Amazing Grace

History of the song

Meaning of the song

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now am found T'was blind but now I see

Amazing — 奇异

Grace — 恩典

Grace — 恩典

Wretch — 可怜虫

Wretch — 可怜虫

T'was — I once was

What is grace and why is it amazing?

The most important words in Christianity are grace, truth, faith, love, and hope. The first word to understand all of them is grace.

To understand grace, we have to understand our position

The New International Version Chapter 2

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient

Ephesians 2:1–2 NIV

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

1. We are sinners

What is sin? — Breaking God’s law

The New International Version Chapter 2

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh m and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

You should not steal, lie, murder

God goes further

Doing what we want instead of what God wants

The New International Version Chapter 2

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh m and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Ephesians 2:3 NIV

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

One of the biggest sins in the Bible is idolatry

idolatry — 偶像崇拜

Making anything more important than God

2. We deserved wrath

Ephesians 2:3 NIV

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Ephesians

wrath — 愤怒

The Bible is very clear — we must be punished

What if a judge let a criminal go?

What kind of punishment? Heaven, hell, body soul

3. But God loved us

Ephesians 2:4–5 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:4 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

God does not want us to go to hell

God wants to save us, but our punishment is a very high price

He sent Jesus Christ, to pay our punishment (罚款）

Admit we have sinned, believe that Jesus came, died for our sins and rose again

If you look at every other religion in this world, they all say about the same: if you are a good person and do good things, you might make it to heaven

Christianity says, You cannot be good enough, but God is good and wants to forgive

Christianity is a religion of grace

Grace is getting what we do not deserve

It is much like a gift — salary at a job or a test

When you believe on Jesus and become a Christian — it changes you — a new heart: real peace and real joy

That is what happened to John Newton

That is why John Newton wrote this song — he knew he had done wrong and did not deserve

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear

And Grace, my fears relieved

And Grace, my fears relieved

And Grace, my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

The hour I first believed

Grace let him see he needed to be saved

He did not earn his salvation, but it was given to him

Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.