'Amazing Grace' is the iconic song of John Newton-a slave trader turned abolishionist who lived in the 1700s. The first two stanzas are:
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.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Grace Thru Faith
Salvation- the redemption of our souls-comes only by the grace of God. Everyone..anyone with breath in their body has been offered this glorious gift. Yet, there is an access point/key to this amazing grace. It's called faith.
Romans 5:1,2-Â Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Â by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
When we receive Jesus Christ-the holy sacrifice of his death on the cross for our sins- he gives us power to become his children. (I John 1:10-14) His grace is limitless for our redemption.
Purpose and Grace
The moment anyone believes in Jesus as their Savior and Lord they receive a new identity. It's created after God who is righteous and holy. Read more about this-what it does and doesn't look like- in Ephesians 4. As new born children of God we are called to conform to the image of Jesus Christ. It's still obtained by grace through faith.
II Timothy 1:9-Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Those who put their trust in Jesus are called a peculiar people in the Bible. We are called out of the darkness of sin into His glorious light of grace and truth. The citizens of the worldly system would say that peculiar means odd, strange, even weird. Because we've been called to serve and obey our Redeemer- following after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness-it will be strange to those who live for the pleasures of this world.
His Grace Is Enough
There is nothing more powerful than grace when it is received by faith. By faith in Jesus' great sacrifice. In his living he became our example; in his dying he took our place of punishment; and by his rising again we received redemption. When we accept his grace-which is given in love-it becomes the catalyst for change.
II Corinthians 9:8-And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
God's grace teaches us about: godly reverence; godly conviction; godly discipline. All of which echoes from the Father's divine love. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved'.
II Corinthians 12:9-My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Just like the song 'Jesus Loves Me' says- We are weak but He is strong. In ourselves, that is our carnal nature, we cannot obey or please God. But when we surrender fully to Him the Spirit rises up in us and makes us strong. We become overcomers of the sin nature by trusting in Jesus and not our own abilities.(the old man)
Grace for Eternal Life
God's grace isn't a one and done thing; we need it every day of our lives. That's the reason
I John 1:9 says for us to confess our sins and he is faithful to forgive us. What's more, we must never get in the attitude that grace is a license to 'do as we please'. If we go down that dangerous and deceptive road, then we will become slaves to our fleshly nature and to satan himself.
II Peter 3:17,18-Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Neither should we have the other mindset about grace which is also deceptive. This is the belief that we don't need God's grace to live a righteous life of faith. Those who think they can earn their salvation by their own self righteousness-or good works-are spiritually deaf, dumb, and blind.
Romans 6:22,23-But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
No Vain Grace
On an old rugged cross, Jesus stretched out his arms of grace for every soul in the human race. He was compelled, persuaded by love. We believers stretched out our arms of faith to receive that glorious gift of salvation. If we keep our eyes on Him-by praying and studying the Word, and by walking every day according to Bible truths, our lives will not be in vain.
I Corinthians 15:10-But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
The Apostle Paul knew what grace had done for him. Before his Damascus Road experience he'd believed he was doing the will of God by arresting Christians. His zeal wasn't born from the grace and knowledge of the true God. When Jesus Christ revealed himself Paul was transformed forever- spirit, soul, mind and heart. He fulfilled God's calling only by God's mercy and grace.
I Peter 1:13-Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
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