He didn't just suddenly have a crisis of conscience. The ship was about to sink when he heard a sound rise up from below, the voices of the prisoners. The confident vibration of their voices calmed the storm. That is what struck John Newton, that was the amazing grace that opened his eyes and his heart. He turned the ship about and returned the people to their homeland, before sailing back to England. He wrote the words to Amazing Grace, using the tune he'd heard sung by his prisoners.
John Newton (1725-1807)
Stanza 6 anon.
Stanza 6 anon.
(These Lyrics may be different then what is sung in the video above
Lyrics often change, as this song is used in many different denominations.)
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.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
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.
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
I have always been impressed by this song and story behind it.
When I learned the history behind this song it took on a deeper meaning.
Grace is a very common denominator in many religions.
What we know of the story of Newton John too, is that he spent his whole life working toward receiving and being worthy of His grace, by truly repenting. Being given Grace in one truly desperate moment in his life lead him to continue to change and turn his heart toward God.
We may receive Grace in a moment of need what we do after that is truly the test.
Had John Newton not accepted and seen the Grace of God in the moment he did not sink in his boat, the moment he was rescued would have been the last rescue.
Having his life spared would not have spared his spiritual life. John Newton Knew and felt that he had only been spared so that he would have the chance to change and repent. He spent his life from then one doing so. He was grateful I am sure to have been given the second chance to change, and not to face his maker living in the sin that he had lived in at that time.
Grace is a gift of time, a chance given to us to change, to repent and continue working for the chance to see God and His son again. When we are given grace do we accept it and move on in our state of sin or do we repair and mend the life we are living?
~I have paraphrased the following talk:
Gene R. Cook,
"Receiving Divine Assistance through the Grace of the Lord" Ensign, May 1993, 79
Here Gene R. Cook gives us 5 ways in which we can receive His grace.
Faith
Repentance
Humility
Doing all in our power
Keeping the commandments
Seeking the Gift
Perhaps some of us have not received or known how to use the great gift of grace the Father has given to us through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?” (D&C 88:33.) The prophet Zenock even said, “Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son.” (Alma 33:16.)
Understanding Grace
"Grace is a “divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.” It is “an enabling power.” (Bible Dictionary, p. 697.) The doctrine of the grace of the Father and the Son and how it affects us is so significant that it is mentioned more than two hundred times in the standard works.
If we can obtain the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that divine enabling power to assist us, we will triumph in this life and be exalted in the life to come."
"The first principle is faith. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace.” (Rom. 5:1–2.)"
"Repentance is the second principle. The grace of the Lord through the Atonement can both cleanse us of sin and assist us in perfecting ourselves through our trials, sicknesses, and even “character defects.” We are both sanctified and justified through the grace of the Lord. (See D&C 20:30–31.) Truly, “as a man his sins confess, Christ, in mercy, manifests.” (Gene R. Cook and Holly Cook, “I Am a Healthy Man,” unpublished hymn; see Alma 24:10.) Remember, Christ can repair our flaws and failings that otherwise are not repairable. (See Gen. 18:14; Mark 9:23–24.)"
"The third principle is humility. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6.)
“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me.” (Ether 12:27.)
Humility is an essential condition to obtaining this divine assistance."
"Doing all in your own power is the fourth principle. Truly did Paul teach, “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.” (Eph. 2:8–9.)
Yes, works alone cannot bring that divine gift, but they are a key condition upon which the gift is received. (See 2 Ne. 10:23–25.) “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” (2 Ne. 25:23.)"
"The fifth principle, keeping the commandments, surely is a condition for receiving the grace of the Lord. “If you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness … ; therefore, … you shall receive grace for grace.” (D&C 93:20; see also D&C 93:28.)
To obtain grace, one does not have to be perfect but he does have to be trying to keep the commandments the best that he can. Then the Lord may allow him to receive that power."
Hope through Jesus Christ
"What glorious gospel news is an understanding of this doctrine of grace, which persuades us to more fully center our faith and hope upon Jesus Christ. Through the grace of the Father, we will better know how to come unto the Son. (1 Ne. 15:14–15.)"
"May we “seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in [us] forever.” (Ether 12:41.) May the grace of God always be with you (see Rom. 16:20), I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
I am grateful for the power of the atonement, that we may receive his grace and live with him again. We may take our imperfections and lay them at his feet.
We can then enter into his arms of love clean and pure, because of his mercy and grace.
All is not lost in the Love of our God. Through His grace we are given a chance, without which we would all be lost to Him. Even the best of his children are not perfect and need the atonement to be cleansed and receive His Grace.
I am so glad because I am so far from being who God wants me to be, I need His grace everyday and have the chance to make myself worthy of Him.
