“Amazing Grace”

1. Read: Ephesians 2:4-10

2. About the Text:

1) “Amazing Grace” is a song that is known and loved the world over.

2) It was written in 1772 by John Newton.

3) Newton was a profane man in his youth and there was not any immorality of which he did not partake.

4) He eventually became a slave trader and captained a ship for the slave trade.

5) It was on one of these voyages that a great storm threatened to sink the ship that he cried out for God’s mercy.

6) The ship came through the storm, and after that, his life changed.

7) He gave up the slave trade and entered the ministry often preaching of his wicked life.

8) He wrote “Amazing Grace” as a hymn to be presented at a weekly prayer service.

9) It’s original title was, “1 Chronicles 17:16–17, Faith’s Review and Expectation.”

10) “And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, 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 Chronicles 17:16-17).

3. We want to consider the great words of this song and the scriptures that support them.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.”

2. Grace is unmerited favor.

3. It is God looking at our life and providing, knowing that we are helpless to save ourselves

4. If anyone is saved, he will be saved by God’s grace.

5. We do not have it within ourselves to save ourselves.

6. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).

7. Read Ephesians 2:2-8.

1. “‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fear relieved. How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.”

2. God’s grace not only provides, but it teaches us so that our lives can be better than they were when dominated by sin.

3. “For 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” (Titus 2:11-12).

4. Notice that grace denies some things.

1) Ungodliness – false religion and false worship of God, impiety.

2) Worldly lusts – things that destroy relationships with other people.

3) 1 John 2:15ff.

4) God’s grace teaches us to fear the consequences of a life spent in pursuit of self.

5. It also affirms some things.

1) Sobriety – Right attitude toward self.

2) Righteousness – Right attitude toward others.

3) Godliness – Right attitude toward God.

4) God’s grace relieves us by giving us right instruction and forgiveness for our sins.

6. God’s grace is not a pretext to commit sin (Romans 6:1).

1. “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”

2. There can be no doubt that we face many dangers, toils, and snares in this life.

3. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).

4. “And he said unto me, 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” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

5. What is our attitude toward suffering and trial in this life?

6. With the blessing of God’s grace, we can endure.

7. But we can also overcome spiritual dangers through God’s grace as well.

8. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

9. Grace is gracious because God gives to us even when He knows we can’t give back.

1. “When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we’ve first begun.”

2. God wants to live with us, and He wants us to live with Him.

3. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

4. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).

5. It is only due to God’s grace that this is possible because we cannot earn heaven for ourselves.

1. God’s grace is amazing because . . .

1) God’s grace saves us from our sins.

2) God’s grace teaches us to fear and brings relief.

3) God’s grace brings us through both physical and spiritual danger.

4) God’s grace brings us to heaven.

2. Invitation