Robert Morgan says that “John Newton’s earliest memories
were of his godly mother who, despite fragile health, devoted herself to
nurturing his soul. At her knee he memorized Bible passages and hymns.
Though she died when he was about seven, he later recalled her tearful
prayers for him.”
In the years after
her death, John alternated between boarding school and sailing the high
seas. Kenneth Osbeck describes these years as “one continuous round of
rebellion and debauchery.”
At one point, John
was pressed into service with the British Navy, but he deserted. He was
later captured and flogged.
Then, Osbeck
informs, “After serving on several ships as well as working for a period
of time on the islands and mainland of the West African coast collecting
slaves for sale to visiting traders, Newton eventually became a captain
of his own slave ship. ...[It was] was a cruel and vicious way of
life.”
According to Morgan,
March 9-10, 1748, was a turning point in Newton’s life. Newton and his
crew encountered a strong and sudden storm. Newton cried out to God for
help. Newton and his crew survived the storm; he viewed it as a
blessing from God. He later wrote, “That tenth of March is a day much
remembered by me; and I have never suffered it to pass unnoticed since
the year 1748 – the Lord came from on high and delivered me out of deep
waters.”
Newton grew in his
faith, turned his back on the slave trade, and became a powerful foe of
slavery. He began preaching about God and wrote hundreds of hymns. His
most famous hymn is an autobiography of his life. It is called,
“Amazing Grace.”
“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.”
-- John Newton
“In a small cemetery
of a parish churchyard in Olney, England,” writes Osbeck, “stands a
granite tombstone with the following inscription: ‘John Newton, clerk,
once an infidel and Libertine, a servant of slavers 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.’”
The grace of God is
indeed amazing!
When we were all
living in rebellion and sin, God, because of His great love for us, sent
Jesus to live and to die in this world in order to save us from sin
(John 3:16). Jesus, the sinless Son of God, died on the cross for our
sins (Romans 5:8; 1 John 2:2).
God will save us by His grace when we accept His
offer on His terms by placing our
faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31),
turning from our sins in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confessing
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being
baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will
continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of
His Word (1 John 1:7-9).
The Apostle Paul
reminded Christians of their salvation in Christ: “For by grace you have
been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of
God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”–Ephesians 2:8-9
God saves wretches.
That’s wonderful news. That is amazing grace.
Won’t YOU
accept His offer on His terms?
-- David A. Sargent
* See Morgan, Robert
J. Then Sings My Soul. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003 and
Osbeck, Kenneth W. 101 Hymn Stories. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel
Publications, 1982.
David A. Sargent,
Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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