(Last week's song study)

Amazing Grace

“It is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:5

John Newton, the writer of “Amazing Grace,” was spiritually influenced by his mother at a young age. He walked away from the tenets of her faith as a young man, and eventually became captain of a slave-trading ship. However, on March 9, 1748 he experienced a literal storm in his life. He later wrote, “That . . . is a day much remembered . . . the Lord came from on high and delivered me out of deep waters.” From that point on his life began to change. The song “Amazing Grace” came from a sermon Newton wrote in 1779, which was based on 1 Chronicles 17:16-17, a prayer of King David in which he marvels at God’s choosing him and his house. In 2006 an additional chorus was written by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio.

“My chains are gone, I’ve been set free, My God, my Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy reigns, Unending love, Amazing Grace.”

Ephesians 2:4-5 -- “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.”

Resources: www.wikipedia.com; Holy Bible, NIV; “Then Sings My Soul” by Robert J. Morgan; song lyrics copyright 2006, worshiptogether.com