in a book entitled The Virginia Harmony, compiled by James P. Carrel and David S. Clayton (Osbeck, 31). Though the exact circumstances of the writing of Amazing Grace is not known, when one looks at the life of John Newton, many reasons may come to mind: the story of ‘a wretch’, a prodigal son, ‘lost’ and ‘blind’. Newton was a man who recognized the amazing grace of God that is extended to all who will submit themselves to Him. As you sing this well known and beloved hymn, do you contemplate its message? Do you see yourself as the main character? Though this writer was not asked to do so, I would like to put into my own words the meaning and message that I receive when taking in this wonderful hymn. It is my prayer that all of us might look inside of ourselves to be sure that we understand as best we can the absolutely beautiful, loving, “Amazing Grace” of God. Amazing grace, how beautiful and matchless, that is able and is offered to save one as me! I still remember the lost condition of my soul, but now have found the favor which I was once blind to. Through God’s loving kindness and knowledge of His word, I have gained a great respect that relieves my every fear. How precious and dear a memory I have the instant I realized His love and concern for even me! Many difficult and trying things have I lived through, and I know that God desires for me to live with Him, and as I live my life according to His word, His grace will bring me to my home beyond the skies. When I finally reach my mansion prepared for me, God’s brightness shall shine for all eternity and I will sing praises to Him forever more. May God continue to bless and keep you all as we strive to serve Him together in the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ, and may His Amazing Grace be known to all men. WORKS CITED Benson, Louis (1926), Studies of Familiar Hymns (second series) (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press). Music, Goebel (1993), “Times of Glory and Shame for David; 1 Chronicles 17:1-20:8,” Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles, ed. Dub McClish (Denton, TX: Pearl Street church of Christ). Osbeck, Kenneth (1982), 101 Hymn Stories (Grand Rapids, Mich: Kregel Publications). Pollock, John (1981), Amazing Grace (New York, NY: Harper & Row Publishers Inc.). Shepard, J.W. (1989), Commentary on the Epistles to the Ephesians (Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate Company). Vine, W.E. (1996), Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers).