Why is Grace Amazing?

Now, I know for a fact that we’ve all at least heard the song “Amazing Grace,” but have we stopped to think about what it means?

I can’t even remember the first time I heard the hymn, and I wasn’t raised in a church. The song is everywhere! But, how many times have we sung along without really thinking about the words? We just know them, right? We belt it out with whatever instruments are playing and then move on to the next part of the worship time.

What if I told you that we need to think about what we’re singing to God, while we sing it? We need to know what we’re praising God for as we sing! I personally, am not a hymn girl. Having not been raised in church, and then attending pretty modern churches until I got married, I don’t think I had ever seen a hymn book before in my life. There are a lot of songs that we sing at church that I find myself just listening to, praying through, because the words are so incredible.

“How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.” That line always stops me in my tracks. I remember the moment I accepted Christ so vividly. We were listening to a song called “O Come to the Altar” right after being taught that God’s rules aren’t meant to keep us from living, but instead to save us from the consequences of the sin we’re likely to be drawn to. I remember realizing that God cared more about me than I even cared about myself in that moment. And He had from long before I was even born.

That grace? The ability to be forgiven for not only the sins I’ve already committed, but the sins that I will commit until I die? That’s pretty amazing.

Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s talk about what caused the song to come into fruition.

The story of Amazing Grace

“Amazing Grace” is a hymn written in 1772 by John Newton (1725-1807). He was both a poet and a clergyman. This hymn was written specifically for Christians.

Newton grew up with no affiliation towards religion, and he was well known in the slave trade. Despite the horrendous work choice, God kept pulling him back to the Christian foundation his mother had helped form for him at a young age.

In 1747, so says my research, Newton was on a voyage aboard a slave ship headed towards England and BAM, a huge storm hit. It is said that Newton was converted during this storm. In 1755 he stopped being involved in the slave trade and began teaching about the Bible in his own home! Maybe it was the time away, or more than likely, it was God working on his heart, but he eventually became disgusted by the slave trade.

In 1777, he became a minister! And at his parish, he wrote hymns for a prayer service. This would later become the book Olney Hymns which would consist of Amazing Grace!

This is just a fun tidbit, but Newton went on to write a book (“Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade) which helped the infamous William Wilberforce abolish slavery in England. 

What a story, right? 

But a cool story isn’t enough, if it isn’t founded in the Word of God.

Biblical Standings for Amazing Grace

“But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:32 CSB)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 CSB)

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 CSB)

But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6 CSB)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10 CSB)

How can we read these words, and not feel how amazing grace really is?

What does Amazing Grace mean for me?

God is not a fair God, and that in itself is a blessing. Fair would mean that we face the consequences of our sin alone. In hell. Without God giving us a single thought.

That’s what we deserve. But, God has given us something so much better. He has given us grace.

Who here has a child? I never understood the concept of loving someone for no reason at all, until I had my son. Even my incredible husband, he did things and said things that had me falling right in love with him, but my toddler? He was just born. They placed him on my chest and I knew that there wasn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for that tiny baby. He didn’t do anything to earn that, and there’s nothing he can do that will take it away.

Holding my son for the first time was when I first understood a fraction of God’s love for me. How I could possibly be loved so intensely, so perfectly, and not be fearful of losing it.

That’s what grace means for us, it means that no matter how far we walked away, no matter how many times we’ve done the thing that we just can’t get away from, God still loves us. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we don’t have to wonder if our grace will run out. Isn’t that amazing?

I challenge you today to listen through the song a few times. To read the scripture above, and feel gratitude for the promises that God has given us. And then remember to do it tomorrow, and the day after, because God’s amazing grace doesn’t run out, so neither should our gratitude.