John Newton the author of “Amazing Grace”, fell as deep into sin as one could go. His life of sin proved the truth of the saying: “Sin will take you further than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay, and keep you longer than you want to stay.” God’s grace protected Newton’s life while he was in slavery, while he was engaged in slave trade, and when he thought all would be lost in a storm at sea.
God’s saving grace so changed his life that Newton could write from the heart: “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.”
Grace is defined to be God’s unmerited or undeserved favor. If grace could be deserved or earned it would not be grace. If it could be worked for it would be reward and not grace. Grace may be defined by the acrostic: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is more than love. You can love someone on your level and they can repay your love. However grace loves downward. Grace loves the unlovable. Grace loves those who have no ability to repay. “God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”
Christ did not die for us because we were good or worth saving. Christ died for us because He loved us. Our salvation is completely of the grace of God. Because of God’s grace we were convicted of our sins and called by His Spirit. By His grace we were given the faith to respond to His call and believe and trust Christ as our Lord and Savior. By grace we were quickened by His spirit and born again.
Jonah was in the belly of the fish in the bottom of the ocean when he declared, “Salvation is of the Lord!” It sure is! Salvation is by the grace of God from beginning to end. Why anybody would reject and turn a deaf ear to God’s free offer of grace – eternal life purchased by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ – is a mystery to me.
“Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come. Tis’ grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.”